New Blackhawk Ian Cole to play in 100th NHL game in 2026-27

We’ve been talking a lot on this platform about the Chicago Blackhawk’s youth movement. Rightly so, as the organization currently has a plethora of young players just starting to find their way at the NHL level. But this young group still needs veterans around them to show them the ropes. More experienced players can lead by example, foster healthy habits both on and off the ice, and give their younger charges tips on what it takes to win.

The Blackhawks went out and added veteran defenseman Ian Cole in free agency this summer. He’s signed a one-year deal with a cap hit of $4 million, with his main job being to provide reliability and consistency for a very young defensive group. He’ll also be headed into his 17th NHL season, and he currently has 990 NHL games under his belt.

Cole is situated to hit 1000 games in October

This puts Cole only 10 contests away from a massive milestone of 1000 NHL games. We don’t know yet how the defensive pairings will play out. But barring injury, the elder blueliner will very likely be part of the lineup to start the season.

“He (Cole) provides some really veteran presence and a steadying influence on our young D-core,” said general manager Kyle Davidson on July 1 when Cole was acquired. “He knows where to stand, and has kind of been through certain situations before. That veteran understanding of the game allows you to be effective, specifically in the defensive zone, and he's a great penalty killer.”

If Cole plays in all of the first 10 games of the season, he’ll reach this milestone on Oct. 23 against the Montreal Canadiens. This is a Friday night home game, so it would be a perfect time to celebrate the veteran’s accomplishment. The Blackhawk’s are known for their pomp and circumstance when it comes to these kinds of events, so they should do right by this new member of the team.

Cole sets an example for younger players

While a good number of young Blackhawks will be playing in their 100th NHL game this season, it’s quite the juxtaposition for this 37-year-old to be suiting up for his 1000th game. The kids are just getting started, whereas Cole is much closer to the end of his hockey career than the beginning.

But that certainly doesn’t mean he can’t add value in many ways. “There's residual benefit from having that kind of guy around, who's played so many games and seen so much, experienced so much, and won't panic when things maybe get a little haywire,” said Davidson. “He's gonna be able to calm the waters and allow some of our young players to feed on that.”

One thing Cole prides himself on is his durability. He’s suited up for all 82 games of the last two seasons, which is an accomplishment of its own for someone this late in his career. As he stated in his introductory press conference on July 8, “I think that to be available to help your team on the ice is something that is crucial to a team. There needs to be continuity in the lineup and continuity of play, right? So there’s an old saying, the best ability is availability. So, it's trying to take care of myself, but I think I do a pretty good job and stay healthy. I'm pretty durable, blessed in that sense.”

Let’s hope this defenseman can continue to stay healthy and contribute in a positive way this season, through his 1000th NHL game and beyond. Incidentally, Cole is five helpers away from 200 career assists and two goals away from 40 career goals.

It certainly would be fun to see Cole reach all these milestones with the Blackhawks this season.  

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