Erik Cole Autographed Card

A power forward is typically someone who can score at least 30 goals in a season while throwing his weight around enough to get 100 hits; they also usually get close to or more than 100 penalty minutes and act as a net-front presence to attract attention while leaving the puck-carrier free to roam, and to pounce on a rebound or deflect the puck in the net.

In his 13-season NHL career, Erik Cole surpassed the 25-goal mark four times, hitting 30 with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2005-06 and 35 with the Montréal Canadiens in 2011-12. He usually led his teams in hits, hovering between 10th and 20th overall in the category.

He also suited up for the Edmonton Oilers (63 games in 2008-09), Dallas Stars (160 games between 2012 and 2015) and Detroit Red Wings (11 games in 2014-15). He retired after spending two full years away from the game trying to convince his body that his style of play and a certain 2006 hit by Brooks Orpik that broke two of his vertebrae wouldn't be able to stop him from playing the game he loves so much, but ultimately, he failed; at least the Canes - with whom he played for in parts of nine seasons over two stints - offered him a one-day contract to retire as a member of the team, before moving on as a team ambassador.

What surprised me most about his short time in Montréal is how much of a team player he was; he came in rocking a four-year, $18M contract and, although he expected top-line minutes, he never complained that those minutes came with a 22-year-old semi-rookie who was essentially to serve the same role as him on the right flank (Max Pacioretty) and his undersized best friend David Desharnais at center, while the team's best centerman (Tomas Plekanec) was given more minutes but tougher assignments (facing the opposition's top line, second-unit powerplay time, penalty killing) while simultaneously asked to revive all struggling (Lars Eller, Andrei Kostitsyn, Travis Moen, Rene Bourque) or injured wingers (Mike Cammalleri, Brian Gionta).

Even more impressive was when the team's 2009 first-round pick, local boy Louis Leblanc was recalled from the minors to play in his first game, Cole bought Leblanc's parents plane and game tickets so they could see their son face the Anaheim Ducks in California.

That's leadership, right there. That's the kind of thing that makes you forgive his being a Habs-killer for all those years.

I told him as much when he signed my card in blue sharpie in 2012:

That's card #162 from Upper Deck's 2008-09 Victory collection, depicting him wearing the Canes' white (away) uniform.

Erik Cole Jersey Card

Inevitably, the Montréal Canadiens lost two games against the Carolina Hurricanes this past week, and managed to get 0 points out of a possible 6 against weak teams. Now, not even going into overtime against a non-playoff team when all you need is a single point to clinch a playoff spot yourself seems bizarre, historically, the Hurricanes have always given us trouble, even back when they were the Hartford Whalers.

And the one guy who has done the most damage has been Erik Cole - the Ultimate Habs Killer. If this guy played half his games against Montréal, he'd be a contender for the lead in league scoring, despite being frequently injured these past few years. Funny thing, he also has success against former Habs: in December of 2009, he scored a hat trick against the Washington Capitals; in nets was none other than José Theodore. He now has six of those, four of which have a direct Montréal connection.

He has played with Team USA twice: first at the 2006 Olympics in Torino, then at the 2007 World Championships. He is a man of firsts: he is the first NHL player ever to hail from Oswego, New York - a ''city'' of roughly 18,000 people on Lake Ontario - and the first player ever to be awarded two penalty shots in the same game. He also holds the unofficial record for fastest lap around the ice in 13.117 seconds; it is unofficial because NHL representatives weren't there to witness or measure the time themselves, as it was a team event, not a league event like, say, the All Star Skills Competition.

The card itself (card #151, limited edition numbered #324/450) is an insert from Pacific's 2003-04 Private Stock Reserve set, and features a white patch of jersey; look closely, you'll see some red in there... is that the glue to hold the piece of cloth, or is that blood?