There was a good amount of movement at this year's NHL trade deadline, and one move certainly provided a reuniting of good friends and former teammates. Erik Cole was traded back to the Carolina Hurricanes which is where he broke into the league and had played the past six seasons.

Going back to Carolina also puts Cole back on the same line as his good buddy Eric Staal. "It's a great opportunity for me. I get to play with some great players again, so I'm excited," Cole said. "This is going to be so easy for me to come in here and play hard and prove my worth."

Cole's impact to the lineup has been quite impressive in the two games since the trade. In his first game back, Cole scored his 17th goal of the season during the 'Canes 6-1 win against the Calgary Flames, and then he picked up four assists during Carolina's 9-3 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning.

During the 9-3 win, Eric Staal scored a career high four goals and picked up two assists for a total of six points. Cole assisted on two of Staal's goals.

"That's one of those games that don't happen very often," Staal said. "It was a good win for our team, which was the bottom line. But it's fun getting points and being on the offensive side of the game."

With his four goals, Staal now has 32 on the season. He now has gone four straight seasons with scoring at least 30 or more goals. You can be sure that he and Cole are happy to be back on the ice together again, looking to lead the 'Canes back into the playoffs. The Hurricanes currently sit in 9th place in the Eastern Conference, just one point out of the eighth and final playoff spot. They'll be looking to extend their winning streak to four games when they host the New York Rangers on Monday night.

Posted By: Luke Ventura