Erik Cole had an assist on Thursday.

Cole has just nine goals and 13 points in 46 games this season. The trade from Montreal to Dallas wasn't enough to spark him as he's recorded seven points in 27 contests with the Stars.

Erik Cole netted a power-play goal on Thursday.

From a fantasy perspective, Cole's 2013 campaign has been a disaster. Even after Thursday's showing, he has just six goals and no assists in 23 games with the Stars. He also recorded six points in 19 games prior to the trade.

Erik Cole scored his first goal in a Dallas uniform since getting traded earlier in the week.

Cole was dealt from the Canadiens in exchange for Michael Ryder with Montreal also picking up a third round pick. Cole will give the Stars some goal scoring and grit as the Stars have been missing some of the latter since dealing Steve Ott to Buffalo in the off-season. He is worth a look-see in deep pools.

Erik Cole denied that he had a feud with former teammate, PK Subban.

"I think that's false," Cole said. "I don't think that P.K. and I were in conflict. If we were, I don't think P.K. would have tried to call my phone when I sent a group text to the guys informing them of the trade, that he'd have reached out to me after the fact." The Montreal Canadiens traded Cole to the Dallas Stars after a disappointing start to his season. Cole's Stars debut wasn't ideal, but the change of scenery still might be what he needs to turn his season around.

Erik Cole's Stars debut didn't exactly go as planned.

Cole had a minus-two rating and just one shot on goal in 14:58 minutes of playing time. It's the ice time that's the most concerning part as he was averaging 18:32 minutes per game in 2011-12 when he scored 35 goals. Still, he's worth keeping an eye on as he might play a bigger role in the near future.

Erik Cole will make his Dallas debut Thursday night on the third line with Reilly Smith and Cody Eakin.

"From what I've seen of them, they're in the category of a couple young guys that are playing real good hockey," Cole said. "They're not just guys that are out there to keep the puck out of their own net, they can make plays and have a good skill set to go along with the speed. They can play at a good pace, so it should be good." Cole had three goals and three assists in 19 games with Montreal prior to be traded to Dallas.

Erik Cole is expected to make his Dallas Stars debut on Thursday.

Cole had just three goals and six points in 19 games with Montreal this season. The change of scenery might give him a big boost, especially if he's used as a top-six forward as expected. He's not a bad guy to take a chance on if he's available as a free agent.

The Dallas Stars are hoping that a change of scenery breaks Erik Cole out of his season-long slump.

"Yes, definitely," Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk said. "He's a top-six forward who had 35 goals last season, and we expect him to play at that level." Cole has just three goals and six points in 19 games. It remains to be seen exactly where Cole will fit into the Stars' lineup, but it's a good bet that he'll end up on one of Dallas' top two lines. If Cole's been dumped in your league, now is a good time to grab him on the chance that he gets hot in Dallas.

The Montreal Canadiens traded Erik Cole to the Dallas Stars for Michael Ryder.

Cole has struggled in Montreal this season, with just three goals and six points in 19 games after last season's 61-point campaign. Ryder, meanwhile, has been a solid weapon for the Stars with six goals and 14 points in 19 games. Ryder returns to the city where he played his first four NHL seasons, while Cole will play for his fourth team since 2009.

The return of Brendan Gallagher to the lineup will mean that Erik Cole will drop down a line and skate alongside Lars Eller and Alex Galchenyuk.

Hopefully this will get Cole going. He has not produced much this season (two goals) and the Habs' coaching staff may be getting a little impatient with him. "We expect more," Canadiens coach Michel Therrien said of Cole. "I'm not going to hide it and I'm sure he expects more. He's an important player for us. We expect him to bounce back."