Detroit, MI (SportsNetwork.com) - Detroit Red Wings forward Erik Cole will miss at least the rest of the season after suffering a spine contusion last month.
Cole, who appeared in just 11 games for the Red Wings after he was acquired from Dallas on March 1, was injured on March 24 in a collision with Arizona's Lauri Korpikoski.
According to the Red Wings' official website on Wednesday, doctors advised Cole not to play again this season.
The injury could end the 13-year veteran's career.
"When you have a contusion like that, it'll affect your nerves, can affect your motor functions, can be a bit clumsy even sending a text message or something like that," Cole said, according to the website. "So something I definitely need to take serious and be careful with."
Cole, 36, had three goals and three assists in his 11 games with Detroit. The longtime Carolina Hurricane has 265 goals and 267 assists in 892 career games, also playing for Edmonton and Montreal.