Confirmed Signing with Link: [EDM] Kris Russell (1 year, $3.1M)

[DJJones]

Long con by treliving. He'll be back in Calgary next year with wotherspoon on our bottom pairing filled with funny stories

 

[CupofOil]

Crazy he makes 3.1 mill

You have players like Stoner and Engelland making around that much on longer term deals. It's not that crazy.

 

[CupofOil]

Without McDavid this current team is even worse imo. Chiarelli shouldn't get credit for drafting him.

[MOD] if you think this team isn't much better (on paper at least) than when Chia took over.

 

[DJJones]

[MOD] if you think this team isn't much better (on paper at least) than when Chia took over.

Talent wise they are worse but as a whole team they are better. They were massively unbalanced for years.

 

[CupofOil]

Talent wise they are worse but as a whole team they are better. They were massively unbalanced for years.

Pretty much although I question how much "talent" Yak has. The whole point of Chia's transactions are to build a better TEAM with more balance and more depth. We'll find out soon if the moves pay off, time to start showing significant improvement with on ice results.

 

[chunkylover53]

You know...EDM might be one of the teams who would be okay with Russell. A lot of fans were fearing that there team would pick Russell but he's not that bad for EDM.

 

[sportsdynasty]

Another good pick up by Edmonton on D. Once you consider that Oilers picked him up in free agency on a one year cheap contract, Oilers killed this free agency!

 

[McFlyingV]

Talent wise they are worse but as a whole team they are better. They were massively unbalanced for years.

Even talent wise is quite debatable when you look at all the roster spots.

Lucic is obviously a downgrade in talent from Hall, but McDavid upgrades on RNH, RNH upgrades on Derek Roy, Draisaitl upgrades on Lander, Maroon upgrades on Hendricks, Versteeg arguably upgrades on Purcell or at least breaks even, Caggiula more than likely upgrades on Yak, whether it be this season or in the future. Letestu, Kassian, and Hendricks certainly upgrade skill-wise over Klinkhammer, Gordon and Fraser. Thats not even factoring in what Puljujarvi could become.

The D and goaltending improved talent wise at basically every spot as well. I shouldn't have to tell anyone in Alberta how bad a top 4 of washed up Ference, Nikitin and Fayne and an "adventure" in Schultz really was compared to a top 4 of Klefbom, Larsson, Sekera and one of Russell, Davidson, or Nurse.

 

[TT1]

I like our current roster and where we are heading. Compare from 1 year.

yea thats an insanely better roster, it actually looks like a team now.

that being said im not sure about Russel on the 2nd pair

 

[Bryanbryoil]

Without McDavid this current team is even worse imo. Chiarelli shouldn't get credit for drafting him.

Then your opinion doesn't hold much weight when it comes to the Oilers.

Rob Klinkhammer, Matt Fraser, Andrew Ference (past his prime), Nikita Nikitin, Ben Scrivens, Derek Roy (past his prime)

Which NHL clubs are these guys on again?

 

[VainGretzky]

Russell was talking with reportedly eight teams, according to Sportsnet.

Till he seen McDavids highlights against Jets

 

[Bryanbryoil]

no the part that I dont understand is stated below... I honestly dont understand what Chiarelli is doing...?

Sekera can play pretty well on the right side and there was no Russell caliber RHD to pick instead of him on a 1 year deal. This deal could enable a guy like Nurse to get some AHL seasoning that he otherwise wouldn't have gotten.

 

[Toronto makebeleifs]

While I think the oil signing Russell is meh and the yak trade is super meh... big picture- Chiarelli did the right thing. If nurse is on the big club this year he can play minutes that will help the team. If not; this gives another (potential) full year of incubation for him and Reinhart in the A. You know, so they can develop without being expected to play big minutes when they really shouldn't. So while the moves this summer have been...whatever.... at least your gm has identified that edm futures still require seasoning, which is totally agreeable.

 

[WesMcCauley]

You're insane if you think this team isn't much better (on paper at least) than when Chia took over.

The only reason they are better is Mcdavid....

 

[Revelation]

Eh, Letestu, Maroon, Kassian and Versteeg are garbage. The defense is better but still no high end D, just no bad D now.

 

[Topkatz]

Eh, Letestu, Maroon, Kassian and Versteeg are garbage. The defense is better but still no high end D, just no bad D now.

Maroon is garbage?

He's been on fire ever since he was traded to the Oilers, 14 points in 16 games. Over the summer he's lost a ton of weight and looks to be in better shape than ever. Now he's picked up where he left off last season. Educate yo'self before you make comments like this please.

 

[Sam Spade]

Helps out our bottom pair. Makes us deeper and better overall on D.

Gives us the option to start Nurse in Bakersfield and give him heavy minutes before being called up at some point. Hard not to like this signing.

If you say so.

Seriously though, I really like Nurse, and was looking forward to watching him play a bit, I guess he just isn't ready yet.

He's better than people say, just keep expectations in check. Good #4.

He is a good #6.

 

[snipes]

If you say so.

Seriously though, I really like Nurse, and was looking forward to watching him play a bit, I guess he just isn't ready yet.

Klefbom has taken strides and has looked very good this preseason.

What about Sekera and Larsson?

 

[Sam Spade]

Klefbom has taken strides and has looked very good this preseason.

What about Sekera and Larsson?

If, and when, Klefbom can play a full season, then we will know what the Oilers have in him.

Sekera didn't look great last season, but that could have been partner related I suppose.

Having a decent goalie will be the biggest help to the Oilers defense.

 

[5 14 6 1]

Without McDavid this current team is even worse imo. Chiarelli shouldn't get credit for drafting him.

In what world is the current team worse? Did you see the initial roster

 

[Machinehead]

I guess I can't say anything negative about it because it's a one year deal, but I just don't get the appeal with this guy.

 

[McFlyingV]

I guess I can't say anything negative about it because it's a one year deal, but I just don't get the appeal with this guy.

I think the appeal is he's better than what we had for the last D spot. Fayne is a poor puck mover and below average skater, Gryba is an awful skater and puck mover. At least Russell can skate, move the puck and block shots. Doesn't need to be a world beater to be an upgrade on that last spot.

 

[Machinehead]

I think the appeal is he's better than what we had for the last D spot. Fayne is a poor puck mover and below average skater, Gryba is an awful skater and puck mover. At least Russell can skate, move the puck and block shots. Doesn't need to be a world beater to be an upgrade on that last spot.

I suppose, as long as it's a stop gap.

 

[Adam Michaels]

You know...EDM might be one of the teams who would be okay with Russell. A lot of fans were fearing that there team would pick Russell but he's not that bad for EDM.

I admit I'm happy he signed with Edmonton because Montreal was rumored to have had talks with Russel. I didn't want him signing with the Habs. Thanks Chia!

That said, a 1-year deal is low risk and worth a try in Edmonton.

 

[McFlyingV]

I suppose, as long as it's a stop gap.

I expect it to be. My guess is they'll continue looking for options for a RHD throughout the season and into next off-season. Depending on the development of Nurse, Davidson and Benning (who imo has looked very solid this preseason) and how the expansion draft shakes out, his spot could be filled from within if nothing better comes along:

Klef-Larsson
Nurse/Davidson-Sekera
Nurse/Davidson-Benning

Would obviously be nice to add an offensive D, but I think if Klef stays healthy he can give us 35-40P this season.