Confirmed Signing with Link: [EDM] Kris Russell (1 year, $3.1M)
- Thread starter Stuzchuk
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Russell was fantastic the season before last for Calgary, playing huge minutes when Giordano went down and getting them into the playoffs and then being one of their minute leaders in the playoffs.
Last year wasn't as good, but virtually all of Calgary's D trended downwards.
He's still only 29 to boot. He'll be able to help the Oilers, I don't think there's any doubt about it, he will prevent guys like Nurse and Davidson from playing too many minutes and he's better than Mark Fayne/Eric Gryba and waaaaay better than Nikita Nikitin or a washed up Andrew Ference.
Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
Yup, its desperate to sign a guy that 8 other teams are after, and your rivals really wanted back, and is still a good #4 with experience to help a young team. Sooooo desperate!
BinCookin
Registered User
I really don't understand why there are so many EDM haters out there, looking to make fun of the Oilers.
Everyone knows Yakupov is a bust. Many Oiler fans probably just said "lets keep him since we wont get much for him". A 3rd, maybe a 2nd is good return for a 0.4 PPG player.
Signing Russel is a good move for the Oilers. It really is riskless. Who cares how many D men they have, and who plays where. Add another capable NHL D man to the roster.... Great.
I know the Oilers "last place forever" and "first round picks forever" makes people mad. But really, they will trend up eventually. Don't worry, all your own tanking teams will get their chance
Everyone knows Yakupov is a bust. Many Oiler fans probably just said "lets keep him since we wont get much for him". A 3rd, maybe a 2nd is good return for a 0.4 PPG player.
Signing Russel is a good move for the Oilers. It really is riskless. Who cares how many D men they have, and who plays where. Add another capable NHL D man to the roster.... Great.
I know the Oilers "last place forever" and "first round picks forever" makes people mad. But really, they will trend up eventually. Don't worry, all your own tanking teams will get their chance
Turning Mangiapanese
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- Jun 18, 2011
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You'd really have to go full CalgaryPuck to claim this was a bad signing for the Oilers. He's a definite upgrade over at least Reinhart, Fayne and Davidson and the caphit is irrelevant as it's a one year deal. Worst case scenario: it doesn't work out and he's traded for a pick at the deadline or just not offered a new contract.
Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
This is the big one. This right here is why nobody can complain about this being a bad deal for Edmonton. There is absolutely without any doubt ZERO risk with this signing. NONE!
The cap hit isn't even a big deal since they essentially dumped Yakupov, so it's basically Russell for $600k.
Yes, and there are a bunch of broadcasters that have been pumping Torontos tires and then swinging around to take shots at everything Chia has done.
my moves to make sure i delet and ignore these people has been swift and strong
sportsnet magazine just went on the ignore pile. whther they do it for clicks or not is not my problem. they put their reputations and careers on the line when they say stupid stuff.
It feels good to eliminate them from my listening and maybe the 2 million other Oiler fans accross the country should do the same.
here is what i am talking about;
and really we should make a "ignore/dont support" thread on guys that seem to be attacking the club from the media. Its funny because they dont give any facts of the situations (likely because they dont even pay attention to the oilers...for example i heard 2 guys when Larsson was traded saying "why would the oilers trade for another left handed d-man". these guys seem to pay no attention to teams outside Torontos division).
I love when guys can have a debate based on facts but really these guys are just looking at a #1 pick, who they havent paid any attention to nor watcheed, and saying we got nothing back. They dont talk about how he had the same value last year. how he has whined and moaned. they dont watch his terrible play. In fact they mention nothing because they know nothing. its just "here is a guy drafted #1..." and thats it.
The GMs said it was a fair trade. Guys who actually pay attention.
If a broadcaster is paid to give opinions he better be an expert like a GM...or be living in a box on a street corner and unemployed very soon.
I will only listen to Bob Mc from now on. One of the few guys with a hockey IQ who follows the entire league (almost like its his job to be informed)
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SmellOfVictory
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- Jun 3, 2011
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Thanks for ensuring the Flames couldn't make the mistake of spending too much money on Russell and treating him as a top 4 dman. - love, a Flames fan
Great, and you seem to think your informed enough to say its a good signing. There's a reason no one bit til a week before the season. He blocks alot of shot, but anytime he gets anything close to balanced usage he is terrible possession wise.Frist of all, 99.9% of fans aren't qualified to actually make that sort of judgement. Most Oilers fans wanted Russell, and from what I hear most Flames fans wanted him back.
It was also reported that the Flames PLAYERS really wanted him back, who's opinion on the guy are significantly greater than ours.
But keep it up with your baseless agenda
http://www.hockey-reference.com/players/r/russekr01.html
Mcnotloilersfan
I'm here, I'm bored
He was signed this late for 2 reasons.
1) He wanted a big deal at long term. Nobody was comfortable enough for that (including Edmonton)
2) By the time he was willing to take a 1 year deal, teams were up against the cap, and camps were starting, so teams wanted to evaluate. Edmonton had to make space. Calgary was still trying to make space.
Again, you're going on nothing here.
Cawz
Registered User
Exactly. Tough D always have value at the deadline. If the Oilers aren't in the hunt this spring, they can likely get something for him. Hell, they could probably get more for him at the deadline that what they just got for Yak
Cawz
Registered User
No, i'm going back to the original thing I responded to. People aren't salty about not getting him, they just don't think he's good. I agree with that assessment, you don't. Its similar to the same bad signing the Leafs made in taking Polak on for a year. Great you added grit and a guy who's willing to jump infront of pucks but constantly gets hemmed in his own zone.
In which draft ? I can show some where he would and others where he wouldn't . Maybe you should focus more on Benning deals then Chia but hey I understand that would cause Van fans to have nightmare
Cawz
Registered User
What about the assessment from the Flames fans who say he is good in his role? There are quite a few in this thread, which should tell you something, since the expected opinion of any fan would be to bash the moves of your rival.
Edmonton addressing their D. Futures looking brighter for the organization and I think this is going to be one of the best bang for the buck FA signings of the year. I'm of the belief Russel is a top 4 Dman. Really really like this move by the Oilers.
Great, enjoy a guy who's best skill is jumping in front of picks. Tons of fans like heart and soul guys who just aren't very effective.
TIL netting 34 points in the NHL requires no skill. Wow, why aren't more of us NHL defensemen?
Cawz
Registered User
He's very effective in a depth defenseman role, which is what the Oilers acquired him for. If you read what Flames fans say about him (or listen to Flames fans here in Calgary say - like I said earlier in the thread, they had a long segment on him here on the Fan radio just the other week), he brings more than that in a depth role.
Good signing for the Oilers. Russel is underrated on here. He's one of those players that the advanced stats bigots love to pick on but he brings intangibles that the Oilers could use.
After hearing him speak, I get the feeling the rumours suggesting he wanted to play in Alberta were true. Thats likely the reason he went so long without signing. Hes 5th on or depth chart and he knows it, said he's looking forward to earning higher minutes on the team.
Klefbom - Larsson
Sekera - Davidson
Nurse - Russel
Fay
Ratio of LHD:RHD is 5:1, but this is a great backend. A lot of people dont realize our D played pretty well down the stretch last season, and having Talbot sure helped. For some reason Mclellan got them to buy into the system more than the forwards. Adding Larsson, Klefbom (missed 50) and Russel to that D core is exciting. Cannot wait for the season to commence!
Klefbom - Larsson
Sekera - Davidson
Nurse - Russel
Fay
Ratio of LHD:RHD is 5:1, but this is a great backend. A lot of people dont realize our D played pretty well down the stretch last season, and having Talbot sure helped. For some reason Mclellan got them to buy into the system more than the forwards. Adding Larsson, Klefbom (missed 50) and Russel to that D core is exciting. Cannot wait for the season to commence!
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He should be a solid option on defence for them depending on where he slots in especially since its a one year deal. Depending on where the oilers finish in the standings they could potentially get assets for him during trade dealine too.
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