He's a harvard grad and has been building his hockey resume for almost 20 years now. You join a message board to mostly s*** on one player as a hobby. The irony.
Confirmed with Link: Kris Russell Signed for 4 years @ 4M per
- Thread starter McDNicks17
- Start date
He's a harvard grad and has been building his hockey resume for almost 20 years now. You join a message board to mostly s*** on one player as a hobby. The irony.
Steady no.4 d-man who's one of the best available on the market. 30 years old. May be a year too long, but they did not have much choice after Sekera's injury.
ChaoticOrange
Registered User
My thoughts exactly. Maybe a year too long but that's UFAs for ya. Russell fit in well with the team and is well liked.
Value isn't all about spreadsheets.
Ference was 34 when he signed his contract to perform the same role Russell did last year. Russell will be 34 when his new contract runs out. This is a decent to good signing. They won't be able to get a better defenseman for less money in free agency. I think he will play his contract out or at worst they move him with salary retained.
guymez
The Seldom Seen Kid
- Mar 3, 2004
- 33,829
- 13,810
This is patently false. Thats actually his biggest problem. Also...if he defended better (gap control...etc) then he wouldnt need to be blocking as many shots as he does.
This deal is 2 years too long IMO.
Chiarelli has had a brutal week....I cant explain why he is making these dumb decisions.
bone
5-14-6-1
re: Possible expansion I think we would be ok because NTC's were not autoprotected, just NMCs. Right now Methot has a limited NTC and Vegas can't trade him to teams not on his list
McDNicks17
Moderator
I would have preferred a two year deal, but I don't think you'll find too many UFAs agreeing to a deal like that.
Draiskull
Registered User
- Oct 26, 2005
- 23,352
- 2,203
Ference was fitter at age 36 than Russell has ever been. Fayne is only 30 and is already washed up. 4yrs is way too long no matter what way you slice it. Sekera is going to be a boat anchor contract for us in a couple years as well.
What possible negotiating power does Russel have to get 4x4? He brings no offense and isn't exactly a rock defensively. Last summer showed the demand for him isn't exactly high and I don't see what he did this year to show he's worth more than he signed for.
Probably not. A two year bridge on Davidson would have been the max term acceptable. If Russell is only a three year deal that makes it much, much more palatable.
Enough with the shape Ference is in. The over-training, along with multiple other distractions, and not focusing on hockey was a big problem. Completely agreed that four years is too long on Russell if it happens.
Come on guys, what's with all these thoughtful/insightful responses? This is the Oilers HF Boards where you're not supposed to be rational about things, but must over-react and throw major hyperbole around! Jeez!!!
I'm not 100% sold on Russell, but he's one of the better options available for us now, was pretty steady for us, and I 'think' helped or will help mentor some of the younger guys. Not a rock-star, but not a useless pylon. Seems to fit in with the group reasonably-well, doesn't have a massive attitude, and does what he's asked.
Could be a lot worse IMHO
We iced a below NHL average defense that allowed more scoring chances than 24 other teams. Our closest peer is the Canucks.
He's playing top-four on this team because there are no other good options to play top-four. Doesn't make him a legitimate second pairing defenseman. There's a reason we got him for 1x3 in october.
Rumours were he passed on more money to try and play at home, he was considered one of the top 5 dmen available last free agency as well. Like it or not but he doesn't cost any assets to sign.
bone
5-14-6-1
Just for fun, using the Ference comparison people like to make. At the same age, Ference had played 120 less games, had 57 less points, was -27 vs. -3, but more than double the penalty minutes. In Ference's next 4 seasons, he played 240 games, had 60 points, 157 PIMs and was plus 33 (and if I recall correctly, played on his off side from time to time) and was a top 4 defenseman most of the time on a team that won a cup.
He joined the Oilers at the end of those four years and many at the time thought he was a good pickup (granted for too much term).
If we got the same 4 years from Russell, we'd be satisfied.
I don't know, it still makes me nervous though. Hopefully, if it is 4x4, it's front loaded so that we can dump him on an floor team in the last year or two if necessary.
He joined the Oilers at the end of those four years and many at the time thought he was a good pickup (granted for too much term).
If we got the same 4 years from Russell, we'd be satisfied.
I don't know, it still makes me nervous though. Hopefully, if it is 4x4, it's front loaded so that we can dump him on an floor team in the last year or two if necessary.
How come this team always has to make the ****** signings/trades that everyone mocks? Just for once I'd like to fleece another team.
McDNicks17
Moderator
Ference was a bottom pairing defenseman at 34 asked to play big role. Russell is better now than Ference was at the time.
Talbot did cover up for this D but I can't conclude that our D was in the bottom half of the league in spite of us holding a playoff spot all year. I think that was proven in the playoffs when almost all of our primary scoring dried up and yet we were still a win away from the west finals with a banged up defense.
It always gets pointed out that Russell continues to be deployed in a top 4 role because of no other options yet in Calgary he was counted on to eat as much minutes as Gio and Brodie, while playing more than guys like Wideman, Engelland, Schlemko and Dougie who were established in this league. In the short sample size with Dallas, he played a bigger role than Oduya and Demers. In Edmonton, he walks right into the top 4 playing his off hand over guys like Davidson and Oesterle who had a lot of success together the previous year and a guy who made more money in Fayne.
Not to mention he had more experience playing top 4 in the playoffs than the rest of our defense combined coming into last year. Sounds like to me he's playing top 4 and is about to be resigned because the bosses agree he is a top 4 dman.
NedPlimpton
Registered User
Yup.
This thread is all acting like he's the worst D man we could have possibly signed.
Proved to me last season he can be legit.
bone
5-14-6-1
That's the problem with our reactions to Russell everyone gets in a tizzy over the money and gets overblown. I doubt many would have an issue with one year even if it was 4-5 millions, also many wouldn't be upset if it was 3.5 for 2-3 years.
4x4 is a risky number as it's doubtful he becomes better than he currently is, and it's often difficult to predict when d-men begin to falter. Lower cap value (in light of how precious it's about to become) you are a little more willing to risk, but there is probably equal amount of chance that he will be the worst of the starting 6 dmen at some point in the contract as it is that he will stay in the top 4. If he's the 6-7 dman in year 3/4, he will be a cap liability that may become a barrier to us winning a cup.
Senor Catface
Registered User
- Jul 25, 2006
- 16,234
- 20,682
Not a fan of the term or amount, but he simply isn't as bad as some posters are letting on.
He just isn't.
He just isn't.
FunkyChicken
Registered User
- Jul 24, 2003
- 2,382
- 825
Chia needs a slap on the side of the head if this is true.
These are the type of deals that absolutely kill you cap long-term.
We're risking the long-term quality of this team for Russell? Be better Chia, don't screw the cap up like you did with Boston.
These are the type of deals that absolutely kill you cap long-term.
We're risking the long-term quality of this team for Russell? Be better Chia, don't screw the cap up like you did with Boston.
StupidGenius
Registered User
- Apr 1, 2013
- 1,153
- 1,378
If it winds up being 4x4, I hope it's structured so it's about 5, 4.5, 3.5 and 3 to help facilitate a trade in years three or four if needed.
Lover having Larsson, Klefbom and Sekera locked in to our tip four, but I'd like room for a Nurse or Benning there in a couple seasons. Don't want to pay Russell 4 million to play third line minutes with PK.
Lover having Larsson, Klefbom and Sekera locked in to our tip four, but I'd like room for a Nurse or Benning there in a couple seasons. Don't want to pay Russell 4 million to play third line minutes with PK.
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