Rumor: Kris Russell to Edmonton 1 year/3.1 million?

[Cassano]

Russell is hot garbage. He's pretty much a Dan Girardi clone.

 

[VanJack]

It's kinda shocking that this guy was such a hot commodity at the trade deadline and now can't even land a contract. Was he over-rated? Hard to understand what's happening here.

 

[Drew4u]

Russell probably wants to much money. He isnt a bad defencemen could probably be a decent third pairing guy.

 

[Wish You Were Here]

At his best, Kris Russell is a #4 or #5 D.

Great skater, decent passer, awesome shot blocker, and that's pretty much it.

$2.5M is a good number for him.

 

[serp]

I think it was reported somewhere that what Russel wants most is long-term security and thats something a bottom pairing guy doesn't really get especially not an extremely undersized bottom pairing guy already 29 .

 

[DJJones]

Still think he's waiting for Calgary to make room for him.

Not sure how they are going to do it though.

 

[Curufinwe]

If they LTIR Smid, then they could afford him at around $2.5m.

If they wait to use LTIR on Smid till after the season officially starts on October 11th, they can maximize their cap space. That's what the Flyers used to do with Pronger.

 

[tony d]

Wouldn't mind Ottawa going for him.

 

[WTFMAN99]

I feel like he probably got a better offer on July 1st then he's going to sign now.

 

[JFHockey]

If they LTIR Smid, then they could afford him at around $2.5m.

If they wait to use LTIR on Smid till after the season officially starts on October 11th, they can maximize their cap space. That's what the Flyers used to do with Pronger.

Sounds like that's exactly whats happening with Smid, flames currently have ~$8M in cap (most of which will be going to Gaudreau) and Smid's cap hit is $3.5M, which is plenty to sign Russell with. By all accounts Treliving and Russell have a handshake agreement and are biding their time.

looking at nhlnumbers.com gets me excited about having Smid ($3.5M), Wideman ($5.75M), Engelland ($3.0M) and Bollig ($1.3M) coming of the books next year ($13.6M Total), with Bennett being the only player getting a big raise (he should go from $3M to ~$6M).

 

[WhatWhat]

He was traded as a rental at the deadline for a 2nd, a solid prospect and another legit NHL defender who has pretty solid upside.

So, yeah.

It was a 2nd, a prospect that didn't take it to the next level in his +2 year and a young bottom pairing guy. People make that deal out to be a haul when it's not that big. Only piece to lose sleep over in that deal from Dallas is the second.


And besides that's the price you pay at the deadline. Russel isn't over rated he is what he is a solid 3rd pairing who blocks and can step up to the second if absolutely needed

 

[WhatWhat]

Russell is a 5/6 on any team in the league and can step up if there is an injury. If you disagree than your just ignorant and enjoy treating Russell like hes the Nickleback of HF.

Perfectly summed up. As a stars fan if we weren't carrying 8 D again with kids not playing because of waivers I would have taken hik back as a 3rd pair LD

 

[Volica]

Sounds like that's exactly whats happening with Smid, flames currently have ~$8M in cap (most of which will be going to Gaudreau) and Smid's cap hit is $3.5M, which is plenty to sign Russell with. By all accounts Treliving and Russell have a handshake agreement and are biding their time.

looking at nhlnumbers.com gets me excited about having Smid ($3.5M), Wideman ($5.75M), Engelland ($3.0M) and Bollig ($1.3M) coming of the books next year ($13.6M Total), with Bennett being the only player getting a big raise (he should go from $3M to ~$6M).

Yup, next summer Calgary dumps a lot of bad contracts. They'll need to resign a goalie as well; but I don't think Elliott is at a point in his career where he can demand major paydays (like 6+ million, I think we're looking at 5x3 or something). Some other RFA's that'll need contracts, but nothing major at all. Everything will be sub 1 million unless Ferland manages a monster season. The year after another round of 'meh' contracts go out the door with Staj and Bouma; gives Calgary the space to give Backlund his likely raise, and save some cap for Tkachuk.

Russell I'm perfectly fine with in Calgary. He was shell shocked last year with Hartley's system. In Dallas he looked fine with the support; he's a capable 4-5 in the NHL. Unfortunately for Calgary, if they sign Russell, it means that Wotherspoon and Kulak will have to either wait a year, or go elsewhere for an opportunity. Both guys are damn near NHL ready at this point.

 

[Flamesjustwin]

He's a very good #5/6 who can step in as a #4 pretty easily.

I think he's waiting for something to happen with the Flames before signing there.

Why though? We don't need him.

Gio/Brodie
Jokipakka/Hamilton
Englland/Wideman

Kulak/Wotherspoon.

There is no room.

 

[JFHockey]

Why though? We don't need him.

Gio/Brodie
Jokipakka/Hamilton
Englland/Wideman

Kulak/Wotherspoon.

There is no room.

Engelland is slow and getting slower, he'll probably get sat against the speedier teams.
Wideman is the same, but will be played against speedier teams.
Jokipakka is still young and needs some sheltering.
Kulak & Wotherspoon will need to be slowly integrated into the team (if they ever even become NHLers).

Russell provides defensive depth that could make a big difference.

 

[serp]

Perfectly summed up. As a stars fan if we weren't carrying 8 D again with kids not playing because of waivers I would have taken hik back as a 3rd pair LD

I wouldn't have . He was barely better than Jordie Benn for us who came back really really cheap .

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Why though? We don't need him.

Gio/Brodie
Jokipakka/Hamilton
Englland/Wideman

Kulak/Wotherspoon.

There is no room.

He's better than either of your bottom pair guys, certainly better than Wideman and he's cheaper or at least should be since it's now the last day of September

 

[MillerTime2181]

Sounds like that's exactly whats happening with Smid, flames currently have ~$8M in cap (most of which will be going to Gaudreau) and Smid's cap hit is $3.5M, which is plenty to sign Russell with. By all accounts Treliving and Russell have a handshake agreement and are biding their time.

looking at nhlnumbers.com gets me excited about having Smid ($3.5M), Wideman ($5.75M), Engelland ($3.0M) and Bollig ($1.3M) coming of the books next year ($13.6M Total), with Bennett being the only player getting a big raise (he should go from $3M to ~$6M).

Just curious though. If that's the case (and it's certainly plausible) why wouldn't the Flames have brought in Russell on a PTO so he could at least have been practicing with the team this whole time until cap space is made?

 

[ATypicalCanadian]

speculation was they offered the same

the debate is why Canucks did not return the call


Nuck fans are still debating why both Hamhuis and Vrbata were canucks after the deadline

If I remember right Vrbata didn't want to move because his wife was pregnant and expecting soon.

Regarding Hamhuis, that's on management they kept sitting on their hands and they said the offer for progressively worse(Dallas tried acquiring both I think ?)

 

[cwede]

I feel like he probably got a better offer on July 1st then he's going to sign now.

yeah, look at this week's Quincy and Seidenberg deals - well under $2M

each summer there are a 10-20 guys on the market, with 6 or more full NHL seasons, who in today's NHL are bottom 3 guys, who can play more when needed, who are easily replaced by a young guy almost as good

 

[Curufinwe]

Sounds like that's exactly whats happening with Smid, flames currently have ~$8M in cap (most of which will be going to Gaudreau) and Smid's cap hit is $3.5M, which is plenty to sign Russell with. By all accounts Treliving and Russell have a handshake agreement and are biding their time.

looking at nhlnumbers.com gets me excited about having Smid ($3.5M), Wideman ($5.75M), Engelland ($3.0M) and Bollig ($1.3M) coming of the books next year ($13.6M Total), with Bennett being the only player getting a big raise (he should go from $3M to ~$6M).

Yeah, once you guys get thru this season the cap situation will improve dramatically.

We were like that last year with Umberger and Vinny still on the team, both with NMCs that prevented them being demoted to the AHL.

 

[redfire11]

I would rather see the Flames bring back Nakladal than sign Russel. Nakladal would then take over Engeland's position next year. Wotherspoon and Kulak should be given a strong look this year.

 

[JFHockey]

Just curious though. If that's the case (and it's certainly plausible) why wouldn't the Flames have brought in Russell on a PTO so he could at least have been practicing with the team this whole time until cap space is made?

I can only speculate (and I don't really know how PTO contracts work). Russell may consider a PTO below his status and doesn't want to be seen as a PTO level player. It's also still possible some team offers Russell a much more lucrative contract than the flames have and he'd rather not have a PTO with them if that happens. I know I said they have a handshake agreement, but Treliving wouldn't fault Russell for jumping ship if someone backs up the money truck.

 

[DJJones]

Ya going for a PTO just looks bad from Kris's POV.

Only way I'd want Russell is if somehow we got rid of two out of Engelland, Wideman, and Jokki. I don't see how we can do that though.

I would rather Nakladal and Kulak to get bottom pairing minutes.

 

[Seanaconda]

It's kinda shocking that this guy was such a hot commodity at the trade deadline and now can't even land a contract. Was he over-rated? Hard to understand what's happening here.

Awful advanced stats. Dallas didn't even want him at the deadline but Benning was being stubborn. Blocks alot of shots but that's not even a good stat cuz it probably means you just suck defensively.