Quote:
Originally Posted by CroFlames
The NHL has a salary cap? Since when?!
|
You joke but when I see posts like yours I'm left to wonder if it's forgotten.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Major Major
Sorry but are we presuming to know what the Russell's ask is? I agree with what you say, but it is possible to look at this situation with an open mind rather than having a fixed opinion based on imagined information.
There are three variables at play:
Flames position at trade deadline relative to the playoffs.
Russell's contract demands.
Trade value.
We know none of these things right now. I can tell you this though, there are viable scenarios where he is extended prior to trade deadline, traded at or before trade deadline, retained past deadline and lost as a UFA (the horror), and retained beyond deadline but re-signed at some point.
|
You're right we don't know what Russell's asking price is but I think we can assume it isn't cheap. If he hits the open market as a UFA, he's going to get paid. One has to imagine he hits 4.5/per easily and maybe more.
That doesn't really work in the Flames budget IMO, especially with contracts to Monahan and Gaudreau this summer and Bennett next.
A cap season means identifying your key players and jettisoning those who aren't when they become too expensive in their roles. You want young players to continue to move up through the system and fill those spots. It might not always work but that's a cap system for you. There will probably be holes in your team.
Not trading Russell and losing him as a UFA would not be good IMO. The price for a depth blueliner at the deadline is always a high price. The blow for not moving Camalleri was softened due to how abysmal the market was then. I also buy Burke's logic about not caving with minutes to go, but that's another discussion.