[Signing] Flames sign Russell to 2 year extension ($2.6M AAV) - Page 6 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

FlameZilla · 02-08-2014, 08:08 PM

I like Russell. Glad he's decided to stick around.

Neeper · 02-08-2014, 08:35 PM

Not really much to add to this thread than what's already been said. I'm glad he's locked up for another 2 years. I hope proves himself and scores a big contract the next time around.

kingkahuna · 02-08-2014, 09:36 PM

Good contract Flames term and dollars wise. Good contract for Russell being from Alberta and most likely wanting to stay close to home.

-TC- · 02-08-2014, 10:07 PM

solid deal, very solid

Iceman90 · 02-08-2014, 11:17 PM

I am happy he'll be sticking around for a few more years, I like him.

The term and dollars are very doable based on where the team is at.

Kaine · 02-08-2014, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I think he is just being smart. It was only a year ago that he was passed over waiver bait by St. Louis. There have been a few players in similar situations that demanded more money and ended up having their salaries buried in the AHL when they couldn't live up to it. (which hurts their long term earning power).

Russell found a good fit here and made a smart decision by not asking for the moon.

Totally agree, although I do feel he would fit well on a lot of teams with the way he is playing (assuming of course he could continue this pace) but he certainly was smart enough to know he has a good thing going with this team.

It's rare to see players not chase the "now money" and think a little more long term.

Azure · 02-08-2014, 11:42 PM

If Russel actually pans out over the long term and turns into the solid top 4 guy that we think it is, trading for him could go down as one of the biggest steals for the Flames in a long while.

I think it was simply a stab in the dark by Feaster though.

dying4acup · 02-08-2014, 11:47 PM

He is a perfect transition player. Good age, good skill. Team friendly term and cap hit. If a young player or 2 beat him out for a job, it wouldn't kill us to put him on waivers and lose him, or pay him in the AHL. Easy contract to package in trade. Local kid, could be a good mentor on the farm if need be. I don't think there is any NTC or NMC. At least I hope there isn't.

I don't necessarily think he will be around when this team gets back to the playoffs, but you never know...

SHOGUN · 02-08-2014, 11:51 PM

"Haven't seen a ton of Flames games this year, but I got that chance to see them live at MSG, and Russell was incredibly impressive, was maybe the best player on the ice.

Good to see he's found a niche in Calgary. Nice signing."

- Quote from a Rangers fan on HFboards.

Flash Walken · 02-08-2014, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thymebalm

Another good Feaster move. Burke said Feaster was the problem, but he likes Russell, Poirer, Klimchuk, and Kanzig good enough...

I'm starting to feel bad for Feaster watching the Heat be one of the best teams in the league and seeing his guys do well and get locked up.

Sure, I know, O'Brien, Jones, Galiardi have been busts... I didn't say he was perfect, but he did a good job adding pieces in his tenure.

Would you trade Monahan and a third round pick for Ryan O'Reilly?

Case closed.

dying4acup · 02-09-2014, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Would you trade Monahan and a third round pick for Ryan O'Reilly?

Case closed.

I have to think this was a determining factor. And I have to think that this alone prevent Jay from working in the NHL again. This and not actually being able to actually evaluate talent without advanced stats.

SeanCharles · 02-09-2014, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dying4acup

He is a perfect transition player. Good age, good skill. Team friendly term and cap hit. If a young player or 2 beat him out for a job, it wouldn't kill us to put him on waivers and lose him, or pay him in the AHL. Easy contract to package in trade. Local kid, could be a good mentor on the farm if need be. I don't think there is any NTC or NMC. At least I hope there isn't.

I don't necessarily think he will be around when this team gets back to the playoffs, but you never know...

Never going to happen!

dying4acup · 02-09-2014, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Never going to happen!

Never say never. He could turn into Derick Smith. I don't expect so, given that his resume going into this season was slightly better, but I don't think he cracks the roster of any playoff team, and I don't think Gio, Brodie, Smid, or Wideman are going anywhere in the next 2yrs.
I also expect the flames to graduate at least one defenseman a year over the next 2yrs.

Textcritic · 02-09-2014, 12:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calgARI

Feaster made some good moves for sure. His downfall was that he had no plan. Ever. And what little plans he did have, he changed frequently. He had no idea how to build a hockey team. Love or hate Burke's approach, he knows exactly what he wants and has an unwavering approach to ensure that vision is realised...

Yeah, I don't buy that. Feaster was a master of self-preservation by his ability to quickly shift gears last season, and to embrace a rebuild when only a year prior he insisted that he was not interested in overseeing one. While I agree that he made some glaring errors that cost him his job, Feaster did a lot of positive things, and I think it is incredibly naïve to assert from the sidelines that he "had no plan".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

Would you trade Monahan and a third round pick for Ryan O'Reilly?

Neither would Feaster. When O'Reilly signed the Flames' offer sheet, they were in the thick of a playoff hunt, and not really a threat to finish with a lottery pick. Everything about the O'Reilly deal indicated that Feaster's intention was to push for the playoffs, and I'm quite certain that he imagined the pick to be in the 15–20 range, especially given the expectation that O'Reilly would have improved the team.

Textcritic · 02-09-2014, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dying4acup

...This and not actually being able to actually evaluate talent without advanced stats.

What the hell does this even mean?

Alberta_Beef · 02-09-2014, 12:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What the hell does this even mean?

I think he is claiming Feaster has no ability to scout players except through advance stats.

Not sure why that matters because that is what our pro scouts Michel Goulet, Steve Leach and Steve Pleau are around for.

dying4acup · 02-09-2014, 01:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

What the hell does this even mean?

At the end of the day, I believe an NHL GM must be able to watch a player outside of the NHL play hockey, on ice, and make a judgement on what he should or could or would be, without looking at statistics. Even Brian Burke, who is self-admittedly not the greatest talent evaluator (like dale tallon) The GM might be wrong sometimes, but he should be able to do it.

If Burke had not judged for himself that the Sedins could change the Canucks franchise, after watching them himself, then do you think he would have gone all-in for them at the draft the way he did.

That is the signature difference between a lawyer, and an NHL GM.

puckluck2 · 02-09-2014, 01:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Neither would Feaster. When O'Reilly signed the Flames' offer sheet, they were in the thick of a playoff hunt, and not really a threat to finish with a lottery pick. Everything about the O'Reilly deal indicated that Feaster's intention was to push for the playoffs, and I'm quite certain that he imagined the pick to be in the 15–20 range, especially given the expectation that O'Reilly would have improved the team.

Were they? They were second last in the West and had a pretty crappy record and 25th in the NHL. But I can't blame Feaster for doing what he did. If Edmonton wins one more game they end up with Monahan and we would have ended up with a player not as good as ROR. So It is easy to look back and judge stuff with hindsight. It was ballsy and it could have worked. Actually more times than not I think it could work out in our favor.

dying4acup · 02-09-2014, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Were they? They were second last in the West and had a pretty crappy record and 25th in the NHL. But I can't blame Feaster for doing what he did. If Edmonton wins one more game they end up with Monahan and we would have ended up with a player not as good as ROR. So It is easy to look back and judge stuff with hindsight. It was ballsy and it could have worked. Actually more times than not I think it could work out in our favor.

And yet Colorado still finished behind us.

Alberta_Beef · 02-09-2014, 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puckluck2

Were they? They were second last in the West and had a pretty crappy record and 25th in the NHL. But I can't blame Feaster for doing what he did. If Edmonton wins one more game they end up with Monahan and we would have ended up with a player not as good as ROR. So It is easy to look back and judge stuff with hindsight. It was ballsy and it could have worked. Actually more times than not I think it could work out in our favor.

you are missing his point.

At the time of the offer sheet the Flames were going to try and push for the playoffs, the Flames were 12th in the West and 3 points behind 8th place.

It is completely reasonable to think that the team would have improved adding a centre like ROR to the mix.