[Rumour] Flames still trying to re-sign Russell

[heep223]

Originally Posted by saillias

In a tiny sample size Kulak is above 50%. https://public.tableau.com/profile/s...es-/Dashboard1

That said, neither Sieloff or Kulak are the best or even one of the three best D-men in Stockton anyway.

Who are?

[saillias]

Originally Posted by heep223

Who are?

Nakladal
Johnson
Kylington

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by heep223

What would Sieloff or Kulak's advanced stats look like in the NHL I wonder?

With Seilof or Kulak in the lineup, would Calgary be measurably better or worse than the current 26th Overall?

My opinion: they'd be better.

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by saillias

Nakladal
Johnson
Kylington

Still 18 year old Oliver Kylington right?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by heep223

Russell plays 20 minutes per night for the team. Including key PK minutes. If Russell wasn't good, wouldn't he be playing 8 mins on the third pairing and Wideman would move up (who has been quite bad). Is Hartley really that blind? If so, that's hugely concerning. Why would Hartley be playing him in a top 4 role if he wasn't good? Why would Treliving be trying to re-sign him?

1) Anybody on this roster, even Engelland can kill penalties. If anything, having Hamilton on the PK instead could be better for us going forward as he can actually break up a cycle. We have the 30th ranked PK, there's nowhere to go but up.

2) Russell plays too many minutes for the team as it is. We're a bad possession team and when you dig into it, our top pairing is strong at possession, and third pairings rarely affect overall possession. Improving the possession of our middle pairing will go a long way. It's not just possession though. Does Russell contribute points? No.

3) We won quite a few games while Russell was injured, and most in a pretty impressive manner, especially the Blackhawks win where our defense gave the opponent zero time and space

4) Hartley's playing Russell in a top 4 role because it's what he's comfortable with. That doesn't mean Hartley's always right or that we should trust him to always be right, nor does that mean Hartley's an idiot who's out to lunch. I argued over the summer that David Schlemko would be an upgrade over Russell or Wideman and that's exactly what he's looking like over in New Jersey. Yet Hartley just couldn't get comfy with Schlemko in a top 4 role over Deryk Freakin Engelland even though Brodie-Engelland was painful to watch.

5) Treliving also signed Deryk Engelland, traded for Brandon Bollig, let Schlemko walk as a UFA despite being one of our best performers down the stretch, and waived Paul Byron who's already set a career high in goals in half a season. He's not going to make the best decision every time, we only ope he does as often as possible. Russell is not a bad player to have on roster. But is he a good player to have in a top 4 role? Will a prospect ever "unseat" Russell so long as he's here?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

With Seilof or Kulak in the lineup, would Calgary be measurably better or worse than the current 26th Overall?

My opinion: they'd be better.

The team isn't 26th overall because of the bottom pairing. The goaltending gave up 4+ goals 15 times before Christmas, Mark Giordano was having a bad start, Dougie Hamilton was adjusting to a new system, and TJ Brodie had a broken hand.

No bottom 3 D in the world could be expected to counter that.

[Benched]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

we only ope he does as often as possible.

channeling your inner Bob 'artley there.


But yeah completely agree with your post.

[The Yen Man]

I want Russell traded as soon as possible, not because I think he's a bad dman, it's just that the longer he's with the team, the higher the chance he's extended to a contract. I have a real bad feeling the contract is going to be north of $4M, and will handicap the team long term.

Russell's ok as a 4-6 dman, but his shortcomings aren't something he can overcome, which is namely his size. He is not strong enough to separate the puck from the forwards coming in, so he backs up and relies on his shot blocking.

I'm not questioning his heart or determination, and I'm sure the guy is awesome in the dressing room. It's too bad, because I like Russell too, I just think we'll regret extending him if that happens.

[heep223]

I'll throw in one last thing and then shut up on this topic.

The apparent interest in Russell shows that other NHL GMs think that he is a useful player.

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by heep223

I'll throw in one last thing and then shut up on this topic.

The apparent interest in Russell shows that other NHL GMs think that he is a useful player.

He is particularly valuable because he is a useful player but they don't have to worry about him for longer than a few months.

Russell might be Calgary's worst defender on the year. Maybe Engelland is worse.

Ever partner Russell has had has been better without him than with him. That's pretty damning considering the guy is supposed to a sound defensive player.

[SuperMatt18]

Originally Posted by heep223

I'll throw in one last thing and then shut up on this topic.

The apparent interest in Russell shows that other NHL GMs think that he is a useful player.

All the more reason to trade him.

We have 6 NHL d-men signed for next year already.

We have a very good top 3.

With the cap committed to our d-core already it doesn't make any sense to commit over $4million to the guy. We are a 26th place team, we need to let some of these guys go.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by heep223

What would Sieloff or Kulak's advanced stats look like in the NHL I wonder?

Kulak has a Scoring Chance For percentage of 54.3% and a High Danger Chance percentage of 62.5% this season.

Simply put, other than a few natural rookie mistakes (including one where Engelland covered for him beautifully), the Flames have been mostly dominant while Kulak's on the ice. That doesn't translate to +/- though, as nobody besides Johnny was finding the back of the net in October and bottom pairings are rarely overwhelming +'s anyways.

Is six games a small sample size? Yes. But it was the best our bottom pair has played all year. Compare to our bottom pair lately:

Engelland, his last six
games:
32.5% Scoring Chances
25% High Danger Chances

Yikes. Why Engelland keeps getting in over Smid is beyond me, ENgelland-Wideman is a nightmare pairing, and much less NHL ready than Brett Kulak.

Originally Posted by heep223

I'll throw in one last thing and then shut up on this topic.

The apparent interest in Russell shows that other NHL GMs think that he is a useful player.

I think he's a useful bottom pairing player who can step up to #4, heck #3 in injury situations.

I don't think he's a full time #4 though.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by heep223

I'll throw in one last thing and then shut up on this topic.

The apparent interest in Russell shows that other NHL GMs think that he is a useful player.

The guy is a very useful player. I would go so far as to say he has been our second best defenseman more nights than any other player. But this team is built with a big 3 on defense who need to play like it. I want to see Russel traded precisely because I think he can fetch a good return. Then you hope Gio fully returns to form and Hamilton continues to improve.

[MrMastodonFarm]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Kulak has a Scoring Chance For percentage of 54.3% and a High Danger Chance percentage of 62.5% this season.

lol@High Danger Chance. Who names this stuff.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by MrMastodonFarm

lol@High Danger Chance. Who names this stuff.

What's wrong with that? They're shots that have a statistically higher chance of going in. Ergo, High Danger

[WesternCanadaKing]

I think the things the Flames would miss from Russell are his shot blocking and skating. He has exceptional positioning too.

On the other hand, he's really bad in terms of possession because he can be easily physically dominated and has trouble completing plays.

The Flames are trying to be a puck moving team and he's deadweight in that regard.

[IgiTang]

I love Kris Russell. He's a heart and soul player who doesn't get overly emotional after a hard play. He's absolutely useful as a bottom 4 guy, ideally bottom 6. That said.. The direction of the team suggests he needs to be moved to get an asset back. He also isn't able to control the bigger body forwards. If he isn't putting up points, he isn't that useful to the Flames. That doesn't mean he couldn't be an incredible pickup for a contender to round out a blueline.

If he was retained, ideally it would be for 1 year while we move Wideman.

I like the idea of retaining Smid and Engalland for their size and ability to handle larger forwards in front of the net. But either Wideman or Russell need to go to start rotating the guys in the AHL in.

Considering what I just said, Wideman has to go.
Russell can at least pass on his shot blocking techniques.

What can Wideman contribute to helping bring along a young Dman? Not really anything except as an example of what not to do all over the ice.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by WesternCanadaKing

I think the things the Flames would miss from Russell are his shot blocking and skating.

This is true.

Shots Blocked 2014-16 (5v5)
------------------------------
Corsi Against 2014-16 (5v5)

Mark Giordano - 10.2%
TJ Brodie - 8.9%
Dennis Wideman - 9.12%
Kris Russell - 14.1%


Basically, Russell is still the best shot blocker on this team despite being a possession black hole.

[Cheerio]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

This is true.

Shots Blocked 2014-16 (5v5)
------------------------------
Corsi Against 2014-16 (5v5)

Mark Giordano - 10.2%
TJ Brodie - 8.9%
Dennis Wideman - 9.12%
Kris Russell - 14.1%


Basically, Russell is still the best shot blocker on this team because he is a possession black hole.

Fixed this

[Poe969]

I think Russell would be great to keep as a #4 but the team just can't keep him unless they move a few contracts. Cut bait and gain some assets and move on.