[News] Flames begin contract negotiations with Russell

[Rick M.]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

All I am hoping for is for the Flames to be able to find suitors for Smid and Engelland between now and this time next year so that they can put Kulak and one of Morrison/Wotherspoon in full time.

I expect Andersson will be knocking on the door this time next year, also.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by Rick M.

I expect Andersson will be knocking on the door this time next year, also.

[handgroen]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

he made a strong impression at camp this year, and i think he and many other people in the organization will consider it a disappointment if he can't make the team out of camp next year.


I don't think it should affect the russell negotiations, but these are good problems to have people.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by handgroen

he made a strong impression at camp this year, and i think he and many other people in the organization will consider it a disappointment if he can't make the team out of camp next year.

... Jumping into this team straight out of Junior without having played in the system and defending at a pro level is highly unlikely for Andersson. Maybe he'll be one of the penultimate cuts, like Sieloff and Morrison were this year, but that's it. He'll spend at least half a year in Stockton.

[cofias]

Russell gets owned in his own zone. Moves the puck really well but is a 4th defenseman at best. We should pay him no more than 3.25M/year. He will likely be replaced internally within 2-3 years anyhow, with our abundance of young puck-moving two-way D who happen to not be smurfs like Russell.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by handgroen

he made a strong impression at camp this year, and i think he and many other people in the organization will consider it a disappointment if he can't make the team out of camp next year.


I don't think it should affect the russell negotiations, but these are good problems to have people.

I don't think anyone in the organization will be disappointed if Andersson didn't make one of the best NHL blue lines in the league in his second try

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by handgroen

he made a strong impression at camp this year, and i think he and many other people in the organization will consider it a disappointment if he can't make the team out of camp next year.

Since the 2010 Draft, exactly one defenseman chosen in the second round has made his NHL team by the second season from his draft year. And that was Justin Faulk, out of his first year of college after developing in the USHL. Not one defenseman drafted from the CHL has done it. Out of that same 2010 draft, 2 out of 8 D taken in the second round have yet to play a single NHL game.

Am I down on Rasmus Andersson? No, of course not. He had a great camp. Am I thinking he can do something no other CHL defenseman has done in 5 years, and that it will be disappointing if he doesn't? No, of course not.

[Itse]

I'm pretty confident this will be a good contract for the team. BT has proven himself as a negotiator, and I doubt Russell is keen to try out his luck in the UFA, given the direction that market has been going. Plus Russell has a really good thing going here. He's well liked by the coach, a favourite of many fans, he fits the system and is part of a good D-core where he's likely to get good partners. Plus the team overall is heading in the right direction and could easily be a strong cup contender very soon.

Money would be the only reason to want out, and there's no guarantee that he'd get a better contract elsewhere.

I'm thinking 3M for 3 years, maybe 3.3M. It's not a huge raise but still good money. I don't think the team wants to commit for much longer.

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by cofias

Russell gets owned in his own zone. Moves the puck really well but is a 4th defenseman at best. We should pay him no more than 3.25M/year. He will likely be replaced internally within 2-3 years anyhow, with our abundance of young puck-moving two-way D who happen to not be smurfs like Russell.

Strongly disagree with this statement. It's hard to get owned in your own zone when you move the puck well out of it. Sure, he might get outsized in the corners due to bigger opposing forwards, but he is positionally sound and is effective in his own end for a second pairing defensemen. I do agree on the price you say we should pay him though

[HelloHockeyFans]

Treliving's a smart guy and obviously has the team's future situation in mind. Russell strikes me as a team guy and appreciative of what he has. I think he'll sign for less than what people might assume he'd get as a free agent, but he likely knows his situation and remembers being on waivers not too long ago, so I bet he signs for something very reasonable.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

Treliving's a smart guy and obviously has the team's future situation in mind. Russell strikes me as a team guy and appreciative of what he has. I think he'll sign for less than what people might assume he'd get as a free agent, but he likely knows his situation and remembers being on waivers not too long ago, so I bet he signs for something very reasonable.

He likely also sees what is happening to Glencross and others. If you take a little less, make it longer. Otherwise, don't take less.

[CroFlames]

I wouldn't be disappointed if he got the same contract Gio did.


Jokes, obviously. But if he's making around 3 million a year for lets say 3 to 5 years, I think it's a fair deal for both sides. I think BT holds the edge in negotiations. UFA for whatever reason just isn't what it used to be. If I was Russell, I'd do almost anything to stay with the Flames. Why move to a new organization with unknown working conditions, for possibly a few hundred grand more, or possibly less? If I'm Russell and I like Calgary, I would make it work.

3 millionish x 4 yearsish would make sense to me.

[-TC-]

He's core IMHO, get it done Brad.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

He's a core player to me as well. He doesn't get owned in his zone either. He is very tough and can take a big hit or a big forechecker. He keeps his feet moving and doesn't ever quit on a play. If we can sign him under 4 it would be one of the best contracts on the team. He's apart of our culture. He may be our best option for power play entries asides from Gaudreau or a dump in. He thrives in bobs system. I would be very sad to see Russell walk. Same with Jiri who I believe is the most underappreciated part of our quick rebuild.

We can't make decisions based on size. Some of our best players are under 6 feet tall. We just need to make up for it with players like ferland bouma Hamilton jones colborne engelland etc. Kris is a fantastic player and sometimes I wonder if we're all watching the same team.

[dash_pinched]

Crumpy summed it up for me very nicely. That said, I think Flames fans will be pleased with what the final terms will be (3.5 million for 3 years would be fine, if Russell wants one more year tacked on, that's still ok).

[Benched]

I feel if/when they re-sign russell, that means that Wideman is on the block....just don't see how we can keep everyone and one of those 2 Dmen were on my 'probably gunna go' list...

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Spoiler!

I don't think that's crazy at all. He might have made the team this year if he was in better shape.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by Crumpy-Gunt

He's a core player to me as well. He doesn't get owned in his zone either. He is very tough and can take a big hit or a big forechecker. He keeps his feet moving and doesn't ever quit on a play. If we can sign him under 4 it would be one of the best contracts on the team. He's apart of our culture. He may be our best option for power play entries asides from Gaudreau or a dump in. He thrives in bobs system. I would be very sad to see Russell walk. Same with Jiri who I believe is the most underappreciated part of our quick rebuild.

We can't make decisions based on size. Some of our best players are under 6 feet tall. We just need to make up for it with players like ferland bouma Hamilton jones colborne engelland etc. Kris is a fantastic player and sometimes I wonder if we're all watching the same team.

I don't know if we can have 4 core guys on D. That's too many if you want to remain balanced. Time will tell what kind of contract he gets, but this team has selected it's Core on D already, and that's Gio, Brodie and Hamiliton. Great spot to be in, but BT needs to be conscious of that in this negotiation as I'm sure he will be.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

Sorry I should clarify. I don't mean core as in the group including Brodie Hamilton Johnny Monahan Bennett giordano Hudler. What I should have said is he's a big part of this teams identity and locker room. He was on a waiver not so long ago and has earned absolutely everything. He plays his butt off and in that sense he is a good leader and in my opinion he is worth keeping around as a placeholder for the young defencemen i.e. Hickey Kylington rasmus etc

Like the Stajan of our d core who can play up and down the lineup and with anybody.

[Crumpy-Gunt]

I think wideman will be traded. Wideman and jones are 2 guys I'm sure we've looked at moving for different reasons. Wideman because we can't keep him and sign the young players plus he is as high value as he will ever be coming off a career year. Jones because he is always injured and only played physical in the playoffs which was awesome but he needs to stay healthy and be consistent

I think hiller, Raymond, smid, jones, wideman should be enough players gone by the draft to make space to sign the youngsters.