[Rumour] Flames still trying to re-sign Russell

[AC]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

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

What makes them high danger? Is it because you could say they occur in... the danger zone?

[Cali Panthers Fan]

Again, I could go either way on Russell, especially if you can get some good assets for him. However, I worry that we really need a decent top 4 d-man for 2-3 years until our better d-prospects are ready. The arguments here are all compelling, but nobody is addressing this problem.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by AC

What makes them high danger? Is it because you could say they occur in... the danger zone?

They're more dangerous than regular chances?

There's a highway to that zone

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by AC

What makes them high danger? Is it because you could say they occur in... the danger zone?

All scoring chances occur in the danger zone (the home plate). High danger chances are those right in front of the crease.

[Vulcan]

The Flames are still the 29th ranked team in terms of weight in the league. Do we really want to keep one of the smallest defencemen in the league who keeps getting hemmed in his own zone. If we ever want to beat the Ducks we need to get bigger and meaner and the way our team is built, we don't have room for him. On another bigger team and paired with a big mean partner, I could see him having success as he does have a pretty good skill set.

http://mirtle.blogspot.ca/2015/10/20...eight-and.html

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

Again, I could go either way on Russell, especially if you can get some good assets for him. However, I worry that we really need a decent top 4 d-man for 2-3 years until our better d-prospects are ready. The arguments here are all compelling, but nobody is addressing this problem.

My thoughts exactly.

I am all for trading Russell, but they really need him, or a replacement #4 that would cost just as much, for a while - let's call it a couple years.

So do you sign him and then look to move him in two years? Or do you trade him and accept that there is a hole in the D for a while?

I like Russell (a lot more than some people, apparently), but I still lean towards trade. However, if he is signed for a decent price, I am not going to lose my mind.

[Monahan For Mayor]

What's going on with the Dan Hamuis negotiations ? And what kind of money would he ask for a 2 year deal ? I'd much rather sign him than Russell.

[Samuelsson]

Shame we've got nearly $12m per year committed to our 6th, 7th, and 8th D guys, otherwise I absolutely would not mind re-signing him.

As it is, we need to shed some weight and get whatever picks we can for him, and then in 2 years we can go and sign those actual 4/5/6 with skill with the spare $

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by Monahan For Mayor

What's going on with the Dan Hamuis negotiations ? And what kind of money would he ask for a 2 year deal ? I'd much rather sign him than Russell.

I'd rather have Russell.

Very interested in what happens with Hamhuis this year. Is he traded at the deadline? He should be, but there may not be interest for what the canucks might ask for. Does he re-sign with the Canucks? Probably, but for how much?

He's had a Wade Redden like fall from grace in the last season. That may be overstating things a bit, but in the Canuck games I've seen this season, things are not looking up for his NHL career. He looks slow and unskilled.

[H2SO4(aq)]

Trade him at deadline, sign him July 1.

[Vinny01]

If the Cowen rumors have any truth an ideal situation would be Cowen for Wideman (Flames save $2.15 in cap going into the summer) then flip Russell for picks.

Flames would add some valuable picks and replace Russell with a big body 24 year old LHD. If Cowen couldn't play with Hamilton than Smid or Nakladal could get a look.

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

If the Cowen rumors have any truth an ideal situation would be Cowen for Wideman (Flames save $2.15 in cap going into the summer) then flip Russell for picks.

Flames would add some valuable picks and replace Russell with a big body 24 year old LHD. If Cowen couldn't play with Hamilton than Smid or Nakladal could get a look.

The problem with that is that Cowen is terrible. Worse than Russell even.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

The problem with that is that Cowen is terrible. Worse than Russell even.

If that is the case the Flames still have Smid, Nakladal, or Engellend. They save money on the cap and get assets for Russell. Cowen has been brutal this year but at 24 he is not completely written off.

[sureLoss]

One thing to also consider is that Cowen will need a $4.5 million qualifying offer to retain his RFA rights when his current contract is over.

That in itself is pretty ugly.

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

If that is the case the Flames still have Smid, Nakladal, or Engellend. They save money on the cap and get assets for Russell. Cowen has been brutal this year but at 24 he is not completely written off.

At this point, I think a pick and the roster spot is more valuable than what Cowen brings. He's bad. There's plenty of players internally that could step-up as you've mentioned. Smid and Eng. have been pleasantly decent in their roles this season (and we're likely going to be stuck with them until they can play up to improve their trade value).

[Gaskal]

I would not consider Russell a #4 defenceman - he's more of a decent #5-6, but given our smaller team I would much rather have a physical, defensively responsible guy in that spot alongside Dougie until someone like Kylington is ready to make the next step.

[Mr.Coffee]

Personally I think I consider trading Russell for a couple reasons:

a) I get the impression he is considered underrated by many teams around the league. One could probably use that to leverage greater value than retention of the player in a trade.

b) I think we are strong on defence, and if packaged properly could address our main issue, namely, goaltending to one of the teams that have a dual starter situation, like Detroit or Dallas that may be in need of a mobile defenseman.

Is Calgary better with a much better goalie, sans Russell or a the status quo... I think the former.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

One thing to also consider is that Cowen will need a $4.5 million qualifying offer to retain his RFA rights when his current contract is over.

That in itself is pretty ugly.

But you'd have to think that Cowen knows he isn't getting a sniff of that on the market.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by MoreDrank

At this point, I think a pick and the roster spot is more valuable than what Cowen brings. He's bad. There's plenty of players internally that could step-up as you've mentioned. Smid and Eng. have been pleasantly decent in their roles this season (and we're likely going to be stuck with them until they can play up to improve their trade value).

I see it as a way to get rid of Wideman to be honest. I don't see a ton of teams lining up to take on that salary and if they do they want to send back an equally as bad contract. Cowen has a $3.1M cap hit but $4.5M salary.

It is a roll of the dice but the Flames get a big body LHD that was a high pick and still 24 years old. The Flames need cap space in the summer as this team is loaded with bad money. Wideman, Raymond, Smid, Engellend, Bollig all with one year left take up ~$16M. Stajan is also over $3M for 2 more years. Not one of those players is a top 6 forward or top 4 D. One of those Dmen are scratches every game and Bollig/Raymond are often scratched.

Cowen for Wideman saves $2M which is valuable space. If it also stops Trelivng from signing Russell to a long term deal then that is even better

[MoreDrank]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

I see it as a way to get rid of Wideman to be honest. I don't see a ton of teams lining up to take on that salary and if they do they want to send back an equally as bad contract. Cowen has a $3.1M cap hit but $4.5M salary.

It is a roll of the dice but the Flames get a big body LHD that was a high pick and still 24 years old. The Flames need cap space in the summer as this team is loaded with bad money. Wideman, Raymond, Smid, Engellend, Bollig all with one year left take up ~$16M. Stajan is also over $3M for 2 more years. Not one of those players is a top 6 forward or top 4 D. One of those Dmen are scratches every game and Bollig/Raymond are often scratched.

Cowen for Wideman saves $2M which is valuable space. If it also stops Trelivng from signing Russell to a long term deal then that is even better

From this perspective, the move actually makes a lot of sense, depending on how things shake down.