Francis: Flames & Kris Russell are $1.5 million apart on AAV

[hockey.modern]

Russell’s intangibles could fetch Flames big return
http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/r...es-big-return/

The Flames would dearly love to keep Russell but the team and Russell’s agent are $1.5 million apart on what his annual take would be. On the open market this summer the unrestricted free agent is destined for a deal similar to the six-year, $33 million deals ($5.5 million annually) signed by Jeff Petry and Andrej Sekara. Russell’s numbers dwarf those of both players.

[Coach]

Trade him. Let him hit FA. Keep your price. Maybe he'll come back, maybe he won't. I'd like to have him back, but price is the biggest factor here.

[cofias]

Please trade Russell, for the love of God.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Interesting quotes from the Flames players on Russell.

Bollig:

“I don’t know if you can call him an unsung hero because we know his value,” said teammate Brandon Bollig.
“To the fan that doesn’t know a whole lot about hockey, he’s definitely one of the guys that’s underrated for sure. He brings a lot more to the team than points, obviously. Especially the way playoff hockey goes, having a guy like Russ on your side is huge.”

Bollig said Russell reminds him of Chicago’s Niklas Hjalmarsson with whom the Flames winger won a Stanley Cup with.

“Both are so good defensively and so willing to block shots and willing to do whatever it takes to keep the puck out of the back of the net – they’re similar in many ways,” he said.

“He brings so many things to the table off the ice too. He wears a letter (an “A”) for a reason. That’s why he’s a highly-sought-after guy in the league right now.”

Engelland:

Flames defenceman Deryk Engelland likens Russell to Paul Martin – quietly able to do anything asked of him.

“All year this year he battles through everything and he does everything – powerplay, penalty kill, he blocks shots, chips in offensively. He’s a big anchor for our back end,” he said.

“Like Pauly he’s not flashy and he doesn’t put up good numbers but he does everything well. They’ve got deceiving speed, they’re good with the puck. I didn’t really notice Pauly until I played with him and the same goes for Russ. He’s sneaky good. He’s a battler and a huge part.”


Bollig calling out some of you :P

[Vinny01]

Please trade him. If we sign him this summer so be it but do not blow this opportunity to get great assets

[Mass_nerder]

Russell at less than $3.5 million is manageable.
The problem is that Hartley will continue to play him as a #3, instead of the #5 he is.

[Roof-Daddy]

So are we assuming it's $5.5 million per vs. $4.0 million per?

[jg13]

I'm disgusted we're even offering him 4M AAV.

Trade him.

[Ashasx]

I just don't understand how anyone could justify paying $33 million over 6 years for Russell. That contract is an instant anchor.

If the Flames are offering $4 million AAV for any length of time, that's still beyond ridiculous.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

The problem is that Hartley will continue to play him as a #3, instead of the #5 he is.

Only if he doesn't have a better option. Hamilton may be trusted more next year too. A guy like Hamonic would allow Russell to slot in properly. If we drafted Chychrun he'd probably start on the 3rd pairing but might move up to the 2nd partway through the year. Maybe Wotherspoon would pass Russell at some point and play with Dougie. You can't really say for sure at this point. Allows annoys me when people pretend to know the future.

[tvp2003]

If Francis is correct, I'm assuming the Flames will do $4M per AAV but Russell wants the $5.5M that Petry/Sekera got? Because if the Flames are offering more than $4M I really have to wonder where all that money will come from (even after Wideman is gone/moved).

Also, if Russell is wanting $5.5M a year, does that scare off potential trade partners if that's simply too much to re-sign him at the end of the year?

[shotinthebacklund]

Where did francis get this info? I honestly don't trust the guy. Unless this was leaked intentionally which is possible i guess.

[TheScorpion]

Trade him. That's way too high

[FBI]

Hasta La Vista Arnold pic

[Dion]

I'm a huge Russell supporter who'd love to see him resigned. My problem lies with the amount he's supposedly asking for. Any team that pays 5.5 mill is going to regret that later. I like him at 3.5 mill and i'm sure the Flames would love to get him at that same amount.

Russell may end up finding that the grass is not always greener on the other side. He was a good fit for this team and may struggle to fit in elsewhere.

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Only if he doesn't have a better option. Hamilton may be trusted more next year too. A guy like Hamonic would allow Russell to slot in properly. If we drafted Chychrun he'd probably start on the 3rd pairing but might move up to the 2nd partway through the year. Maybe Wotherspoon would pass Russell at some point and play with Dougie. You can't really say for sure at this point. Allows annoys me when people pretend to know the future.

I'm basing what I fear will happen on what has happened. I'm not pretending to know the future. What's really annoying is when people put words in my mouth.

If Russell is played as a #5, I'm more than happy to have him (although I doubt he would sign for a reasonable 3rd pairing salary based on what experts have been stating).

[Locke]

I love Kris Russell, and I think at $4M maybe even for 6 years but preferably 4 or 5 then maybe go for it.

If he wants $5.5 then I dont think I'd even take that on 3-4 year deal and certainly not on 6.

Yeah, Sekera and Petry get that, Sekera isnt worth it and doesnt count because Oilers and Petry had to get overpaid due to Quebec's insane tax structure.

At $5.5M over 6 years you let him walk and go play in Columbus or something.

[JJ1532]

End of the day, even if you rate Russell highly, even if you see him as a decent #3 and worth $5m a year, you can't deny that we simply can't afford to keep him. If we didn't have Smid, Engellend, Raymond, Stajan and Wideman on the books, then maybe we could afford to give him what he wants and then run with a pair of ELC level players on the 3rd pairing for the next few years.

But because we have too much salary tied up in overpayments to 4-5 players, you can't afford to sign Russell without running into difficulties trying to sign an NHL goaltending pair plus Gaudreau and Monahan, plus maybe pickup a free agent in the summer.

We simply can't afford to keep Russell, even if he is worth what he wants.

[Parallex]

Blah, I wouldn't want him back if his salary stayed the same. Treliving... Just. Say. No.

[polak]

Why are they even that close!?!?!?!

TRADE HIM.