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

[Bandwagon In Flames]

The Flames can't afford to pay Russell what he wants. It's not only the cost, but the term is scary for a player like Russell as well. Blocking more shots than any other NHLer has got to take a toll on your body.

I think Russell is a great #4-5 however. He's too small to take the opposition off of the puck, but he'd sooner break a bone than allow that puck to go into a high quality scoring area.

Anything over 3.5 is an over payment and there will be better players that can fill that role in FA, trade or hopefully through the system.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Let Russell go and take a run at Schlemko as a UFA

I'd be all for this but I'm not sure management would go for it as they would look bad for having not re-signed him last off-season.

[BigFlameDog]

Originally Posted by hockey.modern

Haven't seen this posted anymore but correct me if this has been discussed already.

Russell’s intangibles could fetch Flames big return

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/r...es-big-return/

All other arguments aside....the way he plays, how much will be left of him in 3 years let alone 6? Undersized shot blocking defenseman.

Someone is getting hurt real bad in a Russell deal and I hope it isn't the Flames.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I'd be all for this but I'm not sure management would go for it as they would look bad for having not re-signed him last off-season.

Treliving wanted to sign him but there was a log jam. He also doesn't seem like the type to care how it makes him look

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I'd be all for this but I'm not sure management would go for it as they would look bad for having not re-signed him last off-season.

Schlemko proved me wrong this year by providing by to be a solid Dman and everyday guy. Flames had 7 guys on one way deals coming in so they could t keep him. We trade Russell thst potentially opens a spot for Schlemko. I really hope they can move 1-3 of Wideman, Smid, Engellend this summer as well bu would be okay keeping Engellend as a #6 but want the other 2 traded

[Coach]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I'd be all for this but I'm not sure management would go for it as they would look bad for having not re-signed him last off-season.

If the reason to not sign a good defender comes down to ego, we need new management.

I don't think BT really cares about how it looks. Don't know if they are looking at Schlemko, but I would welcome him back as well.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Treliving wanted to sign him but there was a log jam. He also doesn't seem like the type to care how it makes him look

I do agree Treliving doesn't seem like the kind of guy to let pride get in the way (unlike Burke for example).

Really does make you wonder what kind of offer was on the table for Russell or Wideman last off-season. There was a lot of buzz that both were available and I'm sure some kind of offers were made. Treliving might be losing some sleep over it, but there is still time to right the ship.

[locsofblu]

Trade him. Now way in hell he should be making more than 3.5 aav.

[Roof-Daddy]

I like Russell, but this team needs to clear out high priced bottom pairing defenders, not add them.

That's it in a nut shell for me.

[dammage79]

Jeez. 1.5 doesn't seem like that far of a gap to me. Thats 750k if they split the difference.
I'm guessing they get Russell re-signed and our trade deadline fun takes a serious blow.

I don't like it, I wish they would trade him and continue the build.

[Flash Walken]

I'd rather have Wideman at 5 million than Russell.

[MBates]

I find big revealing insider details like these pretty funny actually...because they are essentially meaningless without more information.

On its face, being $1.5 million apart in AAV seems to fit a narrative of impossible to make a deal...but anyone that has been involved in intense negotiations before knows that sometimes a huge gap can be closed extremely fast and other times the seemingly smallest things are deal-breakers.

I don't have any inside info BTW. I'm just saying.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by dustygoon

Man....so hard for us pundits to get a sense of a dressing room, how people fit in, and a guys worth/perceived worth amongst his teammates. Messing with chemistry.

You pull too many glue guys out of a young dressing room, and who knows how it goes.

I have a soft spot for Hudler for his disgust at losing games a couple years ago when the team was so bad that we had no business winning any games.

They're in 27th place. We should hardly be worried about glue guys. We need talented players that work under a cap system. Paying Russell even 4 million puts us in trouble in the future imo.

[Flamefan1]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I'd rather have Wideman at 5 million than Russell.

Wideman not worth $1 million let alone $5 million. Russell is fine at $3.5, but not worth anymore and should have 3 year maximum contract.

[Harry Lime]

People are wondering how Chicago is capable of being in on so many deadline day rumours, and make a number of actual deals for a Cup run, seemingly every year.

This is the answer. They have 3 highly paid defenders, and 3 lowly paid defenders.

Every player not Gio, Brodie or Hamilton making more than 2.5M on that blueline must make way for a cheaper option. The decision has already been made, with the contracts in place to our own 'Big 3'.

[polak]

Oh man, if you think you've seen a Polak rant before just wait. If Russell is resigned I'm going to lose it.

[N-E-B]

Originally Posted by Flamefan1

Wideman not worth $1 million let alone $5 million. Russell is fine at $3.5, but not worth anymore and should have 3 year maximum contract.

Wideman isn't worth what he's being paid right now, but come on, he's worth more than $1mil.

[MarkGio]

Careful now. Peter Loubardias would say YOU PEOPLE aren't giving Russell enough credit

[MissTeeks]

I anxiously await the epic freakouts if he re-signs.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by Flash Walken

I'd rather have Wideman at 5 million than Russell.

Not a chance, now that we have Hamilton