Did Kris Russell overplay his hand in free agency?

[TheScorpion]

Russell for a 2nd, Jokipakka, Pollock, and Russell?

Seems fair to me.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Russell for a 2nd, Jokipakka, Pollock, and Russell?

Seems fair to me.

He can be ourn own Keith Tkachuk!

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

There's still a better way to use $2.5 million.

Which way?

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

Which way?

5 chicks at once!

[PepsiFree]

Originally Posted by Shazam

5 chicks at once!

lol alright, that made me laugh

[Locke]

Originally Posted by PepsiFree

lol alright, that made me laugh

Which, in and of itself is hilarious.

[jlh2640]

Dreger tweeted the other day that Russell is waiting for a few teams to clear some space.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by jlh2640

Dreger tweeted the other day that Russell is waiting for a few teams to clear some space.

Um....it's been like this for over a month now

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Um....it's been like this for over a month now

Maybe it's come down to wanting to play close to home. He just got married and maybe his wife wants him to play as close to home as possible. If that's the case, can see him having to wait until a team in western Canada makes room, otherwise he will have to expand his list of teams. His initial thought process may have been to go anywhere if he hit the jackpot but as that appears to have fallen through, could be a desire to play close to family.

May be less about money now and more personal circumstances. Just speculation but may help to explain the delay.

[N-E-B]

I still think he ends up in Edmonton.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I still think he ends up in Edmonton.

The Oilers don't need to add defence. (™ Oilers "Entertainment" Group)

[Samonadreau]

Probably fair to say there is no 5×5... or anything ×5... or 5x anything. That ship has either sailed or that ship never existed. Most likely the latter.

[Monahan For Mayor]

Originally Posted by N-E-B

I still think he ends up in Edmonton.

I hope so! Let us be able to take advantage of his horrible defence on a regular basis.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

Probably fair to say there is no 5×5... or anything ×5... or 5x anything. That ship has either sailed or that ship never existed. Most likely the latter.

Flames fans knew there would never be a 5x5 for him. Yet all the pundits kept tapping about it.

Same goes with Glencross.

[The Fonz]

At this point, I'd be shocked if he signed for more than 3.25M AAV, and 3 years.

What are some of the largest deals signed, 30+ days after the start of free agency?
Franson got 2yrs @ 3.325M AAV last year, on September 10. I don't recall any others like that though over the years.

[Sylvanfan]

At this point, the deal that Franson received, is likey the best that the Russell camp can hope for if he's looking for more than 1 year of term.

Certainly they could go into the season and wait for an injury or two to play out, but that might help you get more money on a one year deal. If he's looking for some sort of term, than what's available in the current offers out there is likely the best he'll get. I don't see anyone giving him a NMC, so he's very likely going to be exposed in the expansion draft.

Russel's not old, but we're starting to see some similar trends to 05-07 where a lot of seemingly decent 28-31 year old guys starting having a real tough time landing NHL jobs, and unable to get deals longer than one year.

[GreenLantern2814]

Russell was essentially a 30 point D during his time here - he was +18 in the playoff season, and somehow only -4 last year (with us).

I don't see a fit as long as Wideman is here, who I absolutely see as another Treliving deadline deal. He'll go somewherefor a 2nd or 3rd, and nobody will pickl him up on more than a tryout next summer.

[Erick Estrada]

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

At this point, the deal that Franson received, is likey the best that the Russell camp can hope for if he's looking for more than 1 year of term.

Certainly they could go into the season and wait for an injury or two to play out, but that might help you get more money on a one year deal. If he's looking for some sort of term, than what's available in the current offers out there is likely the best he'll get. I don't see anyone giving him a NMC, so he's very likely going to be exposed in the expansion draft.

Russel's not old, but we're starting to see some similar trends to 05-07 where a lot of seemingly decent 28-31 year old guys starting having a real tough time landing NHL jobs, and unable to get deals longer than one year.

How can this be viewed as anything else than a totally botched handling of free agency by Russell and his agent? I'm willing to bet there were offers the first week of free agency that he will likely never again in his career see come his way. There's no way he can be happy sitting without an employer in August having no idea what city he's going to be living in next season.

I wonder if you start to see more complimentary players like Russell and Franzen sign the best offer they get on day one of free agency rather than hold out and risk being left in the dark?

[GreenLantern2814]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

How can this be viewed as anything else than a totally botched handling of free agency by Russell and his agent? I'm willing to bet there were offers the first week of free agency that he will likely never again in his career see come his way. There's no way he can be happy sitting without an employer in August having no idea what city he's going to be living in next season.

I wonder if you start to see more complimentary players like Russell and Franzen sign the best offer they get on day one of free agency rather than hold out and risk being left in the dark?

I think you'll see a lot of players like this start to accept low ball offers from their teams prior to the deadline.

Russell @ 4/$8m would've been fine with me.

[CroFlames]

I don't want Russell long term. 1 or 2 years max.