Did Kris Russell overplay his hand in free agency?

[JiriHrdina]

If signing him is the pre-cursor to moving Wideman somehow - I'm in.

[the_only_turek_fan]

Originally Posted by Erick Estrada

Ugh. Pinder on 960 this morning says he is hearing that Russell is waiting to sign with the Flames who can't until they move some money around. Kind of seems possible with Russell not signing anywhere as he could just be waiting for the Flames. Man I would be very, very, very disappointed if the Flames signed him for any sort of long term deal over $3 million/season.

Sounds like they are waiting for Smid to be officially put on the IR.

It is the only logical reason I could think of for him to not have a contract on August 24th.

[cam_wmh]

would $2.5m x 3 yrs be acceptable?

[howard_the_duck]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

if it's 1 or 2 years, meh, i think i'd be ok.

I think wideman is done as a Dman, and would prefer a mobile russel taking his minutes. He's a good bottom pairing guy who can step in to 2nd pairing minutes if required when injuries happen.

Problem with this is he's most likely paid like a 2nd pairing dman, which IMO he's not suited for over long stretches.

[Vinny01]

Not the worst news. I don't hate Russell like some do and on a reasonable contract he can play as a 4/5. When discussing his contract demands last season it was a no brainer to trade him as a $5.5M per deal and long term would become an Andy Macdonald/Wade Redden contract before the ink dried.

I am also not surprised that Russell would choose Calgary over any other team if he is signing a short term lower dollar deal.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by bubbsy

if it's 1 or 2 years, meh, i think i'd be ok.

I think wideman is done as a Dman, and would prefer a mobile russel taking his minutes. He's a good bottom pairing guy who can step in to 2nd pairing minutes if required when injuries happen.

I would be fine with it also if it means Wideman is sent packing. I just can't see any team taking on Widemans contract even with the flames eating money.

For the flames to move money around it would have to be a defender going. No way they send a forward away to sign Russell and then have Wideman in the press box.

[Vinny01]

Agree that Wideman has to go and agree that no team takes on that cap hit without the Flames sweetening the pot substantially. If Smid goes and Russell is brought in then there is likely not much of a chance that a guy like Spoon cracks the roster.

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Jokkipakka-Engellend
Wideman

[Tron_fdc]

I don't hate Russell, but I'm probably going to if he signs anything over $3.5 for any longer than 2 years.

[kyuss275]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Agree that Wideman has to go and agree that no team takes on that cap hit without the Flames sweetening the pot substantially. If Smid goes and Russell is brought in then there is likely not much of a chance that a guy like Spoon cracks the roster.

Gio-Brodie
Russell-Hamilton
Jokkipakka-Engellend
Wideman

I just can't see it. THe flames would have been better off buying out Wideman if this was their plan. If Wideman sits in the pressbox most of the year then his trade value is zero. The only reason they didn't buy him out was that they thought they could get an asset for him at trade deadline.

[The Hendog]

Could the Flames be trying to move Engellend?
I wouldn't but could they be going for a d core along these lines?

Gio - Brodie
Jokkipakka - Hamilton
Russell - Wideman
Smid LTIR

Try to recreate the chemistry Russell and Wideman had before hopefully inflating Wideman's value for the trade deadline?

That is a smooth skating D core with minimal toughness.

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

For those of you saying that "Wideman has to go" if this happens, when do you need Wideman gone by? Wideman is gone for sure at the end of the season, so he is going to go, one way or another. As long as the Flames can sign Johnny, what does it matter if Wideman is here for the year or not? Not like the Flames are rumoured to be bringing in any other D-man that Wideman + Russell would prevent us from having both over the short term.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by kyuss275

I just can't see it. THe flames would have been better off buying out Wideman if this was their plan. If Wideman sits in the pressbox most of the year then his trade value is zero. The only reason they didn't buy him out was that they thought they could get an asset for him at trade deadline.

I don't think they thought Russell would be around especially at reasonable dollars so it is easy to say this is a audible from their original plan. We all know Treliving loves him some Russell so he would gladly take him back if it made sense for the team.

I also think the Flames do/did believe they could get an asset for Wideman at the deadline

[smiggy77]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

would $2.5m x 3 yrs be acceptable?

for me 2.5 or less is where he should be, i'd be ecstatic if that happens!

[BigFlameDog]

I happened to be driving bored and actually paying attention to Pinder this morning and I am positive he was just speculating/hoping. Don't think he has actually heard anything from an insider, he is just trying to connect the same dots the morning show has been throwing out there all summer.

It kind of makes sense and wouldn't be surprising but I don't think he has any actual inside knowledge.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by the_only_turek_fan

Sounds like they are waiting for Smid to be officially put on the IR.

It is the only logical reason I could think of for him to not have a contract on August 24th.

But he would be missing out on training camp if that was the plan. And what happens if, say for example, Andersson or Kylington surprises and makes the team? Now Russell is screwed, no contract and didn't attend any training camp. How often does a player, who isn't a long-time vet contemplating retirement or a player hoping anyone takes a chance on them, signed after training camp?

Similar discussion was had about Hudler just a bit ago, but if the Flames did intend to sign him, waiting to put Smid on LTIR might not make sense. Depending on what you think Gaudreau's cap hit will be. The Flames can exceed the cap during off-season, place the waiver-exempt players in the AHL before the season starts, place Smid on LTIR and recall the waiver-exempt players back up. If he is waiting for the Flames to move money, I think it actually means moving players (Wideman, Engelland, Stajan, Bouma?)

[442scotty]

1 year 2.5 max then trade him at the deadline for more pics... Otherwise please no... Don't need him, don't want him...

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Cleveland Steam Whistle

For those of you saying that "Wideman has to go" if this happens, when do you need Wideman gone by? Wideman is gone for sure at the end of the season, so he is going to go, one way or another. As long as the Flames can sign Johnny, what does it matter if Wideman is here for the year or not? Not like the Flames are rumoured to be bringing in any other D-man that Wideman + Russell would prevent us from having both over the short term.

I don't think Wideman is an effective or capable NHL dman anymore - particularly against fast teams. I think he gets exposed too much.
So, from my POV, the earlier he is off the team the better.
There is also all the weirdness about the stuff that happened last year, including how he basically through the trainers under the bus. Perhaps for valid reasons, but it just feels like from an overall organization perspective, a parting of ways would be best for everyone.

[Flash Walken]

Sounds like wishful thinking to believe this is all part of some plan by Russell, that he would leaves millions, perhaps tens of millions of dollars in jeopardy so that he could sign with a team that can't afford him.

It couldn't possibly have been a miscalculation on the part of the Russell camp...

[Cleveland Steam Whistle]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I don't think Wideman is an effective or capable NHL dman anymore - particularly against fast teams. I think he gets exposed too much.
So, from my POV, the earlier he is off the team the better.
There is also all the weirdness about the stuff that happened last year, including how he basically through the trainers under the bus. Perhaps for valid reasons, but it just feels like from an overall organization perspective, a parting of ways would be best for everyone.

That's a very fair opinion on the Wideman front, but whether Russell is here or not, doesn't really impact anything you said.

[Ashasx]

We still have a hole on the 2nd D pairing, and I really hope that Treliving doesn't believe that Russell is the answer, because he certainly wasn't last season.

I don't want to use that money on him.