Did Kris Russell overplay his hand in free agency?

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

You would think that if we'd want to clear up cap space, it'd be in preparation for extension to Bennett, etc., in preparation for next off-season. Re-signing Monahan and Gaudreau will already put us right at the cap for the season.

I'd rather Russell not be taking that space

I'd be fine with Russell at around 3.5M, maybe 3.75M a year for no longer than four years, preferably three. But any more than that, especially the term, and I'd seriously question the Flames management's ambitions.

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

Space for Bennett would be cleared with the expiration of the $12+ million tied up in the Wideman, Engelland and Smid contracts.

Space for Russell would be coming out of a Wideman or Engelland (or Smid?) trade in the first place. We don't know what kind of money Bennett will get but if the Flames are pro-active they should look to lock him up for the full eight years asap. And Elliott, should we keep him, is due for a big raise. We have other smaller raises coming up the season after too that we should be prepared for - I was fine with dropping Colborne (actually I advocated it well before qualifying offers were due) but if a guy like Ferland has a break out season I will not be very happy to lose him to a cap squeeze.

[VladtheImpaler]

Sign him to lose him to LV after 1 year? Would be odd.

[Fighting Banana Slug]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'd be fine with Russell at around 3.5M, maybe 3.75M a year for no longer than four years, preferably three. But any more than that, especially the term, and I'd seriously question the Flames management's ambitions.



Space for Russell would be coming out of a Wideman or Engelland (or Smid?) trade in the first place. We don't know what kind of money Bennett will get but if the Flames are pro-active they should look to lock him up for the full eight years asap. And Elliott, should we keep him, is due for a big raise. We have other smaller raises coming up the season after too that we should be prepared for - I was fine with dropping Colborne (actually I advocated it well before qualifying offers were due) but if a guy like Ferland has a break out season I will not be very happy to lose him to a cap squeeze.

That seems like waaay too much. Are the Flames competing with any other team that would require that kind of offer?

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think Nakladal played well in the latter stages of the season, but for some reason, his performance and confidence of that performance going forward is over-stated.
To me, it is pretty clear he isn't in the Flames' plans and moreover, hasn't been snapped up by anyone else to this point.

I really hope Nakladal comes back. He's a bottom pair d-man, but he can pinch hit on the powerplay that struggled last season. I hope they find room for him and move Wideman and Smid. I like Engelland too, but I would not be heartbroken if they moved him. He is a little overpriced.

That said, I always think its a good idea to offer 1 year deals to vets. Literally the only guys I would never consider on a one year deal are:

1. Semin
2. Radulov

I see no harm in offering Russell a 1 year deal at a team friendly salary. If he takes it, great. He can help the team short-term. If not, no big deal.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

I'd be fine with Russell at around 3.5M, maybe 3.75M a year for no longer than four years, preferably three. But any more than that, especially the term, and I'd seriously question the Flames management's ambitions.

Space for Russell would be coming out of a Wideman or Engelland (or Smid?) trade in the first place. We don't know what kind of money Bennett will get but if the Flames are pro-active they should look to lock him up for the full eight years asap. And Elliott, should we keep him, is due for a big raise. We have other smaller raises coming up the season after too that we should be prepared for - I was fine with dropping Colborne (actually I advocated it well before qualifying offers were due) but if a guy like Ferland has a break out season I will not be very happy to lose him to a cap squeeze.

Bump that down by at least $1M or no thank you.

You want to sign Bennett, to an 8-year deal, when he still has years left on his ELC? Thats not 'proactive' thats 'Oilers-esque stupidity.'

See: Klefbom, Oscar.

[Enoch Root]

Not interested in Russell, given the current roster. Would rather sign Nakladal, move Jokipakka up to #4 to play with Hamilton, and let Nakladal, Wotherspoon and Kulak fight for air time.

Now the rumour did suggest that the Flames were looking to create cap space in order to sign him. If that means trading Wideman, then I would be less against the idea of signing Russell, but still far from keen on it.

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by Locke

Bump that down by at least $1M or no thank you.

You want to sign Bennett, to an 8-year deal, when he still has years left on his ELC? '

Bennett has one year left on his ELC. At absolute worst he's a second line winger in the NHL, at best he's a number one centre. He's the kind of player you take a chance on.

Thats not 'proactive' thats 'Oilers-esque stupidity.

See: Klefbom, Oscar.

...Oscar Klefbom is a high value contract. It's #4 money with term for a #2D with #1 upside. If you think it's stupidity then you must view the Oilers with way too much bias.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think Nakladal played well in the latter stages of the season, but for some reason, his performance and confidence of that performance going forward is over-stated.
To me, it is pretty clear he isn't in the Flames' plans and moreover, hasn't been snapped up by anyone else to this point.

I don't get it either, I like Nak and think he is NHL ready, but everyone suggesting he is better than Russell or Wideman is really overstating his abilities right now.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by VladtheImpaler

Sign him to lose him to LV after 1 year? Would be odd.

I think it makes a lot of sense. You're going to lose someone to Vegas, might as well prepare for it. If you lose a guy you signed as a UFA, you 'protect' all the other players you want to keep.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by GranteedEV

Bennett has one year left on his ELC. At absolute worst he's a second line winger in the NHL, at best he's a number one centre. He's the kind of player you take a chance on.



...Oscar Klefbom is a high value contract. It's #4 money with term for a #2D with #1 upside. If you think it's stupidity then you must view the Oilers with way too much bias.

I agree with the points you're making, but Klefbom is not a #2. He might become one, but he has 100 NHL games under his belt.

Until he is actually playing top pairing minutes against top competition, and succeeding at it, for a period of time, he isn't one.

Sure, he plays top pairing minutes for the Oilers, but that doesn't make him a top pairing guy (yet).

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

I think Nakladal played well in the latter stages of the season, but for some reason, his performance and confidence of that performance going forward is over-stated.
To me, it is pretty clear he isn't in the Flames' plans and moreover, hasn't been snapped up by anyone else to this point.

Yeah Colborne's year end play is discounted, maybe Nak's should be too. Granted Colborne had more NHL games to compare him too. Nak looked serviceable I would say, that's about it.

I would not be surprised at all to see Russell signed to a 1 year deal with the Flames.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I would not be surprised at all to see Russell signed to a 1 year deal with the Flames.

1 year at 3 million - Slight bump in what he made last season. I'd be okay with it.

[Vinny01]

I could definitely see a Russell-Flames reunion. If Russell is not getting the 6 year $5.5M offers perhaps he prefers to come back and play for the city and team he wants to be on the most?

I am not a huge fan or hater or bringing him back but Smid and Wideman need to be gone for that to happen. Wotherspoon should be on the big club all year

[polak]

I'd prefer Nak.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Yeah Colborne's year end play is discounted, maybe Nak's should be too. Granted Colborne had more NHL games to compare him too. Nak looked serviceable I would say, that's about it.

I would not be surprised at all to see Russell signed to a 1 year deal with the Flames.

???

Nakladal didn't even get an opportunity until near the end of the season.

[Strange Brew]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

???

Nakladal didn't even get an opportunity until near the end of the season.

That was my point, just worded very poorly on my part. Performance in meaningless games at the end of the season just doesn't count for too much. It's telling that there seems to be little interest in him around the league.

[Lil Pedro]

Originally Posted by polak

I'd prefer Nak.

Agreed, will be cheaper and better suited for that 3rd pairing. Think his upside is greater than Russell's too.

[TheScorpion]

It's simple. Sign Russell to protect Jokipakka.

I mean, if you're Vegas, who do you take? Russell, or Jyrki?

[Strange Brew]

Signing a player so that LV can claim him in the expansion draft is almost a guarantee that he won't be the player they choose.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Signing a player so that LV can claim him in the expansion draft is almost a guarantee that he won't be the player they choose.

If the players you want to keep are still protected and they dont take him but hes decent and his contract is good then no one would care.