[Rumour] Flames closing in on extension with Russell (R.Millons)

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I'm not sure why this would be a problem. He's 26-years-old and is showing signs of being a solid, second-pairing defenseman. If he was signed for four years, this team would probably only be on the cusp of being competitive again by the time his contract expires. Worst case scenario is that he plugs a hole until someone better comes along to fill it. Best case scenario is that he becomes a piece that the team wins with in the long term. It's hard to see the downside here in a contract with term.

if he was on our second pairing, we wouldn't be competative

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

He's had one good season in this league playing extremely sheltered minutes. Burke better not make another mistake.

He's likely always going to be playing sheltered minutes and I doubt he's getting a top pairing d-man contract.

He's basically a less hyped and less defensively useless Justin Schultz.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Poe969

he's played one good year, I don't think he's worth a contract longer than 1 year but probably wouldn't sign for anything less than 2 years. I would just hate to sign him to a longer deal and then have him revert back to the player that was put on waivers

I think Russell's waiver status was a product of the Blues ridiculous blue-line depth, and not so much because he is not a good defenseman. There simply wasn't any room in St. Louis.

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

He's had one good season in this league playing extremely sheltered minutes. Burke better not make another mistake.

Russell has been one of our best defenceman this year. I'd say Gio is the only one who has played better.

The only mistake would be to let him go.

We are such a better transition team with him in the lineup than without. Stop worrying about him reverting back to years past.

We gonna worry Stajan reverts back to the first 2 years of his original Flames contract? - I know its different but come on.

Russell is extremely valuable to us.

[Anduril]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I'm not sure why this would be a problem. He's 26-years-old and is showing signs of being a solid, second-pairing defenseman. If he was signed for four years, this team would probably only be on the cusp of being competitive again by the time his contract expires. Worst case scenario is that he plugs a hole until someone better comes along to fill it. Best case scenario is that he becomes a piece that the team wins with in the long term. It's hard to see the downside here in a contract with term.

As mentioned, he's only showing signs so best to give a bridge contract to continually ensure he's constantly challenged to prove himself. Huge fan of what he's brought this season but too early to reward him for what's relatively a small period of top 4 play.

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

I think Russell's waiver status was a product of the Blues ridiculous blue-line depth, and not so much because he is not a good defenseman. There simply wasn't any room in St. Louis.

if he was a second pairing defenseman on a decent team, they could have traded him instead of giving him away for nothing.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Russell has been one of our best defenceman this year. I'd say Gio is the only one who has played better.

The only mistake would be to let him go.

We are such a better transition team with him in the lineup than without. Stop worrying about him reverting back to years past.

We gonna worry Stajan reverts back to the first 2 years of his original Flames contract? - I know its different but come on.

Russell is extremely valuable to us.

Russell has been one of our best defencemen in the same way Smith was one of our defencemen in 2011/2012.

Luckily we didn't pay him over $1M for 40 good games.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Poe969

if he was on our second pairing, we wouldn't be competative

Which is precisely the situation in which the Flames presently find themselves. What's your point?

[Ozy_Flame]

Please no more than two years and $2 million on a bridge contract.

[formulate]

Good news. I would be happy with something close to 2.5 million for 3ish years. If he continues to impress, it could make it easier to trade Wideman (who could be a very valuable asset to a lot of teams) in a year or two. Hopefully a couple prospects pan out over the next few years, and potentially add in a blue chipper like Ekblad, and you're looking at very respectable defense core.

Good to know Burke is seeing the value in small-body big-heart guys like Russell.

[Canada 02]

give him a Cody Franson-type contract. 'Short term, small raise, prove yourself' deal

[Robo]

Smith wasn't one of our best defensemen he was a reliable #6 and was no where near as good as russell

[cam_wmh]

I foresee. 2 years, 3mil per, 6 total.

(hard to bridge him, when the comparables mentioned were RFA's)

[SeanCharles]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Russell has been one of our best defencemen in the same way Smith was one of our defencemen in 2011/2012.

Luckily we didn't pay him over $1M for 40 good games.

That isnt the same thing at all.

Russell has been in this league alot longer than Smith ever was when he has his good showing in 11/12.

Russell was a high draft pick and is finally showing his offensive potential.

Smith was a career AHLer who had one solid half season with us.

Russell is a bonafide NHL defenceman and was stuck behind alot of guys in STL..

[Poe969]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

Which is precisely the situation in which the Flames presently find themselves. What's your point?

my point is that if we keep doing what we've been doing, we'll keep getting what we've been getting.

Russell has played good on a bad team. Will keeping him make us more competitive or just keep us as is? Keeping a team that plays bad together in hopes that they somehow find a way to win shouldn't be in the long term plans.

[sec304]

$3M/year, hopefully 2 years, but I could see 3

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by Poe969

...Russell has played good on a bad team. Will keeping him make us more competitive or just keep us as is? Keeping a team that plays bad together in hopes that they somehow find a way to win shouldn't be in the long term plans.

The "long term plans" must also include a transition strategy that sees the team grow. I can absolutely see Russell as an important component during the intervening years. No one is suggesting that he is a player to build around, but surely he is a player that can be useful in the interim.

[Rubicant]

I know I'm in the minority but I thought he might be able to offer a nice return if we sold high on him this deadline.

I don't hate that he's going to be extended but I get the feeling this year was an outlier for him. Hope I'm wrong.

[codynw]

Hopefully he gets a shorter contract. I love the way he has been playing since the trade, but it's been 37 games. If he can keep it up over a 1-2 year deal, then lock him up for a longer term.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by SeanCharles

Russell is a big part of our team.

So Stajan first, now Russell, that has to be mostly it for UFAs.

Westgarth and B. Jones might get 1-2yr deals. But other than that I get the feeling were done..

They sure made it sound last night in Sportsnet that Flames are open to bringing back Stempniak so believe we aren't done.

Burke is showing intellectual honesty and realizing that getting mid round picks for Stajan/Russell and perhaps Stempniak isn't going to help the rebuild. Rather dealing players with term (Hudler, Wideman and perhaps Backlund/Brodie) will bring back the pieces needed for the rebuild. Still think Cammy and Butler will go but not a fait a complit that none of the other ufas aren't re-signed.