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

[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.

[GranteedEV]

If Russell's asking 4.5 and Flames are offering 3.0, 1.5M apart makes sense.
If Russell's asking 5.5 and Flames are offering 4.0, I hope Russell signs a 6.0M contract elsewhere and we have nothing more to do with him.

[Rollin22x]

Originally Posted by shotinthebacklund

Where did francis get this info? I honestly don't trust the guy. Unless this was leaked intentionally which is possible i guess.

I would think they wouldn't want to leak this. Could it impact offers if other teams know the Flames are not close to signing?

[CroFlames]

I bet Russell is asking for $5m and in his mind that's a hometown discount. I think the Flames want to pay him $3.5m.

I would be OK with signing him long term at $3.5 to $4.0m. He's on the right side of 30, so if you give him a 4 year deal; hopefully one of the young d-prospects is ready to make a jump to top-4 as Russell's deal is expiring, and you trade Russell away.

Trading him now is premature in my mind. Wideman should be moved as a priority, and Smid & Engelland. Those guys are the real problem areas in terms of salary cap.

[smiggy77]

Just curious...would people rather have Russell or Wideman at 5mil? Or 4mil? or neither?

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

If Francis is correct, I'm assuming the Flames will do $4M per AAV but Russell wants the $5.5M that Petry/Sekera got? Because if the Flames are offering more than $4M I really have to wonder where all that money will come from (even after Wideman is gone/moved).

Also, if Russell is wanting $5.5M a year, does that scare off potential trade partners if that's simply too much to re-sign him at the end of the year?

Eric Francis like to think he knows everything. He makes up a lot of story just to stir controversy. I just don't trust that guy at all. When Wideman's text leaked, it was Francis he is referring to as that media. So, do I think Russell is asking for 5.5M AVG? I have to say NO.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

I would be OK with signing him long term at $3.5 to $4.0m.

I wouldn't. We're already wasting money on Smid and Wideman so I'd rather not waste more on Russell.

[Fan in Exile]

I love how Francis' article has a tweet from himself as though it's a source for Russell's trade value. It's like he's Russell's agent.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by smiggy77

Just curious...would people rather have Russell or Wideman at 5mil? Or 4mil? or neither?

Neither.

If I had to choose between Russell with with a 3.5M+ long term deal or Wideman with his current (1 year remaining) ticket I'll take Wideman (although really I'll just try to trade him or more likely buy him out if necessary in the off-season).

[IgiTang]

The Flames beat reporter Eric Francis and Pete Loubo are both out to effin lunch.

As a knowledgeable hockey community such as CP, who for the most part agree that Russell isn't worth $5m+ and would like to see him moved for a asset, the fact they have said "those people" don't know what they're talking about, is downright insulting.

We watch the games. We watch the gaff's, we see the blown coverages, poor gap control, predictable shot blocks, the offensive zone turnovers, the lost battles one on one against the boards.

Do they not see any of this? Its what makes them laughing stocks and I question how they manage to keep their jobs..

[SuperMatt18]

That makes some sense actually.

My guess is the Flames are offering $3.5 to $4.0 Million and Russell wants $5.0 to $5.5,

Likely too far apart to make a deal by Monday IMO.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Likely too far apart to make a deal by Monday IMO.

Gawd I hope so.

[CalgaryFan1988]

Enough money tied up in defence. If The flames were a playoff team, different story. They are far from it and need money spent elsewhere.

[Bourque's Twin]

I can't believe people are saying Russell is a #5. He's a #3 on a non-playoff team and a #4 on a playoff team. He can play anywhere in the lineup and he's a heart and soul guy. However, I do hope they trade him because I think he will generate a great return. Then, I hope they try to sign him for #4 money on July 1.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Mass_nerder

I'm basing what I fear will happen on what has happened. I'm not pretending to know the future. What's really annoying is when people put words in my mouth.

I didn't put any words in your mouth. You used poor wording if thats what you meant to say. You didn't say, "I fear Hartley will continue to use him as a #3, I wouldn't have had any problems that with sentence. You said, "The problem is that Hartley will continue to play him as a #3, instead of the #5 he is." Words change the meaning of sentences. Ommitting the word fear changes the entire meaning of your sentence if that is indeed what you meant to say.

[Parallex]

Originally Posted by Bourque's Twin

I can't believe people are saying Russell is a #5. He's a #3 on a non-playoff team and a #4 on a playoff team.

He's a #5/6 on a championship caliber team. I want the Flames to be a championship caliber team and championship caliber teams can't be paying a #5/6 defenseman the $$ he's looking for (not long-term anyways).

[Mass_nerder]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

I didn't put any words in your mouth. You used poor wording if thats what you meant to say. You didn't say, "I fear Hartley will continue to use him as a #3, I wouldn't have had any problems that with sentence. You said, "The problem is that Hartley will continue to play him as a #3, instead of the #5 he is." Words change the meaning of sentences. Ommitting the word fear changes the entire meaning of your sentence if that is indeed what you meant to say.

[JohnnyB]

I like Russel, but the Flames have a problem with players low on the roster being paid too much.

[Hackey]

I'm actually pretty excited to see what we might be able to land through trade. Maybe he tests the market and the grass isn't greener on the other side and he decides to come back. We all know overpaying for Russell is not an option though.

[Vinny01]

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