Spector: Kris Russell would net a 2nd line forward for sure

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

Disagree with this post. I feel the Flames only have 4 legit top 6 forwards today (Monahan, Gaudreau, Hudler, Frolik) I hope Bennett gets there but that remains to be seen.

This team does have 5 top 4 D and our #2 has been missing all year. You say we need defense well Brodie is retuning. There are no top 6 forwards retuning to this team any time soon

A lot of teams don't have legit top 6 forwards if you think those are the only top 6 forwards we have.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

If that pie plays well I wonder if they try Brodie and Hamilton together?

Heck no! When Brodie comes back you superglue him to Gio's right side so they can be Stuck on You Flames.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

A lot of teams don't have legit top 6 forwards if you think those are the only top 6 forwards we have.

please name more top 6 forwards. I think we have 5 guys capable of being top 4 D and only 4 guys capable of being top 6 forwards. Trading one of our 4/5's for a top 6 makes perfect sense to me. Russell is small and wants to get paid. He is a great warrior/competitor and while I hate to see him go I think the team is better off moving on without him if he brings back an asset we sorely need. I am not buying last year and thinking we will have no issues scoring. It has been a problem already and one many could see in the summer

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Vinny01

What teams need a top 4 D pretty badly?

Dallas
Boston
Oilers
Columbus
Canucks
Kings

Think you can add Anaheim Chicago and Pittsburgh to the list

[bax]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

Think you can add Anaheim Chicago and Pittsburgh to the list

Anaheim and Chicago? Yeah, Keith is injured but they aren't going to give up anyone of value for 2 months of Russell

[Harry Lime]

You can eliminate Edmonton, Vancouver and L.A., for being in the division. Chicago would love to give up Bickell and an A prospect for Russell. Can we stomach Bickell for a year past this one?

Dallas
Boston
Columbus
Chicago
Carolina
Toronto?

[dustygoon]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Not saying you are wrong, but the Shattenkirk rumors came out this summer from St. Louis beat reporters. Not like he is completely pulling it out of his ass.

My problem with it is that shattenkirk rumour seems to be propagated by matheson....more reputable that Spector but still an Edmonton source. I think this is Spector regurgitating.

"@NHLbyMatty: Blues' Kevin Shattenkirk may be apparently available. Would they trade him to Edm for No. 16 pick?#nhldraft"

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by bax

Anaheim and Chicago? Yeah, Keith is injured but they aren't going to give up anyone of value for 2 months of Russell

They were looking prior to Keith going down.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports...010-story.html

Pittsburgh had purported interest in Russell at last deadline. Anaheim was scouting us recently as has been documented.

[Buck Murdock]

Kris Russell for Taylor Hall

[GullFoss]

Who are the 11 teams with legit #1 defensemen?

Calgary
LA
Tampa
Chicago
Ottawa
Montreal
Nashville
NYR
Minnesota
Pittsburgh
St louis

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Harry Lime

Can we stomach Bickell for a year past this one?

if the Blackhawks attach, say, Marko Dano and Ville Pokka, then sure. But that's not going to happen.

[erikk3]

Originally Posted by GullFoss

Who are the 11 teams with legit #1 defensemen?

Calgary
LA
Tampa
Chicago
Ottawa
Montreal
Nashville
NYR
Minnesota
Pittsburgh
St louis

John Carlson is so underrated

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by erikk3

John Carlson is so underrated

Same with Ekman-Larrson

Calgary - Giordano (25:10, 48 points in 61 games)
LA - Doughty (28:59, 46 points in 82 games)
Tampa - Hedman (22:41, 38 points in 59 games)
Chicago - Keith (25:33, 45 points in 80 games)
Ottawa - Karlsson (27:15, 66 points in 82 games)
Montreal - Subban (26:12, 60 points in 82 games)
Nashville - Weber (26:22, 45 points in 82 games) Josi (26:12, 55 points in 81 games)
NYR - McDonagh (23:07, 33 points in 71 games)
Minnesota - Suter (29:03, 38 points in 77 games)
Pittsburgh - Letang (25:29, 54 points in 69 games)
St louis - Pietrangelo (25:24, 46 points in 81 games)

I don't agree that there is only 11 #1 defenseman in the league, but if that's what the scout came to I think Hedman and McDonagh probably don't make the cut due to their time on ice. Hard to argue that they aren't number 1's, especially after Hedman's playoffs, but that scout was probably looking at defenseman who play 25 minutes a night, contribute offensively, and are solid defenders (with some leeway for players like Karlsson). Any other way of evaluating number 1 defenseman and I think you start looking at probably having at least 20 of them

I'd probably find a spot for Ekman-Larrson (25:12, 43 points in 82 games).

[Zulu29]

What did we snag Russel for again? A 5th?

[IgiTang]

I hope Russel isn't moved until Brodie is back and shows he's back to mid-season form.
I do believe we will see alot more of Wideman and Gio together and I thought they looked incredible together against Detroit.
Hamilton and Russel looked really good too. I thought Smid was really solid and if he can keep it up and get better, then Russel being moved makes sense.

But not right now unless someone offers a deal BT can't refuse. No projects. No budding middle 6 guys. A stud who is logging 15-18 minutes minimum a game and nothing less.

But I agree with some. Russel is very underated and at times hes the straw that stirs the drink.

No one out of Boston really fits the bill of a stud 2nd line winger imo.

Out of Columbus, who do they have that's proven? Calvert? Meh.. Atkinson, no thanks.

Out of Anaheim, I would hope BT would pursue Silverberg, but good luck..

Dallas? Who do they have that would fit the bill?
I would love to get Cody Eakin from them but he isn't a top 6 imo.

So really... Who's the ideal partner for a player now without including picks?..

[GranteedEV]

Originally Posted by erikk3

John Carlson is so underrated

Yeah, well Zdeno Chara has 4 points in 5 games, +2 on a pretty bad team with pretty leaky goaltending while paired with a random 22 year old rookie (Colin Miller), but has somehow fallen off from 2nd in Norris Voting in 2013-14 to not even a legit #1 in October 2015

[HelloHockeyFans]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

24th in goals in this young season @ only 2.14 goals/game, and almost all of them have come from the top line. I know it is early, but that certainly looks like a number which belongs to a team that is struggling to score.

The Flames scoring from last season was courtesy of some lofty, unexpected, and very surprising contributors: Bouma's 18 goals, Jooris's 12, and piles of scoring from defensemen. There are real concerns about how some of these are going to be replaced this season, and I think the addition of Frolik and Hamilton, and a full season of Sam Bennett do help. However, this is likely still a team that is not yet an offensive juggernaut. I expect the Flames to fall to middle of the pack in scoring this year, and yes, they absolutely could use another top-six player on the roster.

I still don't think the Flames will need scoring after the 25 game mark or so.

Frolik in my view can and will replace Bouma's 18 and Bennett should replace Jooris' 12 as well. Add Hamilton to the group and we add offense.

It's early so the team needs time to build chemistry and I disagree 100% that the Flames need offense. Trading Russell should be considered depending on his contract asks, but if it's reasonable and can fit in the team's structure, he's a valuable player.

[Conroy4Mayor]

Originally Posted by FBI

Wideman looked pretty good with Gio. Maybe he won't be gone before Russell.

That spot with Gio belongs to Brodie in my opinion.

I thought there was pretty good chemistry between Russell and Hamilton last night. I'd like to see a few more games with that pairing before making any rash decisions on Russell.

[Da_Chief]

Teams with number 1 Dman:

Coyotes: Ekman-Larsson
Flames: Giordano (Will be Brodie by years end)
Hurricanes: Faulk (extremely under-rated)
Blackhawks: Keith
Stars: Klingberg (needs to have another great year)
Red Wings: Kronwall
Panthers: Ekblad (needs to have another great year)
Kings: Doughty
Wild: Suter
Habs: Subban
Predators: Weber/Josi
Devils: Larsson (needs to have another great year)
Rangers: McDonagh
Senators: Karlsson
Blues: Pietrangelo
Lightning: Hedman
Capitals: Carlson

I count 14 with 3 more guys who needs to repeat to cement their spots.

[Vinny01]

Originally Posted by HelloHockeyFans

I still don't think the Flames will need scoring after the 25 game mark or so.

Frolik in my view can and will replace Bouma's 18 and Bennett should replace Jooris' 12 as well. Add Hamilton to the group and we add offense.

It's early so the team needs time to build chemistry and I disagree 100% that the Flames need offense. Trading Russell should be considered depending on his contract asks, but if it's reasonable and can fit in the team's structure, he's a valuable player.

Do you expect the flames to have 3 Dmen that have more than 10 goals? Maybe Wideman, Gio, and Hamilton get it done. Again second highest shooting % last year so it could be tough t duplicate without adding some offense