[Rumour] Flames still trying to re-sign Russell

[Hackey]

I think this is more likely Treliving duing his due diligence. Your going to at least talk and see what Russell wants and see if it makes sense for the organization. I still think he will be traded and hopefully for a good price.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

People need to stop saying Russell is a bottom pairing defenseman. He might be on the deepest d-corps in the league (which the Flames can be in the conversation of), but fact remains he hasn't played on the bottom pairing in several years.

Yeah he could easily play top 4 on many teams. I think ideally he'd be on your 3rd pairing if you're one of the top teams in the league. And that is what we're trying to work toward. If you assume Treliving is looking for one more stud young defenseman to go along with Gio, Brodie and Hamilton to form an elite top 4 then Russell slides in nicely as our #5 long term. If you think he's our #5 long term on a deep defense then you can't pay him as a top 4. That's my point. I think he can play top 4 for a lot of teams but I think in our dream scenario he'd be our #5 guy. If he's willing to pay a slight pay cut to stay here then we can do it otherwise I think he'll be dealt.

How do we acquire the 4th top four guy? Well we may already have him in Kylington, Andersson, Hickey, etc or we may draft one high this year. Treliving could pull off another Hamilton deal at some point too. I think ideally the guy to add to our mix would be big, strong, fast, physical, skilled and mean. Hamilton is big but doesn't really punish. Love to see another big guy added who is naturally more physical. There's a few appealing d-men at the top end this year if we just miss out on the crazy forwards.

[Da_Chief]

Originally Posted by Cali Panthers Fan

I don't disagree that they can be NHLers, but outside of Nakladal, I'm not sure any of them are seasoned enough yet to make the jump. Kulak and Culkin are likely to be bottom pairing d-men with an outside chance at the 2nd pair, and while they are progressing, it's not really a linear progression so far. Kylington must be making huge strides, because he looked nowhere near ready for NHL competition in his own end earlier this year. Offensively, he's very talented, but he needs a LOT of tutelage still. Andersson looks good too, but he also needs at least a season or two in the AHL before you should really consider him for regular NHL duties.

I think your timeline is a little premature, that's all.

This is the new NHL, the salary cap era. Better get your new guys seasoned. The guy being mentioned won't be playing 20 minutes a night, they will start off with 13-14 easier minutes vs bottom lines. With the Flames most of the minutes will be eaten up by Gio, Brodie, Hamilton Wideman (as long as he's here).

Look at Carolina right now. They have Justin Faulk (23 year old 2nd rounder), Jacob Slavin (21 year old 4th rounder), Ryan Murphy (22 year old 1st rounder), Noah Hanifin (18 year old 1st rounder), Brett Pesce (21 years old 3rd rounder) all playing more then 17 a night. All our doing well.

If you want to pay Gaudreau/Monahan/Bennett etc in the future. You need to get cheaper guys elsewhere.

Russell has value, they need to take advantage of that and send him out and gain other assets to upgrade the offence.

[Neeper]

Yeah, I don't get the hate for Russell either. If he was a UFA or on the trade market, I would take him on my team any day. The guy is a warrior and a leader.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Da_Chief

If you want to pay Gaudreau/Monahan/Bennett etc in the future. You need to get cheaper guys elsewhere.

Russell has value, they need to take advantage of that and send him out and gain other assets to upgrade the offence.

Amen.

[Roof-Daddy]

I don't mind them signing Russell, as long as it's a fair deal, and they are able to move Wideman and one of Smid/Engelland for some assets and to free up cap space.

[Karl]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I don't mind them signing Russell, as long as it's a fair deal, and they are able to move Wideman and one of Smid/Engelland for some assets and to free up cap space.

That's going to be VERY, VERY hard.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Karl

That's going to be VERY, VERY hard.

Yeah, I would imagine, and if it can't be done then IMO they need to sell Russell as a pending UFA.

[btimbit]

I'm ok with re-signing Russell, but I hope it's not for over 3 milAAV. Also on board for trading him though

[Strange Brew]

Russell is one of the few defenseman in the team that actually can be traded. Maybe the only one. The rest are on bad contracts or are core pieces. If they re-sign him, I suspect you are looking at the same group of defenseman coming out of camp next year. Unless someone gets moved in a salary dump which I'd rather not see.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

Russell is one of the few defenseman in the team that actually can be traded. Maybe the only one. The rest are on bad contracts or are core pieces. If they re-sign him, I suspect you are looking at the same group of defenseman coming out of camp next year. Unless someone gets moved in a salary dump which I'd rather not see.

I just can't see it. Way too much cap tied up in the rest of the D.

If they are trying to re-up Russell, Treliving must have a plan to clear out some of the others.

[MarkGio]

Makes sense. He's a cheap, mobile top 4 defenseman who shot blocks. I think too many fans compare him to Brodie or otherwise. He's got big shoes to fill playing on the ice with Giordano, Brodie, Hamilton and to a lesser extent Wideman.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I just can't see it. Way too much cap tied up in the rest of the D.

If they are trying to re-up Russell, Treliving must have a plan to clear out some of the others.

Agreed. Smid and Engelland are redundant as both veteran great #6 d-men but could stay if we moved out Russell or Wideman. I think all of those defensemen have some value at the deadline although Wideman's dollars are tricky and probably make him hard to move without taking big salary back. I think it will be quite easy for Treliving to offload Smid or Engelland at the deadline for a nice pick.

Something has to give there at the deadline and losing Russell for nothing doesn't seem like the option Treliving will opt for. If Russell isn't re-signed before the deadline I think we deal him. If we re-sign him then I'd expect one of Smid/Engelland to be moved unless Treliving engineers something bigger with Wideman and us taking dollars back.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I just can't see it. Way too much cap tied up in the rest of the D.

If they are trying to re-up Russell, Treliving must have a plan to clear out some of the others.

Unless Russell takes a hair cut I don't see him signing here. The obvious would be to move Wideman but his salary and term makes him untradeable.

[Strange Brew]

I just don't see how you can expect Engelland or Smid to be moved. Flames are one of the worst teams in the league and both have been healthy scratches. Their contracts give them negative value. Wideman could have value if you retain salary. But I see him more likely to be moved at next years deadline.

Point is - Russell seems like the only who fetches a return.

[Huntingwhale]

Literally the only reason I want to re-sign Russell is if we can't trade him. Better then losing him for nothing. But if the Flames ever hope to take the next step, mediocre guys like him need to be traded and upgraded (easier said then done).

History will look back on him and see that the 2014-2015 season was his career season.

[Vinny01]

I like Russell but think he should be traded. He can bring back at least a 2nd rounder which is pretty awesome considering the Flames got him for a 5th. If he goes UFA a team is going to give him $4-$5M (likely the Vancouver Tigers) so losing him for nothing sucks. Wideman can move up to the top 4.

Flames can make the playoffs but I likey to make a ton of noise. All pending UFA's should be moved for picks of possible

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Strange Brew

I just don't see how you can expect Engelland or Smid to be moved. Flames are one of the worst teams in the league and both have been healthy scratches. Their contracts give them negative value. Wideman could have value if you retain salary. But I see him more likely to be moved at next years deadline.

Point is - Russell seems like the only who fetches a return.

Flames despite being one of the worst teams in the league actually have a defense in the top third of the league when Brodie is healthy. Smid and Engelland have both looked good and neither would be a healthy scratch if we weren't so deep. Both can play regularly in the top 6 in the NHL no question. That's why they are valuable. They are veterans, they have size, they play physical, Smid blocks shots, they are solid. Those types of players are valuable at the deadline. The issue is that some teams may be sticky for the cap next year. But I'd say if teams have been scouting Smid and Engelland they would be seeing solid, veteran play and most teams want to stock up on d-men heading into their cup room.

Some fans seem to think these guys have negative value. I'm pretty sure they have positive value. It might not be outrageous but I think we'd get something for them (3rd-4th round pick seems reasonable)

[Karl]

nm.

[The Original FFIV]

Originally Posted by Flames Draft Watcher

Flames despite being one of the worst teams in the league actually have a defense in the top third of the league when Brodie is healthy. Smid and Engelland have both looked good and neither would be a healthy scratch if we weren't so deep. Both can play regularly in the top 6 in the NHL no question. That's why they are valuable. They are veterans, they have size, they play physical, Smid blocks shots, they are solid. Those types of players are valuable at the deadline. The issue is that some teams may be sticky for the cap next year. But I'd say if teams have been scouting Smid and Engelland they would be seeing solid, veteran play and most teams want to stock up on d-men heading into their cup room.

Some fans seem to think these guys have negative value. I'm pretty sure they have positive value. It might not be outrageous but I think we'd get something for them (3rd-4th round pick seems reasonable)

They will have value - next year on expiring deals. Cap space next season will make teams think twice about adding these deals, unless corresponding money is sent back. If teams want to send money and term back along with a pick, hope treliving considers it.