[Rumour] The Kris Russell Sweepstakes Continue - UPDATE: Oilers offer 1-year deal? - Page 3 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Erick Estrada · 09-19-2016, 08:18 AM

I hate to see the Oilers get better but I simply don't want Russell in a Flames jersey again. I'm over the pair of Russell and Wideman and feel the team needs to move on to more dependable defensemen in their own end. Hartley's fire wagon hockey was nice for a season but it's clear that you can't win consistently with defensemen that are better in the neutral zone and offensive zone than their own end of the ice. Oilers can have him and his shot blocking stats.

Vinny01 · 09-19-2016, 08:23 AM

Not surprised as I would think the Alberta teams top his destination wish list and since he is not cashing in the big deal he might as well play close to home

saillias · 09-19-2016, 08:45 AM

AN upgrade over guys like Nikitin, Ference, Reinhart. He can be a decent stop-gap 2nd pairing guy for them.

Matty81 · 09-19-2016, 08:46 AM

I get the possession stats putting many against him but he is still better than anyone in our bottom 3. I'd take him over smid wideman or engelland. Although engelland might be needed if tkachuk runs around half as much as he has been at the youngstars

1qqaaz · 09-19-2016, 08:53 AM

If anything, Russell would at least be good for the Oilers locker room. The guy works hard and can lead by example. Ference was similar, but was already well over the curve.

Cleveland Steam Whistle · 09-19-2016, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parallex

Because Russell isn't good. Ergo if the Oilers fill a spot with someone who isn't good they then won't fill it with someone who is.

The boogie man argument. He's better than most of what they have now. But he's apparently not better than another player they might bring in instead..............sure. Except, that "other player" doesn't exist and isn't an option. The only way this move stops them from getting better is if they hoop themselves on term. If they do that, Flames fans should be happy, if they don't, not like we should quiver in our boots, but why be happy that a rival improved?

stang · 09-19-2016, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saillias

AN upgrade over guys like Nikitin, Ference, Reinhart. He can be a decent stop-gap 2nd pairing guy for them.

None of who will be in the oilers lineup on opening day

stang · 09-19-2016, 08:59 AM

Can he play the right side? Or is he strictly a left side dman

Cleveland Steam Whistle · 09-19-2016, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang

Can he play the right side? Or is he strictly a left side dman

Side of the ice is irrelevant whilst on your stomach

stang · 09-19-2016, 09:01 AM

Yeah I'm not a huge fan of his tbh.

Ashasx · 09-19-2016, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robaur

Russell isnt very good. Was always overhyped by the media here....Kerr, Steinberg etc...but when he went to Dallas...it was pretty obvious.

Same thing happened with Glencross....the local media is more focused on maintaining a good relationship with players on the roster and forget to actually present their thoughts without massive bias.

Most opinions on players in Calgary are tainted by the bias of media such as Steinberg, Wills, Kerr, Millions etc....and its does a massive disservice to this hockey market. I think its just because the Flames ownership are very involved in Fan 960 operations or its just a small town?? Anyone care to elaborate?

Steinberg was quite outspoken against Russell as a player. Didn't him and Loubardias have an argument on air over this stuff?

Cleveland Steam Whistle · 09-19-2016, 09:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang

Yeah I'm not a huge fan of his tbh.

Short term, especially if it's a one year, I doubt there's not much not to like from an Oilers perspective, he'll make your backend better and he's a great character player too.

stang · 09-19-2016, 09:06 AM

Mckenzie says he's looking for 4-5mil on a one year deal. Seems a little steep, no?

saillias · 09-19-2016, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang

None of who will be in the oilers lineup on opening day

I know. I'm just finding it difficult to compliment Russell, but he is definitely better than those guys, at least.

Cleveland Steam Whistle · 09-19-2016, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang

Mckenzie says he's looking for 4-5mil on a one year deal. Seems a little steep, no?

Yes, I would say so. That said, other than money out of the owners pockets, what the actual opportunity cost of paying him that much?

Not much left on the open market that the Oilers would be passing up on or missing out signing instead, so that's not really a risk. I guess the only risk is if a trade pops up during the season that the Oilers would like to make, and all of a sudden the cap space used up on Russell prevents that move. I'd say that's pretty unlikely. As long as it's not more than one year on that dollar amount, I don't think there's much risk to it for the Oilers, although I will admit I'd be surprised if he can still command that dollar, even on a 1 year at this point in the offseason.

stang · 09-19-2016, 09:14 AM

Well we have cap space, but really not that much tbh. We have to account for Bonuses for a couple of our guys, and Ferences LTIR doesn't help for that. Not saying it's a for sure issue but it's suck to have an overage penalty for 1 year of Kris Russell

Cleveland Steam Whistle · 09-19-2016, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stang

Well we have cap space, but really not that much tbh. We have to account for Bonuses for a couple of our guys, and Ferences LTIR doesn't help for that. Not saying it's a for sure issue but it's suck to have an overage penalty for 1 year of Kris Russell

That's fair, but again, if that were the case the overages are only a concern the following year if they prevent any moves from being made that the team would really like to make. I'm sure the risk as you point out isn't 0, but I'm guessing potentially overpaying Russell for a year has a pretty low risk of coming back and biting the Oilers in the butt, versus the improvement he'll represent on the backend and in team culture.

stang · 09-19-2016, 09:16 AM

I honestly like Nakladal better...

polak · 09-19-2016, 09:19 AM

He's not a good defensemen so they can have him.

Robbob · 09-19-2016, 09:26 AM

I think he is being undervalued here. He would be a great get for the oilers. He was heavily involved as part of the leadership team that helped build the culture here. He may not be an advanced stat darling but he is a hell of a hockey player and hell of a person. He undoubtedly makes the Oilers better on the back end because he can get the puck out of the Def zone and up to the forwards.