Did Kris Russell overplay his hand in free agency?

[savemedrzaius]

Wow， thank you Kris from saving the Leafs from themselves.

[DJones]

Originally Posted by IgiTang

Regarding the HERO chart, am I reading wrong when it says Petry is better by a country mile when it comes to shot suppression over Russell?

Do shot blocks not count as shot suppression?

And if they do, how is Russell not better as hes been the NHL leader in shot blocks for the last 2 years, by a country mile, himself?

Blocking shots is terrible for hero charts. Statistically you are much better off diving out of the way haha. Increases the chance for a goal or a change of possession

[Cantrader]

Do not worry Jim will end up overpaying him soon...

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by The Original FFIV

From Alain Roy his agent. @alroy42

Reports of Kris Russell turning down any offer from the @MapleLeafs are false. Simply rumors...

#trynasaveface #lolfail

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by TheScorpion

Pretty sure shot suppression factors in shot attempts. Shots that are blocked are still shot attempts, so they count, and seeing as how Russell has been the league leader in shot blocks over the last two years, he's seen more shot attempts than a ton of players. That would sink his shot suppression stats.

Which is a joke, a blocked shot can be just as effective as poking the puck off the forward's stick. Being punished statistically for getting in the shooting lanes like they are asked to do is all kinds of backwards.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by curves2000

My opinion on this matter is that it appears Flames management were right on this contract once again.

If you recall the Glencross situation the reports out there was a contract ask from Glencross's camp in the area of around $5 mil a year. Flames management felt that he wasn't in that area and decided to move on. We now know that the market for Glencross was small and he ask was too high. For various reasons I don't think Glencross was going play for a smaller deal so it made sense for him to retire.

As for Russell it now appears to be a somewhat similar situation scenario where the ask from the player vs the market demand from management appeared to be way off. In any event I really do hope he finds a spot with another team as he is a valuable D man but sometimes you need to question the offers being made.

Big difference as Kris Russell isn't a player in any danger at all of not getting a contract. He's looking at the difference between what he wants ($5mil a year for many years) and what he'll get ($3.5 - $4.5 over a few years).

There's no need for hoping he finds a spot like Glencross, lol.

[Dajazz]

Kris Russell blocks shots because he can't get the damn puck out of the zone. He fails the eye test big time. Why doesn't Brodie block as much for example, is he a worse defenseman?

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Dajazz

Kris Russell blocks shots because he can't get the damn puck out of the zone. He fails the eye test big time. Why doesn't Brodie block as much for example, is he a worse defenseman?

No one is suggesting blocking shots makes Russell a better defenseman that someone who doesn't, just stating it is a form of shot suppression because he doesn't allow the shots to get through. He fails your eye test yet actual trained scouts and NHL General Managers see it differently. I wonder who is right....

[mennoknight]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

No one is suggesting blocking shots makes Russell a better defenseman that someone who doesn't, just stating it is a form of shot suppression because he doesn't allow the shots to get through. He fails your eye test yet actual trained scouts and NHL General Managers see it differently. I wonder who is right....

me, I'm right, he stinks

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by mennoknight

me, I'm right, he stinks

I really don't care how he smells.

[Poe969]

If nhl GM's saw it differently, he'd have a contract by now. He isn't terrible but he isn't good, the only thing he seems to be good at is over pricing himself.

[Alberta_Beef]

Originally Posted by Poe969

If nhl GM's saw it differently, he'd have a contract by now. He isn't terrible but he isn't good, the only thing he seems to be good at is over pricing himself.

This comment doesn't even match the current conversation. The comment about GMs was me saying they don't think he is a bad player and being a free agent for less than 72 hours without a contract certainly would not mean GMs think that. We also don't know if Russell has priced himself out of anything. Even if he rejected the Leafs he may have done so because they are a terrible team and he wants to win. Dollars may not be his end game.

[Erick Estrada]

I can't recall exactly but I believe it may have been against the Stars last season but a player entered the zone on Russell and faked a shot to which Russell slid to block while the player simply shifted and walked in all alone on the goaltender to score. It looked really bad. The team had obviously done it's homework on the Flames and Russell and the major concern with this guy signed to any long term deal is if he loses a step he's going to be basically nothing but a pylon.

[Monahan For Mayor]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Russell is one of the worst dman in the league in his own end. He can't effectively stop cycles or recovers pucks. Which leads to very very long periods of possession in his own end if not a goal. If he is able to some how receive the puck he will fire it up the boards right back to the opposition. He doesn't bring enough talent offensively to negate his massive warts defensively. If I was a gm I'd want him no where near my team.

[Dajazz]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

No one is suggesting blocking shots makes Russell a better defenseman that someone who doesn't, just stating it is a form of shot suppression because he doesn't allow the shots to get through. He fails your eye test yet actual trained scouts and NHL General Managers see it differently. I wonder who is right....

I don't have a contract either, what's that saying?

Seriously though, he's just very, very overrated and should stay on the 3rd pairing/reserve Dman. He's been on four teams, been waived once and is currently without a contract while right in his prime.

[Ashasx]

Blocking shots is an action of last resort. If you're blocking shots all the time, you're giving up too many opportunities. You're taking yourself out of the play because in order to block a shot, you need to react before the shooter. After blocking the shot, you have to recover and return to the play.

Russell is a bad defenceman.

[burn_baby_burn]

Originally Posted by Alberta_Beef

This comment doesn't even match the current conversation. The comment about GMs was me saying they don't think he is a bad player and being a free agent for less than 72 hours without a contract certainly would not mean GMs think that. We also don't know if Russell has priced himself out of anything. Even if he rejected the Leafs he may have done so because they are a terrible team and he wants to win. Dollars may not be his end game.

Caroline is a small town. Stop and talk to any local rancher up there and you will get a portion of the inside scoop. His agent, according to some of the locals, told him he could get him $5M a season. When the Flames offered less, the Oilers were brought up as being interested. There was belief that the Stars would offer the contract he wanted since they gave up so much for him and would have known what kind of contract he was after.

I remember Elliot Freedman talking on the Fan960 long before the trade deadline about Kris and the Flames trying to extend him. Elliot basically said, look at Curtis Glencross. He got some bad advice and turned down a great offer from the Flames. Where is he now? Sounds like Kris has gotten some bad advice.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

Blocking shots is an action of last resort. If you're blocking shots all the time, you're giving up too many opportunities. You're taking yourself out of the play because in order to block a shot, you need to react before the shooter. After blocking the shot, you have to recover and return to the play.

Russell is a bad defenceman.

Yup.

Mark Giordano. 7th in blocks last season. Bad defenceman.

Roman Josi. 8th. Also bad.

Erik Karlsson. 11th. He's just THE WORST!


Andrew Ference. 729th. Only 5 blocks all season!!! Norris trophy candidate right there.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Cecil Terwilliger

Yup.

Mark Giordano. 7th in blocks last season. Bad defenceman.

Roman Josi. 8th. Also bad.

The difference between these defencemen and Russell of course being every other stat.

[Cecil Terwilliger]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

The difference between these defencemen and Russell of course being every other stat.

Then who gives a crap about blocks? You're the one that said he sucks because he blocks shots. Blocks only matter when you already think a player sucks? That makes total sense.