Andersson discussion

[Jiri Hrdina]

Andersson is 7th on all time games for a D for the team, 9th in points.
So in the top 10 conversation for sure.

[Paulie Walnuts]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Yeah holy balls Kris Russell can't hold Rasmus's jock strap.

Love Ras, one of my favorite Flames. But he does seem a step behind this season. Before that he was consistently good and has shown up heart and soul for this team for a decade. I understand the people that think we have let heart strings get in the way of business from time to time but you have to pay respects to people who have laid it on the line for your franchise for 10 years, or no one will be willing to do it.

If the decision is made to part ways I hope we can do it on good terms for a guy who committed to this franchise during one of its darkest periods. And I hope fans don't run him out of town because he's lost a step despite still being one of our best players.

I wouldn't call this one of the darkest times, probably not even close. He has been part of some of the best teams we have had actually.

[dino7c]

Kris Russell is no good

let alone top 10

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by SutterBrother

I don’t know about “easily”. Off the top of my head:

MacInnis
Suter
Gio
Phaneuf
Macoun
Regehr
Mcrimmon
Reinhart
Weegar
Hamilton
Russell

I don’t know who I would swap him with?

Phaneuf - no lasting positive impact. Rasmus has almost as many points and is a better all around defenceman. Hell, Housely had better numbers as a Flame.

Hamilton - he played less here than Wideman, Yawney or Eloranta. Tanev played here longer and with more impact.

Russell - LOL. Fewer games than Kylington! Fewer points than Steve Konroyd. I loved Macoun but he was a role player as well. Weegar has been great and may well be top 10 but it's been short term.

MacInnis, Suter, Gio, Regher, Reinhart are your top 5 easily. From there you can throw Rasmus in the next 5 without any problem. By points Andersson is 9th all time. By games he's 7th.

[Wolven]

Originally Posted by Funkhouser

Plus this will help those of us on Team Tank!!
Fully support this back end. Something tells me we are signing Ekblad though.

Ekblad doesn't make sense for us. He is basically the same age as Andersson but he will be more expensive. He also plays on the right side which would force either Weegar or one of the young RD over to the left. If we are considering Ekblad then I would rather see us extend Andersson to a lesser deal, ideally with zero trade protection.

But really, if we are going to go UFA shopping for a D then we would be better off going after a natural LD like Chychrun or Provorov who can put some depth on the left side.

Bahl - Weegar
Provorov - Pachal
Solovyov/Kuznetsov - Parekh
X: Bean

That would provide a bit of a better top 4 where you have Weegar helping Bahl and "vet LD" helping Pachal and a youth 3rd pairing. If it works out well, I would make the bottom pair be a rotation of Solovyov, Kuznetsov, and Parekh. Then Bean can be shipped out.

[activeStick]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Phaneuf - no lasting positive impact. Rasmus has almost as many points and is a better all around defenceman. Hell, Housely had better numbers as a Flame.

Hamilton - he played less here than Wideman, Yawney or Eloranta. Tanev played here longer and with more impact.

Russell - LOL. Fewer games than Kylington! Fewer points than Steve Konroyd. I loved Macoun but he was a role player as well. Weegar has been great and may well be top 10 but it's been short term.

MacInnis, Suter, Gio, Regher, Reinhart are your top 5 easily. From there you can throw Rasmus in the next 5 without any problem. By points Andersson is 9th all time. By games he's 7th.

Agree with this completely.

[activeStick]

On Ras and him staying... he's my favorite player and I'd love for him to stay and extend, but at 2nd pairing money. Understood he doesn't play 2nd pairing minutes, but I slot him as a 2nd pairing guy. I also don't see Weegar as a top pairing guy for the record, but also am a big fan. As for Ras, he has a big personality and I suspect is a big reason for the solid culture in the room (along with Weegar). I feel like his swagger and confidence gets absorbed by his teammates and for the kids on the team and coming up, will be very important. I would love to see him as the next captain, but the contract matters.

[GUnit]

Post Apex needs to be moved in off season, no chance an extension ages well

[saillias]

Best time to move him was last year, but Conroy had too much business to take care of. The year before would've been even better, but Treliving quit on the job and was too busy looking at Toronto houses. The third best time is this summer. I'm afraid if you wait until next deadline his value is going to just keep dropping.

I wouldn't re-sign him to any contract anymore. It's a bit like the Klingberg situation in Dallas, this is a player with a lot of pride who probably believes he's earned top dollar, and 2 years ago that was the case, but his on ice play has declined to a point where he isn't. Hee's been a loyal soldier for you his whole career, so you don't want to insult him and offer him his current contract or less. Sometimes it's best to just let a guy walk.

[Circa89]

Is this not a PHIL Russell reference?

[DeluxeMoustache]

Keep him

[Rhett44]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Keep him

Ok, this is the best argument I have seen for keeping him. You might have convinced me.

[Sofa GM]

Originally Posted by Five-hole

Yeah holy balls Kris Russell can't hold Rasmus's jock strap.

Love Ras, one of my favorite Flames. But he does seem a step behind this season. Before that he was consistently good and has shown up heart and soul for this team for a decade. I understand the people that think we have let heart strings get in the way of business from time to time but you have to pay respects to people who have laid it on the line for your franchise for 10 years, or no one will be willing to do it.

If the decision is made to part ways I hope we can do it on good terms for a guy who committed to this franchise during one of its darkest periods. And I hope fans don't run him out of town because he's lost a step despite still being one of our best players.

Perhaps the reference was for Phil Russell and not Kris…….this is a good spot for the Jim Benning ‘more than one Russell’ meme.

[GioforPM]

Phil Russell only played 3 seasons in Calgary (two with Atlanta before that) and was never better than 3rd or 4th best Dman on the team, behind Reinhart, Rautakallio, Houston and/or Eloranta.

[UKflames]

I'm now on team trade, hopefully at the draft for another high pick. Don't think we need to sign him to an extension.

[Johnny Makarov]

Originally Posted by DeluxeMoustache

Keep him

This was him against the Oilers in that playoff series. Good riddance!

He can never be forgiven.