McKenzie: Is there any doubt Russell would at least get 5 yrs x $5.5 million as UFA?

[polak]

Ever since someone pointed out that a shot block actually means that the defensemen already screwed up by allowing the shot, Kris Russell has lost significant value in my eyes.

His only redeeming quality is that he's good at cleaning up his own mistakes. Is that really a reason to keep a player?

[Split98]

Gaudreau: $6,500,000 | Monahan: $6,000,000 | Hudler: $5,000,000

Bennett: $925,000 | Backlund: $3,575,000 | Frolik: $4,300,000

Colborne: $2,500,000 | Granlund : $1,500,000 | Ferland: $825,000

Jooris : $1,500,000 | Stajan: $3,125,000 | Bouma: $2,200,000

Bollig: $1,250,000

Giordano $6,750,000 Brodie $4,650,400

Russell $4,000,000 Hamilton $5,750,000

Engelland $2,916,667 Wideman $5,250,000

Smid $3,500,000

Ramo $3,000,000 Ortio $1,000,000

Buried
Raymond $2,200,000

Salary Cap: $71,400,000
Cap Space: -$6,817,067

Bottom line, we can't - even if we don't re-sign Hudler. I'm even being pretty optimistic with some things here

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Brick

Flames' Russell is not a shutdown defenceman:

http://www.tsn.ca/flames-russell-is-...ceman-1.436533

paging Brad Treliving

[Red]

Originally Posted by Brick

Flames' Russell is not a shutdown defenceman:

http://www.tsn.ca/flames-russell-is-...ceman-1.436533

Agree with this article. Russel is not a 5 mil player, even 3 mil is a stretch for me. He had some "magic" with Wideman last year, but that's long gone.

I think the Flames should replace him with someone cheaper and bigger.
They should have kept Schlemko. But I am sure there are others that can similar role for little money.

[Samonadreau]

Originally Posted by Split98

Gaudreau: $6,500,000 | Monahan: $6,000,000 | Hudler: $5,000,000

Bennett: $925,000 | Backlund: $3,575,000 | Frolik: $4,300,000

Colborne: $2,500,000 | Granlund : $1,500,000 | Ferland: $825,000

Jooris : $1,500,000 | Stajan: $3,125,000 | Bouma: $2,200,000

Bollig: $1,250,000

Giordano $6,750,000 Brodie $4,650,400

Russell $4,000,000 Hamilton $5,750,000

Engelland $2,916,667 Wideman $5,250,000

Smid $3,500,000

Ramo $3,000,000 Ortio $1,000,000

Buried
Raymond $2,200,000

Salary Cap: $71,400,000
Cap Space: -$6,817,067

Bottom line, we can't - even if we don't re-sign Hudler. I'm even being pretty optimistic with some things here

No, no, no, no. Too much, too much, too much, too much.

[Flames Draft Watcher]

Originally Posted by Ashasx

paging Brad Treliving

Pretty sure Treliving has as good a handle on anybody on Russell. He doesn't need a TSN advanced stats guy to get a handle on his game, he watches him more closely than you or I do. Good try though.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by Split98

Gaudreau:$6,500,000 | Monahan: $6,000,000 | Hudler: $5,000,000

Bennett: $925,000 | Backlund: $3,575,000 | Frolik: $4,300,000

Colborne: $2,500,000 | Granlund: $1,500,000 | Ferland: $825,000

Jooris : $1,500,000 | Stajan: $3,125,000 | Bouma: $2,200,000

Bollig: $1,250,000

Giordano$6,750,000Brodie$4,650,400

Russell$4,000,000Hamilton$5,750,000

Engelland$2,916,667Wideman$5,250,000

Smid$3,500,000

Ramo$3,000,000Ortio$1,000,000

Buried
Raymond$2,200,000

Salary Cap: $71,400,000
Cap Space: -$6,817,067

Bottom line, we can't - even if we don't re-sign Hudler. I'm even being pretty optimistic with some things here

If Colborne wants more than $1M, goodbye

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Samonadreau

No, no, no, no. Too much, too much, too much, too much.

I fully agree, but trying to balance my personal feelings with what I could actually see happening.

To be fair, Colborne was playing much better (though, not great) when I originally drafted the spreadsheet... so that should be adjusted. Still could see him getting $1.5 though and Jooris close to $1.2 at the lowest.

Edit: And I don't see Hudler signing for much lower than $4.5-$5, even with his poor year.

[ricardodw]

It is pretty obvious that Russell is done as a Flame. As soon as Hamilton signed as the #14 highest paid d-man in the league there was no rational way of keeping Russell as a Flame, even at the 2.3 he is making this year.

This is the same as Hudler was gone as soon as Frolik was signed.

With the current contracts the Flames have 24M left to spend. Monahan, Gaudreau and 2 goalies leaves the Flames with the same team.

The 2015-16 with Monahan, Bennett and Gaudreau on their ELC and Gio getting 4M (2.7M under market) was the best year for the Flames (contract-wise) to make an impact.

Hudler, Jones, Russell were basically playoff rentals that the Flames could not afford long term and will have to be replaced with journeyman or ELC players making close to the league minimum.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

If Colborne wants more than $1M, goodbye

Well his qualifying offer will be $1.25 million. So goodbye?

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Well his qualifying offer will be $1.25 million. So goodbye?

Yup

[theTrumanShow]

lol, I would qualify, not a penny more.

[MrMastodonFarm]

I wouldn't qualify him. Let him go UFA, if the Flames really want him back negotiate at a lower salary. 800k? I don't know, if someone outbids that, good luck.

[Split98]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

If Colborne wants more than $1M, goodbye

While I don't disagree, who plays the wing on the 3rd line?

My fear is the answer would be Raymond. Colborne at 1,275,000 - 1,500,000 may be more realistic than 2,500,000... but doesn't solve the 'we can't afford Russell issue'

[PeteMoss]

^^ Agree totally. You can't just keep bringing the same team back year after year and expect it to get better because your best players are young. From last year - swapped out Schlemko/Diaz/Potter for Hamilton which is a huge upgrade yet still seeing similar issues with the non-Gio/Brodie pairings getting crushed.

[Strange Brew]

Split 98's analysis is pretty good. You can quibble with some of the numbers but the bottom line is that we could bring back the same crappy team as this year and we would be $5 million over the salary cap. And we'd have the worst goalie tandem in the league.

BT has some work to do.

[CroFlames]

TDL, July 1, and the rest of the summer will be interesting.

[PeteMoss]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

If Colborne wants more than $1M, goodbye

Jooris as well. These 12th/13th forward guys should not be making more than a million. And I like Jooris and what he brings, but save yourself $500k-$1M and use some guys from the farm.

[Street Pharmacist]

Hope we sign Schlemko, though he'll want a pretty substantial raise

[Flash Walken]

i would re-qualify Colborne at 1.25

It's not like Calgary has a ton of depth up front that they can just plug in next season.