Todd Cordell: The Calgary Flames Should Trade Kris Russell

Don't do it Don... please don't do it.

If it fits, it ships

Hey Todd, where is the stat about him setting the NHL record for blocked shots last year (a category he continues to lead this season)? As much as we could use another 1st/2nd rounder, he is the closest thing to a shutdown D that we got! Brodie, Gio, Hamilton all offence first guys, not saying Kris is Chara, but he is often one of our best defensive defencemans. Mark my words, if he is traded there will be a hole in the top 4 for next season that will be very difficult to replace!

Three theories on Russell:

1. It's an off year for him.

2. He has a shelf-life within any NHL roster and now he's on the decline with us. Might explain why got him for cheap in the first place.

3. He's simply gotten worse and might be partying a little too hard this year.



Either way, he was a big reason Wideman was 4th in defensemen scoring last year as his defense partner. What he did defensively allowed Wides to take more risks.

Kinda doubt we'll see that pairing round into form any time soon. Engs can take his spot in the top 4 and do fine.

Replacing our 2nd defense pairing will be an ugly process; better to do it now than start next season with 2 new guys taking all those minutes.

I hope the Flames resign him ... depending on price. They have nobody ready to take those 2nd pairing minutes and if they're going to move a dman, I would hope it to be Wideman. At 28, you'd have think he's got 5 good years left.

He's obviously having an off year but a few month ago, the talk was he would cost $4 or $5 million per going forward. If they can lock him up for 5rys @ 3million per, that would be great !

Todd Cordell: The Calgary Flames Should Trade Kris Russell
- ToddCordellCGY

Todd, for a numbers cruncher I am surprised you omitted a few things. I also find this my biggest knock on analytics & why it is being pushed in the wrong contexts.

1/Sample size & off years. Most players go through bad spots & off years in their careers. Consistency is the unicorn everyone covets. You have cherry picked 47 games this year & made a conclusion on the value of this player. No mention that this guy plays in excess of 22 minutes per game in all situations. No mention that when our Norris trophy candidate went down last year in the playoff race, he played over 25 minutes a game & usually in the top pairing & pushed Calgary into the playoffs after we were sellers at the TDL. He performed fantastic in the playoffs, I know I was at most of the games here in Calgary for both rounds. I bet if you measured Crosby & Stamkos stats this year to date, you could make an argument the teams should trade those guys as well.

2/Last I saw hockey is a team game & it takes a team effort to be 2 points out of last place in the NHL. More players than Russell have contributed to our underwhelming performance this year.

Saying that, the only way Flames can afford to keep Russell is if they move either Wideman (probably not going to happen seeing he could be on the sidelines for awhile) or Smid's 3.5 mill next year. One of those guys being moved means you can probably try to get Russell inked to a 3 year deal at 4.0 per, which wouldn't be a bad thing. Treliving needs to purge some contracts this TDL & Summer.

Todd, for a numbers cruncher I am surprised you omitted a few things. I also find this my biggest knock on analytics & why it is being pushed in the wrong contexts.

1/Sample size & off years. Most players go through bad spots & off years in their careers. Consistency is the unicorn everyone covets. You have cherry picked 47 games this year & made a conclusion on the value of this player. No mention that this guy plays in excess of 22 minutes per game in all situations. No mention that when our Norris trophy candidate went down last year in the playoff race, he played over 25 minutes a game & usually in the top pairing & pushed Calgary into the playoffs after we were sellers at the TDL. He performed fantastic in the playoffs, I know I was at most of the games here in Calgary for both rounds. I bet if you measured Crosby & Stamkos stats this year to date, you could make an argument the teams should trade those guys as well.

2/Last I saw hockey is a team game & it takes a team effort to be 2 points out of last place in the NHL. More players than Russell have contributed to our underwhelming performance this year.

Saying that, the only way Flames can afford to keep Russell is if they move either Wideman (probably not going to happen seeing he could be on the sidelines for awhile) or Smid's 3.5 mill next year. One of those guys being moved means you can probably try to get Russell inked to a 3 year deal at 4.0 per, which wouldn't be a bad thing. Treliving needs to purge some contracts this TDL & Summer.
- Kevin R

Agree with most of that with exception to the top pairing part. Harts refused to break up Wides-Russell last year. Engs played on Brodie's pairing for any shift that wasn't a powerplay.

Agree with most of that with exception to the top pairing part. Harts refused to break up Wides-Russell last year. Engs played on Brodie's pairing for any shift that wasn't a powerplay.
- fry

Actually, if you look at the TOI the last 20 games & playoffs, I think you will see Wideman & Russell had more minutes than Brodie & that was because Engellend was overachieving playing 20+ minutes per game & couldn't dream of playing him much more than that.

Im with Todd on this, trade him! Signing him at $4mil would be ridiculous. He'd be a good 3rd pair option and injury fill in for the 2nd pair. But that's it. If GM's are so hot for him right now, then fleece one of them before they realize what he is. The potential return wojld likely out-weight the cost to keep him.
Guys that are saying there will be a big hole if he leaves, how do you know? Have we seen Nakladal, Wotherspoon, Kulak or any other D prospect get a look this year? We've got 3 top end end guys that could play the majority of minutes next year as we break in a rookie, and since we are still rebuilding, this just makes sense.
I like Russell but its time for him to move on.

Three theories on Russell:

1. It's an off year for him.

2. He has a shelf-life within any NHL roster and now he's on the decline with us. Might explain why got him for cheap in the first place.

3. He's simply gotten worse and might be partying a little too hard this year.



Either way, he was a big reason Wideman was 4th in defensemen scoring last year as his defense partner. What he did defensively allowed Wides to take more risks.

Kinda doubt we'll see that pairing round into form any time soon. Engs can take his spot in the top 4 and do fine.

Replacing our 2nd defense pairing will be an ugly process; better to do it now than start next season with 2 new guys taking all those minutes.
- fry

Is this a well-publicized thing about him? Imagined that the 'Hawks could use a guy like Russell for depth purposes, but if he's a supposed party animal then maybe it's best they try to limit the number of those on the team ...

Hey Todd, where is the stat about him setting the NHL record for blocked shots last year (a category he continues to lead this season)? As much as we could use another 1st/2nd rounder, he is the closest thing to a shutdown D that we got! Brodie, Gio, Hamilton all offence first guys, not saying Kris is Chara, but he is often one of our best defensive defencemans. Mark my words, if he is traded there will be a hole in the top 4 for next season that will be very difficult to replace!
- brb1397

Except he gets all those blocked shots because he's awful defensively. He gives players way to much room, he never pressures anyone, he gets lost in his own zone all the time. The only thing he's looking to is block a shot. A blocked shot is a last resort for good defensemen. Actual good defenseman prevent the shots from occurring in the first place.

A very Tanner-esque blog Todd.
Anyone who's in sales and lets be honest ever NHL GM is in sales, you don't say, ya he's not getting resigned so lets make a deal. You say what they Flames have, yep we are trying to resign him so if you want him you better up the ante. Russells's advanced stats are not great. If there is an offer we can't refuse that will help the team when we are truly competitive, great. If not, don't dump him for pennies but be smart with $ and term if we resign...

Is this a well-publicized thing about him? Imagined that the 'Hawks could use a guy like Russell for depth purposes, but if he's a supposed party animal then maybe it's best they try to limit the number of those on the team ...
- TommyHawk

No he's a farm boy... I mean right off the ranch farm boy.

oh why did you this, everyone here has a hard on for russell, OG is gonna be so mad that you sugggested trading his love russell and his great leadership
now everyone will accuse todd of wanting to "give up" and be like the oilers...

Actually, if you look at the TOI the last 20 games & playoffs, I think you will see Wideman & Russell had more minutes than Brodie & that was because Engellend was overachieving playing 20+ minutes per game & couldn't dream of playing him much more than that.
- Kevin R

They certainly had an increased role. Engs and Brodie were still paired against the other team's top opposition and were considered the "1st pairing".

Definitely a grey area seeing as TOI is both a quantative and qualitive statistic.

Is this a well-publicized thing about him? Imagined that the 'Hawks could use a guy like Russell for depth purposes, but if he's a supposed party animal then maybe it's best they try to limit the number of those on the team ...
- TommyHawk

Hah I have a few friends that have partied with him in the past. The man enjoys his snow days.

But yeah, that's only a theory of mine. His play has gone to trash, the bags beneath his eyes are huge this year, has had some shakey 1st periods this season. Just speculation, nothing publicized.

oh why did you this, everyone here has a hard on for russell, OG is gonna be so mad that you sugggested trading his love russell and his great leadership
now everyone will accuse todd of wanting to "give up" and be like the oilers...
- Bigern4MVP

Please don't speak for everyone. We have our own keyboards and have better grammar than you.

Except he gets all those blocked shots because he's awful defensively. He gives players way to much room, he never pressures anyone, he gets lost in his own zone all the time. The only thing he's looking to is block a shot. A blocked shot is a last resort for good defensemen. Actual good defenseman prevent the shots from occurring in the first place.
- Hunkulese

He's not Weber, he's not Suter or even Gio for that matter. Hes what 75% of the defensemen in this league are with some slight offensive upside and a magnet for pucks. He's 2nd pairing D on most teams, 3rd on others. As long as he's not expected to carry the load he's fine and with the right partner could be better. It would be nice to have Nakladal/Kylington with Hamilton and Russell/Engellend as the 3rd pairing (or something like that). Again though if he has value and his ask is $4mill+... see ya.

No he's a farm boy... I mean right off the ranch farm boy.
- geta02it

You mean right off the ranch, through the 'Dub, Columbus, St. Louis, and Calgary farm boy.

Except he gets all those blocked shots because he's awful defensively. He gives players way to much room, he never pressures anyone, he gets lost in his own zone all the time. The only thing he's looking to is block a shot. A blocked shot is a last resort for good defensemen. Actual good defenseman prevent the shots from occurring in the first place.
- Hunkulese

Not that im supporting Russell, and i do agree with you, but its known that that is indicative of Hartleys defensive system and expectations. Hamilton discussed this when he talked about his struggles getting to know the Flames systems.

You mean right off the ranch, through the 'Dub, Columbus, St. Louis, and Calgary farm boy.
- fry

He still is... he just lives the dream of the NHL... (insert spectacular sunset picture here)

Hah I have a few friends that have partied with him in the past. The man enjoys his snow days.

But yeah, that's only a theory of mine. His play has gone to trash, the bags beneath his eyes are huge this year, has had some shakey 1st periods this season. Just speculation, nothing publicized.
- fry

If its only a theory of yours then dont be a douche bag and start terrible rumors.

Whats the over/under on Wideman's suspension length?

If its only a theory of yours then dont be a douche bag and start terrible rumors.
- TandA4Flames

Rumours based off speculation require someone moving forward and saying it's fact.

I have several good pieces of reasoning as well as some testimony. This is a thread discussing Russell's value this year and what can be projected as his potential impact with a new team.

I'm fine with discussing speculation but if you're just gonna pop in, drop no opinion other than telling me im being a douchebag for speculating on why he's playing poorly this year. Well sir, you can GFY on this beautiful Friday.