Confirmed with Link: Kris Russell for Jyrki Jokipakka, Brett Pollock, Conditional 2nd Round Pick

[Troy McClure]

Mike Weber was had for a 3rd. Schultz was had for a 3rd.

We WAY overpaid in my opinion. Those are both 3rd pairing D...and they were gotten for practically free at the deadline.

Way overpaid? It's not like Nill gave up anything we'll look back on and fret over.

 

[OttMorrow]

Way overpaid? It's not like Nill gave up anything we'll look back on and fret over.

Brett Pollock could come back to bite us. He's going to be a solid NHLer...he's got size, skill, and a 200 foot game...And even if we have the depth at center, we did not need to throw him in to that deal. He could have been used to acquire another asset. Just because you have depth doesn't mean you should just give it out for free like M&Ms on Halloween.

 

[ced2334]

We might have been targeting Russell this summer. This gives us a chance to see how he fits in our group first. I only have to watch janmark to know that Jim isn't stupid when it comes to trades and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on this for now. As for hamuis I think Canucks owners upped the price not benning. It's no secret that Tom G and Canucks ownership have bad blood between each other. I wouldn't be surprised if that played a role in their negotiations.

 

[OttMorrow]

We might have been targeting Russell this summer. This gives us a chance to see how he fits in our group first. I only have to watch janmark to know that Jim isn't stupid when it comes to trades and I'll give him the benefit of the doubt on this for now. As for hamuis I think Canucks owners upped the price not benning. It's no secret that Tom G and Canucks ownership have bad blood between each other. I wouldn't be surprised if that played a role in their negotiations.

It's one heck of an expensive tryout.

 

[WhoahNow]

It's one heck of an expensive tryout.

I don't even want to imagine what we were offering for Hamhuis if it was comparable, and you know Hamhuis would have only been around this season.

 

[Michael Farkas]

If it's of any interest, a neutral observer's opinion on Russell...(notes are from spring 2014)

Kris Russell (LD) - Extremely mobile defenseman who likes to play the game at great pace. One of the most mobile and agile d-men in the league. His backward and lateral skating are impressive to watch. He has a lot of poise with the puck and likes to try to skate out of trouble. He usually makes smart outlet passes but there isn't that extra "snap" to them like you see from the elite offensive d-men in the league. His shot has a little something behind it, but it's not over-powering. Defensively, he's savvy but because of his very small stature, he can get lost in the wash sometimes. He's a competitor though and he really thinks the game well. Almost too well actually, to borrow a football/quarterback term, he gets "happy feet" sometimes and he jumps on things that aren't really there but it's an event that definitely could have happened...but didn't. He can make up for most guesses though because of his impressive foot speed. He plays a very loose gap and sometimes gives up the inside parts of the ice a little too readily. He's really crafty in terms of how he handles different situations defensively but it's just not always the most efficient way to do things. He really pushes for puck possession, and, as a result, can jump ahead in the story too far and get caught. Otherwise, his hockey sense and skating keep him from getting overrun on his side of the puck. Quietly effective, but just not enough high end skills to warrant being a specialist at any one thing.

Career: Third pairing defenseman, like a more offensive version of Mike Weaver

 

[Benneguin]

His advanced stats aren't bad outside of Calgary. They're also not a great metric for individual ability, IMO. Outside of a Benn or Ovechkin, one player isn't going to have that huge of an effect on possession every time he's on the ice.

Pretty much every partner he played with in Calgary suffered Corsi-wise. Maybe that was an aberration but it's not like he went to a better situation as far as his potential partners are concern... Even if he is decent (that's the best I see him being) it's an overpayment for someone who should just be a rental at best.

 

[Benneguin]

If it's of any interest, a neutral observer's opinion on Russell...(notes are from spring 2014)

Kris Russell (LD) - Extremely mobile defenseman who likes to play the game at great pace. One of the most mobile and agile d-men in the league. His backward and lateral skating are impressive to watch. He has a lot of poise with the puck and likes to try to skate out of trouble. He usually makes smart outlet passes but there isn't that extra "snap" to them like you see from the elite offensive d-men in the league. His shot has a little something behind it, but it's not over-powering. Defensively, he's savvy but because of his very small stature, he can get lost in the wash sometimes. He's a competitor though and he really thinks the game well. Almost too well actually, to borrow a football/quarterback term, he gets "happy feet" sometimes and he jumps on things that aren't really there but it's an event that definitely could have happened...but didn't. He can make up for most guesses though because of his impressive foot speed. He plays a very loose gap and sometimes gives up the inside parts of the ice a little too readily. He's really crafty in terms of how he handles different situations defensively but it's just not always the most efficient way to do things. He really pushes for puck possession, and, as a result, can jump ahead in the story too far and get caught. Otherwise, his hockey sense and skating keep him from getting overrun on his side of the puck. Quietly effective, but just not enough high end skills to warrant being a specialist at any one thing.

Career: Third pairing defenseman, like a more offensive version of Mike Weaver

In other words, the type of player we really didn't need.

 

[stax]

****ing wish it was Hamhuis and not Russ.

Ugh.
Overpayment and a half. Bad Nil, and I don't say that often.

 

[WhoahNow]

****ing wish it was Hamhuis and not Russ.

Ugh.
Overpayment and a half. Bad Nil, and I don't say that often.

Either way I really don't like the idea of going into the offseason with 4 UFA defenceman even with the young crop of talent in the pipeline.

 

[Michael Farkas]

While Russell isn't the impact blueliner you guys needed, that wasn't really available anyhow. On the flipside, at least Russell is clearly an NHL player. After watching the keystone cops pairing of Jamie Oleksiak and Jordie Benn single-handedly lose the Rangers game the other day, it's clear that you need NHL players against the good teams you're gonna face in the playoffs...

Plus, you guys play this up-tempo game, having that mobility, escapability and better puck handling then the bottom-feeders (Benn, Oleksiak, Jokipakka, Nemeth) can only help...

Wouldn't worry much about shot attempts, negatively effects guys that are pass-first players and who play a looser gap because of other technical advantages. The teams in the NHL (and in junior hockey, for that matter) have far surpassed counting shots as a method for evaluation...I can't believe the fad ever caught on frankly, when you think about it, but it's not something that you want to take too seriously certainly...

 

[ced2334]

It's one heck of an expensive tryout.

So is paying a guy 20 mil and finding out he doesn't work well in your teams system.

 

[mc3488]

I like this deal. If we make the CF I'll be so happy that I couldn't care less about losing the 1st.

 

[Benneguin]

I like this deal. If we make the CF I'll be so happy that I couldn't care less about losing the 1st.

You would feel differently if we were good at drafting first round picks.

 

[WhoahNow]

You would feel differently if we were good at drafting first round picks.

Lucky for us we aren't! Huzzah

 

[ced2334]

You would feel differently if we were good at drafting first round picks.

We are definitely stronger in the fifth round. Maybe we should try to get more of those.

 

[Troy McClure]

Brett Pollock could come back to bite us. He's going to be a solid NHLer...he's got size, skill, and a 200 foot game...And even if we have the depth at center, we did not need to throw him in to that deal. He could have been used to acquire another asset. Just because you have depth doesn't mean you should just give it out for free like M&Ms on Halloween.

But the earliest we're talking about Pollock (whose name I learned today) as an NHL contributor is something like five years from now. My guess is we'll have forgotten he was drafted by the Stars when that day comes.

Nill doesn't make trades like this ever, so I don't worry about him giving away one M&M every three years.

 

[Mr Misty]

But the earliest we're talking about Pollock (whose name I learned today) as an NHL contributor is something like five years from now. My guess is we'll have forgotten he was drafted by the Stars when that day comes.

Nill doesn't make trades like this ever, so I don't worry about him giving away one M&M every three years.

Paul, a 4th not a 2nd like Pollock, was drafted in 2013, traded in 2014, and scored a goal in 2016. Maybe here he'd be further down the line here than in Ottawa or Calgary, but a 2014 draftee is an NHL contributor before 2020.

 

[OttMorrow]

I don't even want to imagine what we were offering for Hamhuis if it was comparable, and you know Hamhuis would have only been around this season.

Yeah. No kidding.

After I saw the Russell deal, I wanted no part of Hamhuis because of what I figured it might cost if the Russell deal was the benchmark.

 

[OttMorrow]

But the earliest we're talking about Pollock (whose name I learned today) as an NHL contributor is something like five years from now. My guess is we'll have forgotten he was drafted by the Stars when that day comes.

Nill doesn't make trades like this ever, so I don't worry about him giving away one M&M every three years.

Pollock will not take until he's 25 to crack the NHL. My guess is that he's ready in 2-3 years tops.

Granted I have a special place in my heart for Pollock because I had him ranked 18th on my draft wish list for the Stars that year, but he's been a two-way PPG player on a really bad team in the WHL. He's big at 6'3/6'4, he can skate, and he's got good hands. Take a look at his highlight reel from his 2013-2014 draft year.

I wish we would have parted with a D prospect or someone like Elie instead.

If Russell had even AVERAGE size, I'd be more comfortable with this move.

We must have one of the smallest D corps in the league with this addition...maybe THE SMALLEST since Oleksiak and Nemeth haven't been daily fixtures.

Goligoski - Klingberg
Oduya - Demers
Russell - Benn

Or even worse IMO

Goligoski - Klingberg
Russell - Demers
Oduya - Benn

...that's really worrisome in terms of net-front goal risk in the playoffs. I still have nightmares of game 6 of the Ducks series 2 years ago... this move to take an undersized defense and make them even smaller makes us even more vulnerable to the dirty, muck-and-stuff goals that you see in the playoffs.

 

[Hockey Dad]

Pollock will not take until he's 25 to crack the NHL. My guess is that he's ready in 2-3 years tops.

Granted I have a special place in my heart for Pollock because I had him ranked 18th on my draft wish list for the Stars that year, but he's been a two-way PPG player on a really bad team in the WHL. He's big at 6'3/6'4, he can skate, and he's got good hands. Take a look at his highlight reel from his 2013-2014 draft year.

I wish we would have parted with a D prospect or someone like Elie instead.

If Russell had even AVERAGE size, I'd be more comfortable with this move.

We must have one of the smallest D corps in the league with this addition...maybe THE SMALLEST since Oleksiak and Nemeth haven't been daily fixtures.

Goligoski - Klingberg
Oduya - Demers
Russell - Benn

Or even worse IMO

Goligoski - Klingberg
Russell - Demers
Oduya - Benn

...that's really worrisome in terms of net-front goal risk in the playoffs. I still have nightmares of game 6 of the Ducks series 2 years ago... this move to take an undersized defense and make them even smaller makes us even more vulnerable to the dirty, muck-and-stuff goals that you see in the playoffs.

You were on here saying you would be upset if Nill did not do anything to address the 3rd line. You can't complain now. I don't really like the trade but the 3rd line is better today than it was yesterday.

 

[OttMorrow]

You were on here saying you would be upset if Nill did not do anything to address the 3rd line. You can't complain now. I don't really like the trade but the 3rd line is better today than it was yesterday.

Umm...I can absolutely criticize this trade. Just because I wanted to address the 3rd pairing doesn't mean I supported bringing ANYONE over to fit that role, and paying ANYTHING to do it.

Guess if we had traded Seguin for Mike Weber, I wouldn't have been able to dissent because I asked for a 3rd pairing Dman...ask and you shall receive!

LOL

 

[Michael Farkas]

Ian Cole for Brett Ritchie. Don't worry, it can wait til the draft...

 

[LT]

Ian Cole for Brett Ritchie. Don't worry, it can wait til the draft...

What?

Are you saying it'll happen, or you want it to?

 

[Troy McClure]

Umm...I can absolutely criticize this trade. Just because I wanted to address the 3rd pairing doesn't mean I supported bringing ANYONE over to fit that role, and paying ANYTHING to do it.

Guess if we had traded Seguin for Mike Weber, I wouldn't have been able to dissent because I asked for a 3rd pairing Dman...ask and you shall receive!

LOL

Sure, but I think people are greatly overstating the value given up.