Auld for Russell?

by Clint Clark on Jun 22, 2009 8:51 PM EDT

According to sources at Sensbuzz (link: http://sensbuzz.blogspot.com/2009/06...o-sending.html) there are rumblings that Murray wants to take another run at Kris Russell. This time the bait will be Alex Auld..... Okay there must be a catch in there somewhere. When the Sens asked for Russell and a 2nd for Vermette last year, we did not do that deal. There is no way we would do this one. Not with Scott Howson at the helm.

Now before I dismiss this entirely, could there be any truth to it? There could be. Murray is infatuated with Russell and Auld would fill a need for a backup goalie. My initial thought went directly to picks. Would we do this if we would get our second rounder back? I don't think so.

The other situation would be if the Sens flopped first rounders with us from 9 to 16. This seems to be the most plausible. Howson has mentioned that they will explore moving up in the first round. If he placed a call to Ottawa, Russell was probably the hot item.

If this is indeed the deal, it may not be a bad one for the following reasons:

1) Our scouts have done very well the last 3 years. If we can get a player we really want (likely a PP puck moving defensemen) then that immediately replaces Russel in our system.

2) How much ceiling does Russell have? He has made exactly one memorable play off the rush, it was in the playoffs. Will he become a powerplay player? He doesn't exactly have a great slapper. We might feel like Russell's ceiling is not nearly as high as a top 10 pick from this draft. I absolutely love Russell's skating. There are games I love him, but plenty others that are meh.

3) Russell needs a new contract next year. Any idea how much he'd want? ~2 million?

4) Our greatest need on this team is a top pair defensemen. If that is the case and we do trade for one OR sign one (which is the plan at this point), who moves? Commie, Hejda, and Tyutin are staying. Klesla was by far the best playoff performer who can play in all situations. Then we got Methot and Tollefson.... If we get a legit top pair defender... Russell could easily be a scratch anyway.

5) In the draft if a smallish defensemen like Ellis is available from us, I've read from a number of sources that we would not likely take another smallish dman since we have Russell.... well if we trade Russell we could be in the market for a smallish defensemen.

I know many will say that Russell is a big piece of the future. He is young, he is skilled, but how skilled is he really? He doesn't make great plays with the puck and he doesn't get great shots on net. These are reasons he probably converted from forward eons ago. His skating is his bread and butter and he will be a solid NHL player for that reason.

Don't take this as a Russ bashing post. I like his game, he is the only player on our team that can do what he does. My happiness with a trade like this would be contingent on us getting a real top pair defender.

You do have to continue to stock the farm. In this case if that means trading Russ for a top prospect that we really like, then I would not cry my eyes out.

Agree, disagree, fire away!

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It just makes no sense to me because Auld isn’t anything special. I’m also not sure there’s anyone in the draft (at pick number 9) worth making a swap for, either. One of Ellis, Rundblad, Kulikov, or Moore will almost certainly be available at 16.

We’ve spent two years letting Russell grow, with that, we’ve seen the good and the bad. If it was a situation like Brule where you can tell the player just isn’t going to work out, then fine, you look to make a deal. But there’s no reason to think that’s the case with Russell.

He may never light the world on fire, but he’s young, skilled, and a good team player. I also don’t see him asking for a big contract after next year. He knows where he stands — look at how well he took the demotion to Syracuse this year when he needed to work on his game. He didn’t pout or have any problems, that proves to me he is a smart young man.

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by Andy Newman on Jun 22, 2009 9:07 PM EDT reply actions

Also… I’d much rather take a run at Clemmensen, Anderson, or even Conklin in free agency. All have proven more than Auld. Even if their price tag is a bit higher, it’d ultimately be a better deal because we wouldn’t be losing Russell in the process.

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by Andy Newman on Jun 22, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions

I would trade Russel for an old pair of skates!! The guy is not a great skater, does not have a hard shoot and when he joins the rush we loose a peca or a nash because they have to get back to play D. We need a D man with a shot and who can get back. Russel is worthless and its time we start calling it like it is.

by cbjrules on Jun 22, 2009 10:05 PM EDT reply actions

I think it comes down to two things:

1) As Andy pointed out, there are MANY better goalies available in free agency

2) As you said, Russell is the only guy in the system who can do what he does right now. We may very well draft someone else to help with that niche, but does it make sense to dump the only person with that skillset just to go back to drafting and free agency to replace it again?

by Matt Wagner on Jun 23, 2009 7:52 AM EDT reply actions

My main point is that if we really are going to go after another top d in FA (as is the offseason priority) something has to give. I imagine Klesla bumps down to the bottom pair.

UFA – Tyutin
Hejda – Commie
Klesla – Russell/OKT/Methot

If this is indeed the plan, I think it makes Russell a lot more tradeable. I’m not sure he is going to be the big time PP performer that we hope he will be… The UFA would have to be a PP player. If we can get something that we really want for him (obviously a lot more than Auld) then I think we consider moving him. Especially if someone like Murray might overpay for him.

After looking over the Sens roster they might do something like Kuba + Auld for Russell + something and respend Kuba’s dollars on a UFA. Kuba would be signed for three years at 3.7 million.

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by Clint Clark on Jun 23, 2009 9:27 AM EDT reply actions

for me, it all depends who, if anyone, we get in FA. is Bouwmeester still an option? also, what if Howson picks up a D in the draft that he is really high on that could step onto the roster immediately and fill one of those spots?

in regards to the ottawa deal, i would consider it if they threw in Kuba. however, i would still be hesitant to pull the trigger. when we traded Ron Hainsey to the Thrashers, he ended up having a career year, posting career highs in assists (33) and points (39).

while the numbers aren’t staggering by any means, my point is that would it be worth trading a young core player who can have a breakout year, for an average back up goalie?

"be where you are when you're there"

by BLAZER_FAN_199 on Jun 23, 2009 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

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