Chiarelli is keeping good locker room gritty sacrifice everything type players that get the job done. He is moving out weak players that hold the team back.

The proof is in the pudding. No matter how many advanced stats he wrecks the guy is absolutely a top 4 defender. A #4 to be fair but with the ability to play either side. The Oilers record and eye test heavily reinforce this.

4 x 4 is certainly not an ideal contract. I don't think Chiarelli himself is happy about that but getting top 4 defenders is tough. The Oilers spent years trying to round up 4 guys that can handle the quality of competition. Now that they have it and people complain.

People with a lick of hockey sense and eyes that can see know Russell helps the team win. Ditto Larsson. Someone who thinks neither are that good...

Everybody would prefer cheaper and less term.

Its time for Nurse to take the next step and Benning is arguably even closer to that next step. Using one of those guys and Russell will most certainly be a rough pairing but growth from within at this point needs to happen for many reasons.

Not ideal but certainly "acceptable" under the circumstances. I hope Sekera comes back soon.
- Aerchon

Since you feel typing "anyone with a lick of hockey sense" somehow makes your argument sound, I'll retort with the same - "anyone who understands salary structure and market value knows how bad this deal is"

Difference is, I'm right and you're wrong

Brodie's deal is phenomenal
One of the leagues best

russels is awful. One of the leagues worst

Wtf was chiarelli thinking ? CRazy
- Ihateallofu

At least it isn't Seabrook's

At least it isn't Seabrook's
- MaximumBone

Our new slogan

At least it isn't seabrooks!!

Our new slogan

At least it isn't seabrooks!!
- Ihateallofu

I guess I just disagree that it's so awful. Certainly not ideal, but considering Sekera's injury and thus Russell's position of leverage, the market that seemed to exist for him and his results last year, it's not that out to lunch. Not good but not one of the worst (bottom 20 by my gauge). Below average value.

Brodie's deal is phenomenal
One of the leagues best

russels is awful. One of the leagues worst

Wtf was chiarelli thinking ? CRazy
- Ihateallofu

I hate that deal dont get me wrong but isnt Fayne still under contract for another season at 3.6 mil? I guess point being its not even the worst contract on the team.....there I tried....#brightsides

Out goes Eberle and in comes Russell. Dumping out the weak and uninspired and bring in the warriors It's been a good couple days of deals. I like where this team is headed.

Whoever said this is like the Ference deal is way off. I didn't like that deal from the beginning. This one is a beauty. A little expensive but worth it. We've needed a player like him for a long time.

Screw analytics and I think Chia and McLellan know what they have a little better than any of us.

Since you feel typing "anyone with a lick of hockey sense" somehow makes your argument sound, I'll retort with the same - "anyone who understands salary structure and market value knows how bad this deal is"

Difference is, I'm right and you're wrong
- Ihateallofu

Good to have you on board

I hate that deal dont get me wrong but isnt Fayne still under contract for another season at 3.6 mil? I guess point being its not even the worst contract on the team.....there I tried....#brightsides
- RatedR80

I'd liken it to Josh Gorges's deal when he got 6 years at 3.9mil back when the cap was 64.3mil. Both are/will be 34 when their contracts end, both were rather polarizing defensive defensemen despite their solid results and Russell will, like Gorges has, see a decline in his player. Not ideal but the difference here is Russell's pay and cap hit differ in the final year and Russell won't be asked to play top-4 minutes in the latter half of his contract like Gorges has been.

Out goes Eberle and in comes Russell. Dumping out the weak and uninspired and bring in the warriors It's been a good couple days of deals. I like where this team is headed.

Whoever said this is like the Ference deal is way off. I didn't like that deal from the beginning. This one is a beauty. A little expensive but worth it. We've needed a player like him for a long time.

Screw analytics and I think Chia and McLellan know what they have a little better than any of us.
- Oildrum

This team is worse than last years at this point.

I'd liken it to Josh Gorges's deal when he got 6 years at 3.9mil back when the cap was 64.3mil. Both are/will be 34 when their contracts end, both were rather polarizing defensive defensemen despite their solid results and Russell will, like Gorges has, see a decline in his player. Not ideal but the difference here is Russell's pay and cap hit differ in the final year and Russell won't be asked to play top-4 minutes in the latter half of his contract like Gorges has been.
- MaximumBone

Yeah but justifying a bad contract by citing other bad contracts doesn't do any good either. It's a bad signing. Period.

Yeah but justifying a bad contract by citing other bad contracts doesn't do any good either. It's a bad signing. Period.
- Iggysbff

I can't believe we're actually going into next season worse.

Yeah but justifying a bad contract by citing other bad contracts doesn't do any good either. It's a bad signing. Period.
- Iggysbff

If you had bothered to back read at all, you'd know I don't like the contract and it's not justification. Merely pointing out a similar contract that we can look at and see how that situation played out with a comparable player (hint: he was traded for a 2nd rounder two years in).

Yeah but justifying a bad contract by citing other bad contracts doesn't do any good either. It's a bad signing. Period.
- Iggysbff

Andrew Ferrence is a better comparison.

I'd liken it to Josh Gorges's deal when he got 6 years at 3.9mil back when the cap was 64.3mil. Both are/will be 34 when their contracts end, both were rather polarizing defensive defensemen despite their solid results and Russell will, like Gorges has, see a decline in his player. Not ideal but the difference here is Russell's pay and cap hit differ in the final year and Russell won't be asked to play top-4 minutes in the latter half of his contract like Gorges has been.
- MaximumBone

I didnt read much back in the comments but was it suggested at all that this could have been a panic signing due to Sekeras injury or was this the plan regardless of the injury?

Andrew Ferrence is a better comparison.
- Larsson_fan

6 year deal at age 28 vs 4 year deal at age 30

Vs

4 year deal at 34 vs 4 year deal at 30

I think I'd argue the former.

I can't believe we're actually going into next season worse.
- Larsson_fan

And expecting career years out of 6-7 guys again is insane.

I didnt read much back in the comments but was it suggested at all that this could have been a panic signing due to Sekeras injury or was this the plan regardless of the injury?
- RatedR80

It's been mentioned by various people in this thread, yes. The added leverage for Russell and the fact that the contract was front-loaded by Chiarelli to make it moveable after year 3 add credence to that view.

I can't believe we're actually going into next season worse.
- Larsson_fan

A lot of things are going to have to go right thats for sure....Talbot, McDavid and Drai will have to repeat last year....Strome will have to replaces Ebs production...Klef will have to keep rising...yeah I dunno there is certainly a lot of question marks going into the season now

Out goes Eberle and in comes Russell. Dumping out the weak and uninspired and bring in the warriors It's been a good couple days of deals. I like where this team is headed.

Whoever said this is like the Ference deal is way off. I didn't like that deal from the beginning. This one is a beauty. A little expensive but worth it. We've needed a player like him for a long time.

Screw analytics and I think Chia and McLellan know what they have a little better than any of us.
- Oildrum

i see.
You had no problem calling Eakins or mact idiots. But now all of a sudden it's other guys that are in the game that 'obviously know better than we do "

None of them are infallible. They all have the capacity for bias and to do boneheaded sh1t. Like this deal is

I can't believe we're actually going into next season worse.
- Larsson_fan

The Sekera injury sucks no doubt, but you have a year of development for Puljujarvi, Nurse and Draisaitl done, plus the season is still a ways away. I wouldn't panic yet.

A lot of things are going to have to go right thats for sure....Talbot, McDavid and Drai will have to repeat last year....Strome will have to replaces Ebs production...Klef will have to keep rising...yeah I dunno there is certainly a lot of question marks going into the season now
- RatedR80

Lots of question marks but enough good arrows that I don't think I'm too worried yet. It'll depend on the remaining moves Chiarelli does or doesn't make. Maroon, Letestu and Talbot are likely to see some regression, McDavid and Draisaitl could also depending upon their usage, Strome will add some production and Nuge, Slepyshev, Caggiula and Puljujarvi are candidates for internal improvement.

Lots of question marks but enough good arrows that I don't think I'm too worried yet. It'll depend on the remaining moves Chiarelli does or doesn't make. Maroon, Letestu and Talbot are likely to see some regression, McDavid and Draisaitl could also depending upon their usage, Strome will add some production and Nuge, Slepyshev, Caggiula and Puljujarvi are candidates for internal improvement.
- MaximumBone

Im not going as far as to hitting the panic button yet but I can understand the concern for this team going into the season....with that being said there is still lots of time between now and the start of the year....deals to be done signings to be had plus the draft....I will also add Bennings name to your list I believe there is something there and he could keep improving next year

Lots of question marks but enough good arrows that I don't think I'm too worried yet. It'll depend on the remaining moves Chiarelli does or doesn't make. Maroon, Letestu and Talbot are likely to see some regression, McDavid and Draisaitl could also depending upon their usage, Strome will add some production and Nuge, Slepyshev, Caggiula and Puljujarvi are candidates for internal improvement.
- MaximumBone

COUple solid two way 50 point seasons From nuge and strome could go a long way

Lots of question marks but enough good arrows that I don't think I'm too worried yet. It'll depend on the remaining moves Chiarelli does or doesn't make. Maroon, Letestu and Talbot are likely to see some regression, McDavid and Draisaitl could also depending upon their usage, Strome will add some production and Nuge, Slepyshev, Caggiula and Puljujarvi are candidates for internal improvement.
- MaximumBone

What about internal regressions?
With no Eberle or Sekeras, if Draisaitl slips even a little it will sting, and you can't bet the farm that Maroon won't repeat husband points totals. Nuge and Lucic likely flatlined so I wouldn't expect much change there.

COUple solid two way 50 point seasons From nuge and strome could go a long way
- Ihateallofu

That would be the hope, but that's all It is.