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Carolina Hurricanes Defense Search: Top Five Free Agent Defensemen

By Matthew Barlowe

Oct 28, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Jaccob Slavin (74) skates with the puck during the second period against the New York Rangers at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Rangers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 28, 2016; Raleigh, NC, USA; Carolina Hurricanes defensemen Jaccob Slavin (74) skates with the puck during the second period against the New York Rangers at PNC Arena. The Carolina Hurricanes defeated the New York Rangers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 21, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Kris Russell (4) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 21, 2017; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers defenseman Kris Russell (4) controls the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Kris Russell

The opinion on Kirs Russell is divided pretty starkly into two different camps.  The analytics guys hate him and point to his low Corsi percentages as to him being an awful player in his own zone.  The eye test people point to his goals and hits to show and example of a player where the analytics doesn’t capture the whole picture.

The argument on the player was so ferocious that the Edmonton Oilers even made up some fake stats to support their signing of Russell.  This season Russell has been awful in both the points department and the Corsi department as well.  His Corsi For percentage of 46.29 is worst on the team and his seven points second worst only to Eric Gryba.

For a supposedly offensive minded defenseman, those numbers are quite troubling. At 29 years old, Russell isn’t that good of a defenseman anymore and isn’t young enough to improve. Somewhere out there some GM wanting to stick it to the computer boys will sign him, and it will be a horrible mistake.

If I had to guess I’d pick Las Vegas, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see Chiarelli double down on his idiocy in Edmonton.  He hasn’t made a smart move since selecting Connor McDavid first overall in 2015 draft.

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