Russell signed a four-year, $16 million extension with the team earlier this offseason. Not only will he be here for years to form the core of the Oilers’ blue line, but he will likely be the go-to to replace Sekera to start the year.
Though some of his analytics don’t speak in his favor, Russell is a top-four defender who is capable of playing a big role and carrying the top four this season. We break down the numbers and show that his analytics don’t speak for his ability.
Russell’s analytics are not impressive – his Corsi is below 50 percent and his relative Corsi sits at a -4.