Since 2013-14, Calgary Flames D Kris Russell has appeared in 198 regular season games, producing 78 points.
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With one hour to go until the 3 p.m. ET deadline, the Stars have failed to accomplish that by acquiring Calgary Flames defenseman Kris Russell, and the price paid to the Alberta club was insanely steep.
This year, Russell has been battling a groin injury.
On Saturday, the team traded Juri Hudler to the Florida Panthers for a 2016 second rounder and a fourth round pick in the 2018 draft.
In the final year of a contract that comes with a $2.6-million cap hit, Russell is looking at a significant pay raise as an unrestricted free agent in the summer.
Dallas gives up two prospects in the deal. Pollack is a 19-year-old forward who hasn’t yet played at the National Hockey League level. The quiet blue-liner is revered in the dressing room, plays the powerplay, kills penalties and was the Flames best player in last year’s first round win over Vancouver. Instead of fading away as most expected, Russell and partner Dennis Wideman were given more responsibility and their strong play helped Calgary edge the defending Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings for the final playoff spot in the Pacific Division.
Russell is scheduled to become a free agent this offseason, and the Flames risked losing him without compensation after being unable to reach an agreement with him on a contract extension.
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He’s undeniably a gamer and can skate and handle the puck, so it’s not as if Russell brings nothing to the table, but the trouble with measuring a player by blocked shots is that they are indicative of bigger problems (like they spend all of their time in the defensive zone).
