“Kris is ultra-competitive and a solid two-way defensemen”, Stars general manager Jim Nill said in a press release Monday.
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According to NHL.com the Flames will get defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward prospect Brett Pollock, and a conditional second-round pick in this year’s NHL draft.
For Jones, Calgary picks up a sixth-round draft pick in 2016 and goaltender Niklas Backstrom. Pollock has scored at least 25 goals in three consecutive seasons and is averaging better than a point per game with Edmonton (WHL) this year. Going down the list of WOWY (with-or-without-you) possession stats for Russell’s time in Calgary, there isn’t one player that played 200 minutes with him and had worse possession stats when not playing with Russell. “I want to be out with my teammates, especially when things weren’t going good”.
“I think it’s important our fans understand we made a concerted effort to sign [Russell]”, Burke said. The soon-to-be free agent has four goals and 11 assists, with 173 career points (38 goals, 135 assists) in 562 games. A Saskatchewan kid, Flames scouting is likely very familiar with him playing his junior hockey in Edmonton.
In saying that I think the return has been hyped up to be a little more than it is – mainly because of defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka. This price would be way too high on its own, but the second-round pick will become a first-round selection if the Stars make the conference final this season and Russell plays 50 percent of Dallas’ games, per LeBrun.
The Flames made the playoffs last season for the first time in six years, losing to Anaheim in the second round.
Now Russell joins a blue line with a rising star in John Klingberg and veterans in Alex Goligoski, Jordie Benn and Johnny Oduya, who won the title with the Blackhawks last season.
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Stars center Vernon Fiddler said the players are looking forward to welcoming Russell. To have a team like the Dallas Stars showing this much faith in me and coming out and trading for me, it’s really exciting.
