The Dallas Stars boosted their defence corps, acquiring Kris Russell in a trade with the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenceman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward Brett Pollock and a conditional second round selection in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Russell, 28, has four goals with 11 assists and a minus-4 rating in 51 games with Calgary this season.
“Kris is ultra-competitive and a solid two-way defencemen,” Stars GM Jim Nill said in a statement. “He will bring a steadying presence to our blue-line and we feel he will help us improve in several areas.”
The blueliner is in the final year of his contract, which carries a salary cap hit of $2.6 million, and is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
Russell has played in 562 career NHL games with the Flames, St. Louis Blues, and Columbus Blue Jackets.
Jokipakka, 24, has two goals and four assists in 40 NHL games this season. The Finn was Dallas’ seventh-round pick (195th overall) in the 2011 NHL Draft.
Pollock, 19, was selected by Dallas with the 45th overall pick of the 2014 NHL Draft. He is leading the WHL Edmonton Oil Kings in points, assists, and plus-minus.
