Calgary Flames deal defenceman to Dallas before trade deadline

FILE – In this March 10, 2015, file photo, Dallas Stars’ Jyrki Jokipakka skates during an NHL hockey game against the Philadelphia Flyers in Philadelphia.

Enter Kris Russell of the Calgary Flames.

“Kris is ultra-competitive and a solid two-way defenceman”, said Stars general manager Jim Nill.

“We like the players we got”.

If the Stars are to make the conference final and Russell plays half of their games, the second round pick will become a first round pick.

The agreement reached about an hour before the trade deadline Monday is an effort by the Stars to improve a defence that has been spotty as Dallas lost its grip on the Western Conference lead the past two months.

In addition to Hudler and Russell, are Flames are entertaining calls on forwards David Jones, Joe Colborne and Josh Jooris, and goaltender Jonas Hiller. The trade market for defenseman isn’t very deep and there are several potential landing spots for Russell. He’ll see where this group goes and who they’ll loose to free agency and get back to work filling in holes. When you start to approach the playoffs, you can’t replace experience.

Through 51 games with the Flames this year, the ninth-year veteran Russell has 15 points (four goals, 11 assists). Russell has 38 goals, 135 assists, and 173 points in his career. I think it established me as being a better player than I was thought of before.

Jokipakka was drafted in the seventh round in 2011, and had 16 points (two goals, 14 assists) in 91 games over the past two seasons.