The Dallas Stars needed to add a top-four defenseman before Monday’s NHL trade deadline to improve their chances of advancing past the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks in the upcoming Stanley Cup playoffs.
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. The teams haven’t announced the deal, but Russell did on Twitter.
Dallas reportedly sent talented young defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward Brett Pollok and a conditional 2016 second-round draft pick to Calgary for Russell, per TSN’s Pierre LeBrun. 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.
Russell will provide the Stars with very little scoring, he’s a poor driver of puck possession and his skating skill isn’t suited for Dallas’ high-risk, fast-paced style of play. It’s a strange acquisition by Stars general manager Jim Nill, who has made some exceptional deals since taking over that position in 2013.
Dallas currently is one point behind Chicago for first place in the Central Division.
Thumbnail photo via Anne-Marie Sorvin/USA TODAY Sports Images
