Calgary Flames trade defenceman Kris Russell to Dallas

CALGARY – It’s been a disappointing season in Calgary but it was a productive trade deadline as the Flames look towards the future.

After moving Jiri Hudler for second- and fourth-round picks on Saturday, Calgary general manager Brad Treliving traded defenceman Kris Russell to the Dallas Stars and right-winger David Jones to the Minnesota Wild for more assets.

In exchange for Russell, the Flames get defenceman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward Brett Pollock and a conditional 2016 second-round draft pick. It becomes a first-round pick if Dallas reaches the Western Conference final and Russell plays 50 per cent of the games in the first two rounds.

For Jones, Calgary picks up a sixth-round draft pick in 2016 and goaltender Niklas Backstrom. He hasn’t played a game all season due to injury, though Trevliving suggested he would get into some games for the Flames. He becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer.

“We like the players we got. We like the picks that we got,” said Treliving. “Now going into the draft, having those four picks in the first two rounds — we’re going to cheer like crazy for the Dallas Stars, having that one potentially turn into a first round pick — that gives us some bullets.”

The 28-year-old Russell, who becomes an unrestricted free agent this summer, has four goals and 11 assists in 51 games this season.

“Kris is ultra-competitive and a solid two-way defenceman,” said Stars general manager Jim Nill. “He will bring a steadying presence to our blue-line and we feel he will help us improve in several areas.”

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. The Stars are one point back of Chicago for the lead in the Central Division.

Russell has been a prolific shot-blocker the past three seasons for the Flames, with 174 in 51 games this season after an NHL-record 283 in 2014-15.

“Nobody laid it on the line as much as Kris Russell did for us,” said Treliving. “This is a special guy. Dallas is getting a real warrior and we want to thank him for everything he did for us.”

Russell joined the Flames with little fanfare in July 2013 in a deal with St. Louis. Playing in his home province, the Caroline native saw his career blossom under coach Bob Hartley. Russell immediately became a top-four defender and in his two-plus seasons with the Flames, he averaged over 23 minutes in ice time.

“There was an opportunity to earn some minutes and I felt like I went in there, had a really good camp and just kind of took off from there,” Russell said. “It was great for my career, obviously. I think it established me as being a better player than I was thought of before. It is a building block, and it’s something that I’m grateful for.”

Jokipakka, 24, is in his sophomore season. The 6-3, 215-pounder has two goals and four assists in 40 games this season.

“There are a lot of emotions in my head — it was a big surprise for me,” said Jokipakka, who will join the team in Boston on Tuesday. “But at the same time, I’m looking forward to joining Calgary.”

Pollock, the Stars second-round pick in 2014, is in his fourth season with the WHL’s Edmonton Oil Kings.

— With files from The Associated Press