Flames trade Kris Russell to Stars for Jokipakka, conditional pick
The Dallas Stars have filled out their previously incomplete defensive rotation, acquiring noted shot-blocker Kris Russell from the Calgary Flames, the teams confirmed.
Calgary receives 24-year-old defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward prospect Brett Pollock, and a conditional second-round draft selection for the pending unrestricted free agent.
Should Dallas make the conference final this spring - and Russell appear in at least 50 percent of the team's games through the first two rounds - the 2016 draft pick will become a first-round selection, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.
No salary was retained in the agreement, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun.
Russell's worth has been a contentious talking point throughout his free-agent season, but he'll be of value to Dallas. Likely destined for a second-pairing role, Russell will slot the back half of the rotation into their correct assignments.
Jokipakka is still a project; his experience is limited to 91 games at the NHL level. He's collected 16 points in parts of two seasons, and has been the Stars' worst possession defender over that stretch.
He was apparently upset to hear the news.
Jyrki Jokipakka after the trade: "Pretty empty feeling... I don't know what else to say."
— Sami Hoffrén (@shoffren) February 29, 2016
Pollock, 19, is having another strong season with the Edmonton Oil Kings. The 45th overall pick in 2014 has 25 goals and 67 points in 63 starts.