The Dallas Stars paid a big price to improve their defense by acquiring Kris Russell from Calgary. Dallas sent defenseman Jyrki Jokipakka, forward prospect Brett Pollock and a conditional 2016 second-round pick to the Flames.
That pick becomes a first-rounder if the Stars advance to the Western Conference final and Russell dresses in 50 percent of the games in the first two rounds.
Russell, 28, is an elite shot-blocker who has 174 in 51 games this season. The pending free agent has four goals and 11 assists.
Jokipakka is 24 years old and has 91 games of NHL experience. Pollock, a second-round pick in 2014, plays for the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL.