Dallas Stars Trade For Russell Could Have Multiple Effects

The Dallas Stars took on a deadline risk yesterday and made a trade. It turns out that this particular trade has plenty of pros and cons to follow as it completely unravels.

The Dallas Stars fan base probably experienced more emotions in yesterday’s 24-hour window than they have in a week-long period.

They started the day off with curiosity and eagerness as they awaited word on if the Stars would be making a quick trade as the deadline neared. Around 12:50, that curiosity turned into confusion and potentially bitterness. Once the Stars finally broke the silence and traded for Kris Russell, the price they paid was questioned by many fans, even enraging a few because of their uncertainty.

After the trade had some time to settle, Dallas Stars fans began feeling hopeful that the deal may actually pan out to be a decent one.

This carried them into an intense matchup between the Stars and Red Wings that brought along all of the intense and passionate emotions that rivalry games carry. The game eventually ended in a disappointing and unrealistic fashion that sent many Stars fans to bed, furious and unenthusiastic.

Wow, what a roller coaster Leap Day turned out to be for the Dallas Stars organization.

While last night’s game endured an untimely and disappointing finish, let’s backtrack to the big news that popped up around lunchtime: Kris Russell.

There had been rumors that the Stars were looking into Russell, though they never truly surfaced until late Sunday night. But obviously they were, and it turns out they were willing to dish out Jyrki Jokipakka, Brett Pollock, and a conditional second-round pick for him. Is that trade worth it?

We took a poll yesterday on our Twitter account, and around 110 people voted. Overall, 61% believed that the Stars got the better end of the deal, while 39% believed they had hurt themselves in the return. That’s probably the most controversial results you will find when talking about any Jim Nill trade since he took the helm at the Stars organization in 2013.

So what should you think about Kris Russell? Obviously I cannot make the final decision for you on how you ultimately view this move, but I can give you some information if you are still unsure.

In the grand scheme of things, the Russell deal has a lot of positive potential as well as some potential pitfalls. So why not break it down into an easy to follow pros-and-cons list?

Pros:

• First off, Kris Russell is a defenseman. That simple fact right there has the potential to be an enormous plus in the Stars’ favor. The Stars are severely lacking blue line experience and help, and desperately needed an addition if they were expected to make a playoff push.
• Russell is a physical and hard-nosed defenseman, something the Dallas Stars have seen very little of this season. He is currently second throughout the league in blocked shots and has proven himself to be one of the most effective shot blockers in the NHL. The Stars have some trouble on defense in general, but having a player not scared of getting in front of the pucks is a good start to solving that problem.
• He can eat up big minutes like nobody’s business. Last season, he averaged around 24 minutes a game on the ice. Once the playoffs hit, his time was bumped up to 26:45 a game on average. This year, he clocked an average of 22:52 with the Flames. A minute-eater could be very valuable to compliment Goligoski once the postseason comes around.
• Not to mention that he has an aggressive side that he does not care to hide. If the gloves need to be dropped, he is at the front of the line to defend a teammate or spark some energy.
• His leadership can definitely build the Stars up. While in Calgary, he wore an assistant captain’s “A” for almost two seasons. He has recent playoff experience and knows what it takes to perform in high-intensity games. Russell can bring plenty of leadership and experience to a still somewhat young and undeveloped defense and Stars team as a whole.
• He is a good puck mover as well, and has excellent skating abilities. He is very effective on the penalty kill, as well as the power play. His 5-10, 175 lb. frame holds him back from almost nothing. His tenacity and drive could not only help the Stars, but push them to the form they need to be in for the postseason push.

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Cons:

• Russell is a left-handed defenseman, meaning that the Stars will now be juggling four starting defenders who have grown accustomed to the left side.
• He is also known for lacking consistency in the offensive zone. Considering the Dallas Stars love incorporating their defensemen in the offensive scheme, it could become detrimental to their overall plan. They also love to pinch their defenders up deeper into the offensive attack (which hurts them at times), so the Stars could falter if Russell misses a beat in the zone.
• Russell was brought in on the final year of his deal and will be a UFA at the end of this year. At least at this point in time, it seems as though the Stars brought him in because they are in a “win now” frame of mind. But with Russell being free at the end of this year, there’s no certainty that the sides will agree and bring him back. That’s risky considering what the Stars gave away for him.
• Jyrki Jokipakka and Brett Pollock were two fine and thriving prospects in the Stars system. Sure they have plenty of other strong and growing defensemen and forwards, but those were two towards the top. Giving up their future (including a draft pick that could take away the Stars chances of snagging another top prospect in the first round this year) for a potential short-term veteran seems slightly illogical.
• Including Russell, the Dallas Stars will now have three tenured defensemen hitting UFA status this coming offseason (Russell, Jason Demers, Alex Goligoski). Considering they will all three be in need of high-dollar extensions, this will definitely cause some controversy and debate. Unless Russell is a shining star coming in, the Stars may have spent a lot for a guy sticking around for only the next four months.

These are just a few of the possible scenarios that could arise from the Kris Russell deal.

Over the past few seasons, Russell has turned out similar to Alex Goligoski in terms of stats. He eats a lot of minutes and posts a point every two or three games. This season, he has four goals and 15 points along with a -4 on-ice rating in 51 games with Calgary.

Russell has been out since the February 12th game between the Flames and Coyotes with a lower body injury. But he told the media yesterday that he feels fine and ready to hit the ice once he gets to Dallas.

More stars: Trading Homegrown Players All A Part Of Stars New Philosophy

The thing about Kris Russell is that he could turn out to be the Dallas Stars’ saving grace or one of the keys to their untimely downfall. The choice is completely up to him and how quickly he can acclimate to the new system.

All in all, it seems like a good deal made by the Stars. Sure they may have given one or two things too many, but the fact that they paid a good amount proves that the Flames were hesitant to let him go. His play proves that he is worthy to take on a big role, and it’ll be exciting to see him suit up in victory green.

Next: Stars Fall To Detroit 3-2 In Overtime

The month of March is here, and with that comes the March to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is where things begin to get intense. And considering the Dallas Stars current situation, there will be no shortage of fireworks. So remain on the edge of your seat, but enjoy.