Kris Russell is a Star and the Flames are better for it.
The Calgary Flames had a rough year after a remarkable playoff run in 2014-2015. That run was largely fueled by a fair amount of things that frankly could not be duplicated. There was the high P.D.O., the special teams combined with the penalty differential, the goaltending. Much of that was fueled by the tandem of Kris Russell and Dennis Wideman.
Many wanted one or both of the Flames two middle pair defenseman shipped away at the end of last season.