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Boston Bruins: Defenseman Kris Russell Would Be A Nice Addition

By Paul Altmeyer

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney makes the first of three consecutive draft picks in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Boston Bruins general manager Don Sweeney makes the first of three consecutive draft picks in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Boston Bruins: Defenseman Kris Russell Would Be A Nice Addition To The Team This Off-Season

It’s no secret that the Boston Bruins need to update their aging defense, and General Manager Don Sweeney has his work cut out for him over the next two weeks. Free agency begins in just about a fortnight, and prior to, that the 2016 NHL Draft will be held in Buffalo, NY.

Many Bruins fans salivate over trade rumors suggesting young defensemen such as Jacob Trouba of the Winnipeg Jets, Tyson Barrie of the Colorado Avalanche and Hampus Lindholm of the Anaheim Ducks could all be available. Realistically, the price will be steep for any of them, and the Bruins might not have the resources from which to deal.

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Another player often tied to rumors pertaining to coming to Boston is New York Rangers defenseman Keith Yandle, who is an unrestricted free agent. Raised in Milton, MA, Yandle will be 30 when the puck drops on the 2015-16 season. He scored 47 points this past season, which is more than any Bruin blue liner did. Yandle is coming off of a five-year deal in which he was paid $5,250,000 annually. If he is seeking a major increase, it’s unlikely the Bruins are going to pay him anywhere near the $6,916,000 captain Zdeno Chara is going to make this year.

Yet another player with local ties who has been rumored to be going everywhere is St. Louis Blues defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk. Born in Greenwich, CT., he was a key member of the Boston University program from 2007-2010, playing a vital role in helping the Terriers win their National Championship in 2009. With 14 goals and 30 assists last year, he is a threat offensively, and also one of the more productive power-play point producers for defensemen.  He is only 27 years old, and will be paid $4,250,000 in 2015-16 (which is $250,000 more than Dennis Seidenberg is slated to make.) The Blues have a lot of contracts coming up and Shattenkirk may be expendable as not everybody can be signed. A combination of a first round pick and prospects, which the Bruins have in stock, could potentially be enough.

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Finally, another team that has players to sign and won’t be able to keep everybody on board is the Dallas Stars. With Jordie Benn, Jason Demers, Alex Goligoski and Kris Russell all pending-unrestricted free agents, someone will have to go. Russell turns 29 on July 1st, and is coming off of a cap friendly deal that paid him $2,600,000 this past season.  He is a top-four quality defenseman who is not afraid to block shots, leading the league in shots blocked per game last year with 3.39 per game.

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Russell is an above average skater, plays smart, and knows when to join the rush. He also logs an incredible amount of ice time, (23:04 in ’15-’16) and is smart and disciplined while out there, evidenced by taking only ten minutes in penalties this year. What is most attractive is that for the Bruins, all they would need to do is sign him.  There are no picks, players, or prospects that would need to be given up.

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