Shot-blocking record breaker Kris Russell is examined today in our running series of report cards. He was the only Flames player who saw more rubber than the goaltenders.
At some point, somewhere, Kris Russell's body is going to breakdown. It's more than likely it's from blocking a shot, in the defensive zone attempting to save the day. Somehow he escaped that fate this year, missing only two games back in November due to a lower body injury. Because of that he hit career highs this year in games played during the regular season.
Used as a top-four pairing defenseman this season, Kris Russell became a fixture on the Flames' blueline, including a lengthy stint on the "top pairing" once captain Mark Giordano went down with injury.