The Chicago Blackhawks drafted Phil Russell with the 13th pick in the 1972 draft because he played defense like someone you would imagined played defense in the early 1970’s.
Russell was a big guy that could hit and defend which he did on a nightly basis, and was a fan favorite because he was a lunch pail type of player night in and night out. Back when it was more fashionable, Russell was a true intimidator on the blue line for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Russell could be called a lot of things, but he was a good defenseman with a very good shot that skated really well for his era.