Oilers sign defenceman Kris Russell

Russell, 29, is a veteran of nine NHL seasons with Columbus, St. Louis, Calgary and Dallas. He has accumulated 177 points (38G, 139A) in 573 games.
The 5'10", 170-pound defenceman ranked second in the NHL in 2015-16 with 210 blocked shots, and led the league in the same category in 2014-15, blocking 283 shots. On March 6, 2015, he set an NHL record with 15 blocked shots in one game, against Boston.

He has averaged over 23 minutes of ice time per game in each of his past three seasons, setting a career high in 2014-15, ranking 21st in the NHL, averaging 23:56 of ice time per game.
Russell was the Calgary Flames 2015 nominee for the Bill Masterton Trophy, awarded annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.
The native of Caroline, Alberta, has represented Canada on five occasions, winning gold twice at the World Junior Hockey Championship (2006, 2007), and playing at the World Hockey Championship in 2010 and 2012.