[sureLoss]

http://www.calgarysun.com/2015/10/03...n-kris-russell

Having broken the NHL record for blocked shots last year, Kris Russell was asked what such an award would look like if it existed.

“Maybe a new set of shin pads,” smiled the Calgary Flames humble rearguard who impeded the progress of 283 vulcanized bullets over 79 games.

Oh, he’ll get much more than that for his efforts.

The question is how to reward someone with that distinction?

How do you compensate someone who essentially sacrificed his body more than any other NHLer while adding 34 points, finishing plus-18 and being universally loved and respected as a dressing-room leader?

How do you determine the worth of a player who was a central figure in filling the void left when captain Mark Giordano went down last year and may very well have been the Flames best player in the first round of the playoffs?

Well, that’s exactly what Flames GM Brad Treliving and Russell’s agent, Al Roy, started trying to figure out earlier this week when the Sun has learned they sat down to start discussing a contract extension for the 28-year-old.

“I had very preliminary talks with Brad and obviously they’re big fans of Kris and it’s home for him so he’d like to stay,” said Roy following his visit to Calgary.

“Are we going to get something done? We are hopiing. We are just beginning talks.”ing. We are just beginning talks.”