I don't think the love affair is with Russell necessarily, it's with bonefide NHL defenders, which the team is currently lacking.
The Flames need someone who can play bottom pairing minutes reliably and ideally you'd have enough bodies to relegate wideman to spot duty when he's 'feeling it'.
Ideally Jokipakka is your #5/6 guy but right now he's #4/5 depending on how the staff views engelland. The Flames are one defensive injury away from Wideman playing 19 minutes a night and that is has the potential to be a season ending disaster.
Russell at least gives you some options if you've got multiple injuries or a guy is in a funk. Better than Wotherspoon and Kulak.
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