Jackets And Blues Swap Defensemen

Trade Details:

The St.Louis Blues acquired Kris Russell from the Columbus Blue Jackets for Nikita Nikitin

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St.Louis Blues Acquire:

D. Kris Russell Age: 24 Height: 5-10  Weight: 185 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $1,300,000  Expires: 2013 Important Facts: -Named the 2006-07 Defenseman Of The Year for all of Canadian Major Junior Hockey. -The 2010-11 season (last year) was his best year (statistically) of his pro career. -Despite playing 12 games this season with the worst team in the NHL so far, he only is a minus-1. -Had the 2nd most blocked shot on of anyone on the Blue Jackets in 2010-11

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Columbus Blue Jackets Acquire:

D. Nikita Nikitin Age: 25 Height: 6-3  Weight: 215 CONTRACT:  Cap-Hit: $600,000  Expires: 2012 Important Facts: -Despite being 25 years old, he has only been in North America for one year -Played 6 seasons in the KHL (also known as Russian Elite League for some of his time there) for the Omsk organization.

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Analysis:

Odd move for the Blue Jackets, especially give-in the struggles the team has had. When news began to leak that the Jackets were nearing a move most believed that Columbus would be getting a goaltender as Steve Mason has been putrid, but then it became known that it was actually a swap of defensemen. The Jackets ended up trading Kris Russell to the Blues for Nikita Nikitin. The Blue Jackets said the reasoning behind this move was that they felt they needed a more defense-orientated defenseman. Theres no doubting that Russell is an offensive-defenseman, but he has proven himself at the NHL level through a handful of seasons while the defenseman they get back in Nikita Nikitin might be labeled a defensive defenseman, but has only played part of an NHL season despite being older than Russell. The biggest complaints from Blues fans was his poor defensive zone coverage this season which for a defensive defenseman is their bread and butter. That is shown by his minus-5 +/-, which was the only negative plus/minus of any Blues defenseman. The Blues were happy to make the move when they found out they would only have to give up Nikitin, but the biggest pushing factor behind this was the new Blues coach Ken Hitchcock, who was very clear that Russell was one of "his guys" during his time with the Blue Jackets. He wanted the Blues to try and pick him up, and I definitely expect Russell to be given a big role under Hitchcock give-in his familiarity with Hitch's system and their comfortability with each other. I really like Russell and I think we will see him excel with the Blues.