from Kristen Odland of the Calgary Herald,

The 28-year-old defender has been the subject of trade speculation for weeks and, with the National Hockey League trade deadline on Monday, the rumours have been picking up steam.

According to TSN analyst Darren Dreger, the team apparently informed Russell that he is likely to be traded with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Boston Bruins as the front-runners.

The hard-working, shot-blocking blueliner has been dealing with a lower body (read: groin) injury and has missed the last six games. He skated in the morning on Thursday and was deemed good to go for Calgary’s game against the New York Islanders. But instead he was a last-minutes scratch for the 2-1 overtime loss.

Head coach Bob Hartley said it was the result of the nagging injury.

But the whole ordeal had local media wondering (and checking their phones).

“When we sat with him, right away we knew,” Hartley said. “Usually he doesn’t wants to talk about injuries … but just in the way he was answering our questions. I cut it short and said ‘You’re not playing.’ Just because I knew he wasn’t 100 per cent. There is no sense on putting him out there. It’s just a nagging injury that’s getting better.”

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