As trade speculation ramps up as the trade deadline barrels head-long towards us, TSN’s Darren Dreger had a very interesting scoop earlier this morning regarding one of the Calgary Flames most prominent trade chips.

Russell’s a pending unrestricted free agent this summer and the general free agent market speculation is that he’s going to get well-compensated and receive a healthy boost from his current $2.6 million cap hit. With the Flames having already well-compensated defensemen by the names of Mark Giordano ($6.75 million), Dougie Hamilton ($5.75 million), T.J. Brodie ($4.65 million), Ladislav Smid ($3.5 million) and Deryk Engelland ($2.917 million), it’s unlikely that the Flames would be able to afford him.

Then there’s the entire “Is Kris Russell good enough for a big raise” debate, which we’ve already gotten into (and will once again when he’s moved).

Anyway, if this scoop is true – and I have few reasons to believe otherwise – it’s proof that Brad Treliving is more pragmatic than sentimental. It would also make it tremendously unlikely that Russell plays tonight against Ottawa.