Tuesday will be Russell's season debut after appearing in 45 games in 2020. Russell will replace Tyler Ennis, who cleared waivers and was assigned to the taxi squad. Russell has just five assists in 51 career NHL games.
Russell has been a healthy scratch for the last six games but is expected to play Tuesday with Zack Kassian suspended. Russell has very little offensive upside, picking up just four assists in 30 games this season.
Russell played 9:47 TOI vs. the Hurricanes on Tuesday but will be replaced by Alex Chiasson on Thursday. Russell has just four assists in 27 games this year.
Russell was a healthy scratch in the last two games but will replace Joakim Nygaard on Wednesday. Nygard is expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks, so Russell could get an extended look in the Oilers’ bottom-6. He has no points, two shots and a minus-1 rating in three games this season.
Russell had a career-best 40 points (18G / 22A) in 51 games with Bakersfield (AHL) this season. Russell also appeared in the first six games of his NHL career with the Oilers but did not register a point.
Russell, who failed to record a point in four games during his call-up, will return the Condors where he has nine points (4G / 5A) in 11 games. Russell will be replaced by Valentin Zykov, who was claimed off of waivers from the Hurricanes.
