NHL-National Hockey League roundup

Feb 8 (The Sports Xchange) - The Calgary Flames signed defenseman Kris Russell to a two-year, $4.5 million contract on Saturday. Russell, 26, who has four goals and 16 assists in 44 games this season, was acquired from the St. Louis Blues in the offseason for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft. The defenseman has a combined 27 goals and 88 assists with the Flames, Blues and Columbus Blue Jackets over 408 career NHL games. He was a third-round draft choice of the Blue Jackets in 2005. - - - The Los Angeles Kings placed forward Colin Fraser on waivers, according to CBC. It was speculated that the move was made to save salary cap money as the Kings are close to the NHL's threshold as the trade deadline approaches. If a team claims Fraser, he would cost $825,000 toward the cap for the season and is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent this summer. The move also allows Fraser to play in the minors for the Kings during the Olympics break if no one claims him. He has two assists and 30 penalty minutes in 33 games this season. - - - The Tampa Bay Lightning reassigned defenseman J.P. Cote to the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. Cote, 31, has four assists and 22 penalty minutes in 19 games with the Lightning this season. Prior to being recalled by the Lightning on Dec. 18, Cote had two goals, seven assists and 35 penalty minutes in 19 games with Syracuse. Cote signed a two-year contract with the Lightning last December. - - - The Nashville Predators recalled forward Colton Sissons from the Milwaukee Admirals of the AHL. Sissons, a 20-year-old rookie, has an assist, a plus-2 rating and two penalty minutes in three games for the Predators. Sissons led Milwaukee with 17 goals, ranked second with 29 points and was tied for second among all AHL skaters with five game-winning goals. He was one of three rookies named to the AHL All-Star Team. (Editing by Larry Fine)