Name: Sergei Kostitsyn
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Left
Height: 6ft
Weight: 190lbs
Birthdate: March 20, 1987
Hometown: Novopolotsk, Russia
Acquired: 2005 Entry Draft, Round 7, #200 overall
Profile
Sergei is the younger brother of Canadiens top prospect Andrei Kostitsyn. While having a sibling in the NHL has perhaps provided Sergei with guidance and companionship in his rise to the NHL, it has unfortunately saddled him with an immediate comparison at every turn. Rarely would a 7th round draft pick rookie success be measured against sophomore first round darling, but for Sergei the comparison is inescapable. Unlike his brother, Andrei, Sergei, was a relative unknown when he was drafted late in the 2005 draft. While Andrei cut his teeth on CSKA Moscow before coming to the AHL, Sergei chose to learn the North American game early, joining the OHL’s London Knights in his draft year. After two seasons of brilliant offensive exploits, the second alongside uber-prospects Patrick Kane and Sam Gagner, Sergei hoped to make the Habs’ NHL roster at the 2007 training camp. The Canadiens initially chose to award the final forward position to Mikhail Grabovsky instead and Sergei began the season in the AHL. After Grabovsky failed to make much impact with the Canadiens, Kostitsyn the younger was given a chance. Since joining the Canadiens, Sergei has displayed a tough streak not present in his older brother. While he does not have the flashy skills possessed by Andrei, Sergei has shown an ability to both put the puck in the net and get the puck to those that can. While he will likely never surpass the offensive production of his older brother, Sergei’s North American influenced game is a welcome addition to the Habs roster.
Profile written by simonus (Feb 08)