The Habs kicked off the trading festivities on Monday morning with a trade
that most people were expecting to happen at some point during the day.
Leaving Montreal is Andrei Kostitsyn who will be reunited with his brother
Sergei as he is off to Nashville. In return, Montreal picks up Nashville’s
2nd rounder in 2013 while cancelling the conditional pick from the Hal Gill
swap.
Kostitsyn has had a rocky season so far with the Canadiens. In 53
games, he has 12 goals and 12 assists with a -8 rating. He has struggled
lately, picking up just 2 points in the last 14 games and has points in just 5
of his last 23 games. His 37 point pace on the season would be the second
worst of his career (his worst came in an injury shortened season too) so
suffice it to say, Pierre Gauthier was forced to sell low. Of the players
in my series of deadline previews, he had the highest trade odds at 80%.
The move gives Montreal a trio of second round picks in what is believed to
be a deep 2013 NHL Entry Draft. They have their own selection,
Nashville’s, and Calgary’s from the Mike Cammalleri swap. The cancelled
conditional pick was Montreal’s 5th rounder in 2013, that would have been
forfeited had Blake Geoffrion played in 40 games with the Habs next season. The trade now gives Montreal one opening on the 50-contract limit.
You can have your say on the deal by adding your thoughts on the HW Forums, the link is below.