Today, the Montreal Canadiens sent struggling winger Sergei Kostitsyn and future considerations in exchange for Dan Ellis and Dustin Boyd along with future considerations.
Ellis, if signed, would serve as an insurance plan for lauded netminder Carey Price. The 29-year-old ‘tender managed 15 wins on a playoff-bound Predators team posting a 2.69 GAA and .909 SV% along the way. Two years previous he produced 23 wins for career highs across the board.
The team brass thought the former Dallas Stars farmhand a better option than veteran Chris Mason, although both look to be among the top free agent goaltenders. Just like with his former teammate Dan Hamhuis, Ellis still needs to be signed to play a game in Montreal.
Kostitsyn will look to produce full time on a team that desperately needs offense.
With Jason Arnott, Hamhuis and Boyd moved the team will build around their remaining core and add players like Colin Wilson and possibly Kostitsyn to a more expansive role.
Back in Juniors the Belarussian racked up points alongside Patrick Kane in London but has yet to show that type of flair in the NHL. In the AHL, he showed promised by producing at nearly a point-per-game pace but failed to score in the double digits with the big club.
The Predators continue to move assets before they get nothing for their player. It only makes sense to take a risk on a skilled player who in theory can contribute adequately.
