After completely missing on their choice to dump Jaroslav Halak and sign Tomas Plekanec, the Montreal Canadiens have made a smart move.
The dumped problem child, Sergei Kostitsyn to Nashville in exchange for Dustin Boyd and Dan Ellis. Boyd will help Montreal, especially compared to what Kostitsyn brought to the table. In the event the Habs can sign Ellis, they will have absolutely fleeced the Preds – a team that is making moves quicker than Deep Blue.
The Predators have made three moves this offseason, none of which have improved the team. They have inherited a fringe defenseman, a prima donna winger and a part-time NHLer. They sent out three players who started most nights for them in 2009-10 in Ellis, Dan Hamhuis and Jason Arnott. The only silver lining in it all is that the Predators got something in return for Ellis and Hamhuis, instead of letting them walk for free – even if the return was questionable.
As for the Habs, it seems like Ellis is interested in signing with Montreal. If that is the case, the Habs have found their 1B to Carey Price. If Price can get his game back in order the bleu, blanc et rouge have found themselves a strong goaltending combo.
Worst case scenario is Ellis hits the open market and signs elsewhere. The Habs still unloaded a soft, useless player for a guy with three times the drive. I would take a hard-nosed kid like Dustin Boyd any day over a weak Eastern European finesse player. There is a lot to be said about western Canadian hockey players.
Looks like Montreal finally got their head on straight.
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