Predators Acquire Sergei Kostitsyn for Ellis, Boyd

The Nashville Predators announced today that they have acquired right wing Sergei Kostitsyn and future considerations from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for goaltender Dan Ellis, center Dustin Boyd, and future considerations. The future considerations in the trade will become late round draft picks if any of the players are signed to contracts for next season. Kostitsyn is set to become a restricted free agent on July 1, while Ellis and Boyd will be unrestricted free agents. In 47 games last season with the Canadiens, Kostitsyn had seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. He also appeared in 16 games with Hamilton of the AHL, scoring four goals and nine assists for 13 points. Ellis played in 31 games with the Predators last season, posting a 15-13-1 record, one shutout, a 2.69 GAA, and a .909 save percentage. Boyd, who was acquired by the Predators from the Calgary Flames on March 3, had 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points. Certainly an interesting trade for both teams, but only time will tell who won this one. Kostitsyn is a very shifty winger who has some offensive upside, but has questionable work ethics and a poor attitude. He was suspended by the Canadiens last October for refusing to report to Hamilton and was told to stay away from the team prior to game four of their Eastern Conference Semi-Finals game against Pittsburgh. He has also expressed an interest in leaving the NHL for the KHL. If Kostitsyn can change his attitude and work ethic in Nashville, he could provide a decent offensive spark to the team. If he clashes with Predators management much like he did in Montreal, the club could witness another young forward depart for the KHL, as Alexander Radulov did a couple summers ago. The Canadiens get a solid goaltender in Ellis and a decent third line forward in Boyd, but there is no guarantee those two players will be signed by the Canadiens. If they do sign, Ellis will be a good backup for Carey Price, and could even jump into the starter's role if the latter should struggle, whereas Boyd would be a decent two-way forward for the Canadiens.