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Gainey asks Kovalev to stay home - Sportsnet.ca

Montreal Canadiens GM Bob Gainey asked veteran Alexei Kovalev to stay home and think about things while the team embarks on a two-game road trip.

The veteran is not hurt; but Gainey feels that Kovalev cannot help the team the way he is playing right now. The 35-year-old was held pointless in the two games against Colorado and Vancouver on the weekend. In 57 games he has 13 goals and 26 assists.

Gainey has not ruled out the possibility of a trade at before the March 4 deadline. The team will remain in contact with Kovalev over the next 48 hours and it appears his fate with the organization may be decided by the next home game, Saturday afternoon against Ottawa.

The Kovalev news comes on the heels of a Monday trade for veteran leadership in Mathieu Schneider. Gainey indicated on Tuesday that the Canadiens had been pursuing the Thrashers' defenceman since November but the Vincent Lecavalier rumours got in the way of an earlier move. Gainey added that the Canadiens never contacted Tampa Bay about Lecavalier but rather it was the ownership group and Bolts GM Brian Lawton who contacted Montreal and laid the framework for a trade, asking specifically for Chris Higgins, Tomas Plekanec, Josh Gorges and draft picks.

Lawton stated on several occasions that he never contacted other teams about Lecavalier and that the rumours were completely fabricated.

The Canadiens will pay the next two games on the road in Washington and Pittsburgh.

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2009/...ergei_demoted/

Montreal Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey announced that forward Sergei Kos[censored]yn has been assigned to the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League while forward Greg Stewart has been recalled to Montreal from Hamilton.

Kos[censored]yn, 21, has played in 52 games with the Canadiens this season accumulating 23 points (eight goals, 15 assists) along with 64 penalty minutes. The 6-foot, 190-pound right wing played in 52 regular season games for Montreal last season earning 27 points (nine goals, 18 assists) and 51 penalty minutes and also played in 22 games with the Bulldogs in 2007-2008, recording 22 points (six goals, 16 assists) and 18 penalty minutes. The native of Novopolotsk, Belarus also competed in 12 post-season games with the Canadiens last year registering eight points (three goals, five assists) and 14 penalty minutes. Kos[censored]yn was drafted by Montreal in the 7th round, 200th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
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