Andrei Kostitsyn will have to intensify his play

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Blaise said:

As I said in my previous post, he's still raw. He offers decent size, a great shot, and fine skating but isn't the biggest, strongest, or fastest of the bunch, and he doesn't have the on-ice awareness of an Eric Staal or the power of a Nathan Horton or Thomas Vanek, for example. Put another way, he's not precocious, that is, a player who belies his youth the way Sidney Crosby is said to be.

The chicken is in the pot.

A quote from HF via HabsRus on Kostitsyn at the 2003 WJC:

This Belraus player IMO is the best offensive weapon for the 2003 draft, if anyone plays a clone game to Gaboirk it is this guy. This guy is super fast on the ice as he gets three to four break aways a game, he is super agile and has great acceleration and speed, a very exciting player to watch he has electric moves with the puck very creative stickhanlder and a great puck protector he is hard to knock off the puck and off his skates, he has great strength, he beats players with speed and hands, he has a great 3 shots that are super hard and are very accurate, his wrist is his best weapon, he is a great playmaker and passer as well, this guy is the complete package in the offensive end, he has super patients and smarts with the puck he plays in traffic and will throw a hit once in awhile but he is more excitment than anything, I don't think anyone in the drat matches this guys offense. His down fall is that his defense is just gross on the ice, but offensivly this guy matches to Gaborik in shooting and excitment. The Redwings GM Jim Nill was super interested in him as not too many scouts came to the Belarus games and Nill was sitting behind me he said twice to the Wings scout with him that this guy is the best player he has seen play in awhile.

- bottom of page

[blaise]

I hope it plays like just like this glowing report, in which case the Habs will have a budding superstar. However, the fans who attended the preseason camps and exhibition games didn't go quite that far in their accolades. Nor have we witnessed a brilliant start to his AHL season. So until further developments validate these early panegyrics I'd prefer to take a more sober approach along the lines of BC.

You haven't commented on the Habsinthe nom de plum and the play on words back to Baudelaire and Beaux-Eaux. Am I crediting you with too much subtlety?

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Forwards taken in the top 10 in the 2003 draft and *gasp* their current talent synopses according to one widely used reference. Who are they?

Player #1:

Is a natural goal-scorer, with plenty of size to fight through traffic and battle against big NHL defensemen. Owns the confidence of a veteran sniper.

Must continue to improve his work without the puck and in the defensive zone. Needs to reduce the number of bad penalties he takes.

Player #2:

Has explosive scoring ability and a nose for the net. Loves to dangle and make nifty plays. Is comfortable in pressure situations.

Is still rather raw in the defensive zone. Needs to make better use of his linemates.

Player #3:

Already plays with plenty of poise and patience. Makes smart decisions with and without the puck. Plays a cerebral game. Has a projectable frame for the center position.

Isn't a natural goal-scorer and may have trouble putting points on the board in the pros. Needs to work on adding more upper-body strength.

Player #4:

Plays the game at a high-octane level. Can shoot the puck at will and skates very well for a big man. Is comfortable both as a center or right-winger.

Needs to do a better job of keeping his emotions in check in order to play a big role in the pros. Must prove he can avoid injuries despite his aggressive style.

Player #5:

Skates with explosive strides and is extremely shifty. Can do anything he wants with the puck on his stick and oozes offense.

Needs a lot of work in defensive-zone coverage. Takes too many shifts off. Must start shooting more.

Player #6:

Owns excellent size and strength. Is already polished at both ends of the ice. Can line up on either side of center, and could be used in any game situation.

The jury is still out on his long-range scoring potential. Must avoid serious injuries over the course of his career in order to meet expectations.

[blaise]

Naturally, every player ever drafted lives up to preliminary scouting reports from single observers. They are infallible, totally immune to subjectivity. It reminds me of the futuristic movie Gattaca in which instant analysis of the DNA in a urine sample predicts the candidate's lot in life. "Tryouts are unnecessary. A will average between 32 and 34 goals in his NHL career and B will average between 21 and 23." How often does that scenario work? What happens when the projected gold medal winner ends up with silver or worse? Ah, never mind. I can see a pattern of the wish being the father of the thought. All future Habs are great.

To change the subject, nearly 2 years ago I spotted an un undrafted ECAC defenseman and suggested that the Habs sign him as a free agent. The Habs didn't but the Flyers did in 2002. That defenseman, Randy Jones, now playing for the Phantoms (and scoring against the Bulldogs last night, incidentally) looks as though he will make the Flyers when NHL play resumes. Along about the same time my son (who also liked Jones) said it would be a great idea to sign another ECAC free agent, Yann Danis. The Habs didn't miss out on him.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Blaise said:

All future Habs are great.

This one for sure:

Scouting Report: The smallish but brilliant Belarussian forward is arguably the draft’s highest riser this side of Tomas Vanek. With his amazing speed, agility and skill level, Kastsitsyn can dictate the tempo of a game and is a dynamic scorer. His defense needs work, but just as the age-old cliché goes: You can teach a player to be more responsible in his own end, but you can’t teach ability. Kastsitsyn has it in spades. He has some potential health issues, including being diagnosed with epilepsy, as well as suffering a back injury during the year, which could affect his draft standing.

Projection: Although Kastsitsyn didn’t see much ice in the Russian Super League with CSKA, there aren’t enough superlatives to describe his performances in the two biggest tournaments of the year: the World Junior Under-20, and Under-18 Championships. He even managed to score a goal in two games of action during the World Championships. Game-breakers like Kastsitsyn are hard to pass up, and should he be available when Boston picks, the B's would do well to grab him, even if there is some risk involved.

Scout’s View: “As I have said before, this is a player who I really like. Kastsitsyn is a dynamic skater who has been able to put up points at international tournaments with very little help from his lesser-skilled teammates. He is a very smart player who has a quick release and can make plays at top speed. His defense could be better, but that can be taught and his high skill level can’t. Is one of the top three offensive players in the draft, in my mind. Health concerns are liable to cause him to slip into the teens on draft day but he will be a steal for someone if he does fall past the 10th selection.” — Tim MacLean, Red Line Report

- www.hockeyjournal.com/bruins/200306/draft11.html

[blaise]

He didn't fall past the tenth selection. So he's in the top ten. No one argues against that. So are the other nine in 2003, and none was seen as an intruder in that subgroup. No GM has had buyer's regret. Even the most ardent Kostitsyn partisan would not say that the other teams made a mistake. There were one blue chip goaltender, three outstanding defensemen, and six forwards who will soon contribute to the teams that drafted them. In comparison with the 2004 class, only the two Russians at the very top would have dislodged players from the top ten in 2003. Chipchura is not on a par with Nathan Horton, while in retrospect Staal, Horton, Vanek, Zherdev, and Phaneuf would have made the top seven in 2004 despite the inclusion of Ovechkin and Malkin. Going a bit further back, perhaps only Kovalchuk, Heatley, Nash, and Bouwmeester would have shaken up that top ten. So be content that the Habs have fine prospects in Kostitsyn and Chipchura without hyping them. Their pro careers are ahead of them, not yet in the record boojs.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Blaise said:

No GM has had buyer's regret.

Not yet. It's still early days.

Even the most ardent Kostitsyn partisan would not say that the other teams made a mistake.

See previous comment.

Chipchura is not on a par with Nathan Horton...

See previous comment.

So be content that the Habs have fine prospects in Kostitsyn and Chipchura without hyping them.

I am more than content with both of them and I will hype them.

[turnbuckle]

Interesting that your latest "finding" was once again from Red Line. Those boys go to bed with vision of Kosty dancing in their loins.

I can't say I've seen many people waste as much effort as you have proving nothing in this thread, Al. I regard you as one of the better posters around here, but your stubbornness has gotten the best of you this time around, IMO.

Here's how you started the ball rolling: "Kostitsyn was available at pick #10. Most pundits had him ranked as one of the top 5 players in the draft."

This is false. If you somehow consider Kyle Woodlief to represent "most pundits", then you would be correct, but that isn't the case is it? Since then you have spents several hours of your life tap dancing around the subject, but there is absolutley no evidence that any reputable "pundits" other than Woodlief had Kosty rated in the top 5. NONE.

I talked to at least a half dozen scouts in the month leading up to the 2003 draft, and none of them had Kostitsyn in their top ten, not even the Hab scout. Mind you, most considered him a top 15 pick with lots of potential. Not one of them mentioned his epilepsy being a concern.

"Good for us that we have Dr David Mulder and the other teams don't. Also satisfying that the Habs drafting team has cojones and the strength of their convictions (and that those convictions are based on uncommonly sound talent assessment)."

A fellow reading your comments that didn't know the players would surmise that Kostitsyn, since being drafted, has left the players drafted ahead of him in the dust. If anything, the opposite has occurred. All of the players drafted in front of Kosty are STILL ranked as better prospects by "most of the pundits".

Logic appears to be something you wish to ignore on this subject, preferring to dance around it with lots of words, and little substance. I like ya Al, but there's more to life IMO than trying to win every debate. Cheers for now.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

turnbuckle said:

Interesting that your latest "finding" was once again from Red Line. Those boys go to bed with vision of Kosty dancing in their loins.

I can't say I've seen many people waste as much effort as you have proving nothing in this thread, Al. I regard you as one of the better posters around here, but your stubbornness has gotten the best of you this time around, IMO.

Here's how you started the ball rolling: "Kostitsyn was available at pick #10. Most pundits had him ranked as one of the top 5 players in the draft."

This is false. If you somehow consider Kyle Woodlief to represent "most pundits", then you would be correct, but that isn't the case is it? Since then you have spents several hours of your life tap dancing around the subject, but there is absolutley no evidence that any reputable "pundits" other than Woodlief had Kosty rated in the top 5. NONE.

I talked to at least a half dozen scouts in the month leading up to the 2003 draft, and none of them had Kostitsyn in their top ten, not even the Hab scout. Mind you, most considered him a top 15 pick with lots of potential. Not one of them mentioned his epilepsy being a concern.

"Good for us that we have Dr David Mulder and the other teams don't. Also satisfying that the Habs drafting team has cojones and the strength of their convictions (and that those convictions are based on uncommonly sound talent assessment)."

A fellow reading your comments that didn't know the players would surmise that Kostitsyn, since being drafted, has left the players drafted ahead of him in the dust. If anything, the opposite has occurred. All of the players drafted in front of Kosty are STILL ranked as better prospects by "most of the pundits".

Logic appears to be something you wish to ignore on this subject, preferring to dance around it with lots of words, and little substance. I like ya Al, but there's more to life IMO than trying to win every debate. Cheers for now.

Grant, the truly sad thing is that I believe what I say.

The exercise of logic can proceed to deliver false conclusions. My original assertion and BC's counter-claim both lack irrefutable proof to support them. Without that concrete proof the apparently more logical claim is just as groundless, or solid, as the more illogical one. Being logical does not make one right, it makes one logical.

Logic and statistics in the right/wrong minds...

I am convinced that Kostitsyn was glossed over by at least one team before the Habs picked him, and I'm convinced that Kostitsyn will turn out to have a better NHL career than some of the 5 forwards chosen ahead of him in the 2003 draft (regardless of whether the other teams thought that they had made better choices).

That is my opinion based on what I have read. Illogical perhaps, but I'm sticking to it.

What got me exercised was not that I *horrors* might be wrong in my interpretation of the pre-draft warnings and consequent order of selection, but rather that my interpretation was being dismissed out-of-hand via an argument that offered no concrete proof that my assertion was false, or not within the realm of possibility.

It was fun.

One thing that we all do seem to agree on is that Kostitsyn is a remarkable talent who should be a top kline winger on the Habs for many years.

[blaise]

Once more to the fray, and perhaps for the last time on this particular thread. Yes, it's alsways possible for one of the six stars to fall from the heaven. Horton, Staal, and Zherdev have already played in the NHL and have not revealed feet of clay. Vanek will be tough for Kostitsyn to surpass. Perhaps Michalek, but even that is up in the air. We must be sober enough tp appreciate that Kostitsyn could be among those who fall.

I am stubborn but have been known to change my mind on occasion when events prove me wrong. You are stubborn to the point of being adamantine. You know it. Everyone knows it. Now of course this stubbornness is due largely to your loyalty to the Montréal Canadiens, and everyone recognizes that loyalty in you.

[Cockroach]

We'll all,hopefully,get a chance to see AK Sunday on Sportsnet and see first hand for
ourselves. Go Dogs!

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Blaise said:

Once more to the fray, and perhaps for the last time on this particular thread. Yes, it's alsways possible for one of the six stars to fall from the heaven. Horton, Staal, and Zherdev have already played in the NHL and have not revealed feet of clay. Vanek will be tough for Kostitsyn to surpass. Perhaps Michalek, but even that is up in the air.

Let us try to apply the 5 year grace period from their draft year before uttering anything resembling a final verdict on their NHL careers.

Of course I have breached that already with my prediction that Kostitsyn will outshine some of the forwards chosen before him. But that doesn't mean that everyone else cannot exercise greater self-control.

We must be sober enough tp appreciate that Kostitsyn could be among those who fall.

Even drunk, I would admit that as a very real possibility. Not a likelihood mind you.

I am stubborn but have been known to change my mind on occasion when events prove me wrong.

I know, I've been there on occasion.

You are stubborn to the point of being adamantine. You know it. Everyone knows it. Now of course this stubbornness is due largely to your loyalty to the Montréal Canadiens, and everyone recognizes that loyalty in you.

Yes, some would call me a fanatic.

When I find a cause or when it finds me (Garon, Théodore, Gratton, Quintal, Ribeiro, Chipchura, Julien, Hainsey, Kostitsyn, etc) I give it 100%. I want the best for my team. Sometimes it's a matter of obeying that ancient coach's adage of "Spare the stick and spoil the shift".

I do not tire easily. It's one thing my coaches and teammates, when I played organized hockey in my youth in Montréal and later in casual leagues, liked about me. That I was a yapper and never lost any teeth is a blessing. Though maybe now I'd trade a couple of chiclets for those two concussions. But I regress...

The upshot of the lively dialogue that BC and I had is that one of us has made the correct assumption. Will we ever find out who it is? Absolutely maybe.

[blaise]

I hope that both of us survive long enough to witness Kostitsyn's entire career. Of course, with that contingency in mind, I hope it's a superlong career.

[Habit]

M. said:

Forwards taken in the top 10 in the 2003 draft and *gasp* their current talent synopses according to one widely used reference. Who are they?

Player #1:

Is a natural goal-scorer, with plenty of size to fight through traffic and battle against big NHL defensemen. Owns the confidence of a veteran sniper.

Must continue to improve his work without the puck and in the defensive zone. Needs to reduce the number of bad penalties he takes.

Player #2:

Has explosive scoring ability and a nose for the net. Loves to dangle and make nifty plays. Is comfortable in pressure situations.

Is still rather raw in the defensive zone. Needs to make better use of his linemates.

Player #3:

Already plays with plenty of poise and patience. Makes smart decisions with and without the puck. Plays a cerebral game. Has a projectable frame for the center position.

Isn't a natural goal-scorer and may have trouble putting points on the board in the pros. Needs to work on adding more upper-body strength.

Player #4:

Plays the game at a high-octane level. Can shoot the puck at will and skates very well for a big man. Is comfortable both as a center or right-winger.

Needs to do a better job of keeping his emotions in check in order to play a big role in the pros. Must prove he can avoid injuries despite his aggressive style.

Player #5:

Skates with explosive strides and is extremely shifty. Can do anything he wants with the puck on his stick and oozes offense.

Needs a lot of work in defensive-zone coverage. Takes too many shifts off. Must start shooting more.

Player #6:

Owns excellent size and strength. Is already polished at both ends of the ice. Can line up on either side of center, and could be used in any game situation.

The jury is still out on his long-range scoring potential. Must avoid serious injuries over the course of his career in order to meet expectations.

1. Vanek
2. Kostitsyn
3. Staal
4. Hornton
5. Zherdev
6. Michalek

How did I do? What do I win? I don't need another used red clown nose.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Habit said:

1. Vanek
2. Kostitsyn
3. Staal
4. Hornton
5. Zherdev
6. Michalek

How did I do? What do I win? I don't need another used red clown nose.

Bingo!

Hmmm, how about a red bon vivant nose? My alter-ego, Habsinthe, is at this moment rummaging through his cellar to find the appropriate bottle to forward to you.

[seventeen]

You can see where AK needs to be a little better. Recognition of where to be in his own end on the backcheck. His check seemed to be more open than I would have liked, especially on one occasion where the Moose LW was alone in front of our net and AK was about 10 feet away.

On the other hand, I'm not happy with the amount of playing time he's getting, despite the above. When he's attacked a few times, he's lost the puck off his stick because he's trying too hard, which comes partially from playing so little. I think he was on the ice for less than a minute, for the whole 1st period. I can understand tough love, but not solitary confinement.

[blaise]

M. said:

Bingo!

Hmmm, how about a red bon vivant nose? My alter-ego, Habsinthe, is at this moment rummaging through his cellar to find the appropriate bottle to forward to you.

If Habsinthe encounters difficulties in finding the right bottle, why don't you send your other alter egos down to help him? And if that is still unavailing, why don't you join them ectoplasmically if not corporeally? I wouldn't recommend absinthe. Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is too bitter for most tastes.

Repulsive absinthe
Is aromatic and green,
Grievously bitter.

It takes down poets,
Reduces them to harlequins
And HabsRus posters.

Incidentally, by now I expected a print of Charles Baudelaire to appear as your next avatar (unless you feel that your having been unmasked promptly would spoil the fun).

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

seventeen said:

You can see where AK needs to be a little better. Recognition of where to be in his own end on the backcheck. His check seemed to be more open than I would have liked, especially on one occasion where the Moose LW was alone in front of our net and AK was about 10 feet away.

On the other hand, I'm not happy with the amount of playing time he's getting, despite the above. When he's attacked a few times, he's lost the puck off his stick because he's trying too hard, which comes partially from playing so little. I think he was on the ice for less than a minute, for the whole 1st period. I can understand tough love, but not solitary confinement.

It seems that Jarvis is taking the same tack with Kostitisyn as he did with Perezhogin last season, though the latter arrived on the team as a more rounded player. Perezhogin also had a slow start, but was lauded as one of the best forwards in the AHL in the second half of the season and averaged a point a game in the playoffs (and it looks like he will be selected to the Russian national team this year).

Kostitsyn has the skill and the physical tools. What's more he has the desire and intensity needed to succeed, as has been amply demonstrated by his being one of the outstanding players in virtually every international tournament he's palyed in, despite carrying the Belarus team on his back and being his club's target of "special" attention in every game.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

M. said:

It seems that Jarvis is taking the same tack with Kostitisyn as he did with Perezhogin last season, though the latter arrived on the team as a more rounded player. Perezhogin also had a slow start, but was lauded as one of the best forwards in the AHL in the second half of the season and averaged a point a game in the playoffs (and it looks like he will be selected to the Russian national team this year).

The numbers would seem to bear out the above observation.

Thus far Kostitsyn has played in all 12 Dogs games. However, his icetime has been carefully rationed by Jarvis, and Coach seems to have analysis and instruction to offer the young Belarussian after many a shift.

Kostitsyn's offensive skill and development are obviously not a concern. Despite his rather anemic production (12 games, 3-1-4, and only 13 shots) it doesn't appear that he has lost his greatest gift, as a team leading 23.1 shooting % indicates. What is pleasantly surprising, though not unexpected given the combination of Kostitsyn's drive and love of the game and Jarvis' decades of high-level experience, is that Kostitsyn is tied for the team lead with a +4 rating and has scored a shorthanded goal (which shows that Jarvis is not afraid to throw him into the deep end - and that Kostitsyn can learn to swim).

Onward and forward!

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

Kostitsyn has thus far scored 3 goals in the AHL, Staal and Vanek 4 each and Horton 1. Zherdev has 7 in the RSL and Michalek continues to experience injury woes and has yet to play this season.

[BadCompany]

M. said:

Kostitsyn has thus far scored 3 goals in the AHL, Staal and Vanek 4 each and Horton 1. Zherdev has 7 in the RSL and Michalek continues to experience injury woes and has yet to play this season.

Kostitsyin: 19 games, 4 points (.210 ppg), -2.

Staal: 12 games, 17 points (1.42 ppg), +9.

Horton: 9 games, 3 points (.333 ppg), +2.

Zherdev: 21 games, 16 points (.762 ppg).

Vanek: 15 games, 6 points (.400 ppg). -2.

Wouldn't want you to provide an incomplete statistical picture.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

BadCompany said:

Wouldn't want you to provide an incomplete statistical picture.

Thanks for verifying the accuracy of the goals totals I had posted.

Now if Jarvis would only give Kostitsyn more ice time and lengthen the leash...

[Doc Holliday]

M. said:

...Now if Jarvis would only give Kostitsyn more ice time and lengthen the leash...

...so he can choke on it ?

Naaaa. I am sure that when Kots can take it, Jarvis will give it to him.

[Habs_fan_in_LA]

M. said:

Thanks for verifying the accuracy of the goals totals I had posted.

Now if Jarvis would only give Kostitsyn more ice time and lengthen the leash...

He's already played more than his usual 6 games for one team in one season.

[blaise]

What is Jarvis's role in Kostitsyn's meager point output? For that matter, what is his role in the disappointing offensive numbers of all the Bulldogs we were counting on? Is he mothering them or smothering them?

[Habit]

Blaise said:

What is Jarvis's role in Kostitsyn's meager point output? For that matter, what is his role in the disappointing offensive numbers of all the Bulldogs we were counting on? Is he mothering them or smothering them?

With all this Jarvis talk, maybe we should create a "Jarvis Thread"?

Alot of these threads are starting to focus on him now. But it is interesting to note that no one in the media has written anything major about him yet, suggesting that there might be nothing wrong with HMCS Bulldog.

[blaise]

Habit said:

With all this Jarvis talk, maybe we should create a "Jarvis Thread"?

Alot of these threads are starting to focus on him now. But it is interesting to note that no one in the media has written anything major about him yet, suggesting that there might be nothing wrong with HMCS Bulldog.

Nor have they said anything good about him recently. That doesn't mean the critics aren't going to pounce soon.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

The top 10 players to watch at the 2005 world junior men's hockey championship

posted December 21 @ 16:15, EST

(CP) - The top 10 players to watch at the 2005 world junior men's hockey championship, Dec. 25 to Jan. 4 in Grand Forks, N.D., and Thief River Falls, Minn.

1. Alexander Ovechkin, Russia - Powerful and talented forward will be the marquee player of the tournament. Was ready to play in the NHL even before the Washington Capitals made him the first overall pick at the draft in June.

2. Evgeni Malkin, Russia - Not as far a long in development as Ovechkin, but has the skills and talent of his countryman, which made Pittsburgh take him second overall.

3. Sidney Crosby, Canada - Played well with and against players three years older than him at the 2004 tournament. Now 17, he is expected to be one of Canada's top scorers.

4. Alvaro Montoya, U.S. - Cool under pressure in gold-medal effort against Canada at 2004 tournament in Helsinki. Was named tournament's top goaltender and drafted sixth overall by New York Rangers.

5. Patrick O'Sullivan, U.S. - Third year at world juniors and was a pivotal player in gold-medal win over Canada in Helsinki. Mississauga IceDogs forward and Minnesota draft pick will be relied upon to fill the scoring void left by Zach Parise.

6. Jeff Carter, Canada - Towering centre can score and can dish out painful hits. Philadelphia Flyers didn't sign Carter to a contract before the NHL locked out its players and Carter could make them wish they did.

7. Marek Schwarz, Czech Republic - Czechs will be threats for the podium if they get the goaltending out of Schwarz, the highest European goaltender drafted this year when St. Louis took him 17th overall. He plays for the Western Hockey League's Vancouver Giants.

8. Robert Nilsson, Sweden - Son of former NHLer Kent Nilsson born in Calgary when his dad played for the Flames. First-round draft pick of New York Islanders was Sweden's top scorer at 2004 tournament.

9. Andrej Meszaros, Slovakia - Like Canada's Patrice Bergeron, played for his country at the men's world championship in May. Ottawa drafted the defenceman 23rd overall this year.

10. Andrei Kostitsyn, Belarus - Hamilton Bulldogs forward drafted 10th overall by Montreal in 2003. His country's hopes of staying in the top-tier tournament rest on him.

*

Kostitsyn is now tied for third on the Dogs in goals scored with 6, 2 behind leader Locke and one behind second palce Plekanec. Not bad for a 19 year old kid who's been short-shifted, told to think defense first, and gets virtually no powerplay time (5 even strength goals and 1 short-handed).

[seventeen]

I have my doubts about that list. Phaneuf not on it at all? Who will Canadian Press want us to watch after Phaneuf destroys half the forwards on that list.

[M. Beaux-Eaux]

BadCompany said:

Kostitsyin: 19 games, 4 points (.210 ppg), -2.

Kostitsyn: 29 games, 9 points, .31 PPG, -1

5 points in his last 10 games, or .5 PPG. And +1.