For the second time in less than a month, forward Sergei Kostitsyn has been convinced to stay with the Hamilton Bulldogs.
According to several media reports, Kostitsyn left the American Hockey League team once again on Wednesday and was immediately suspended by the Montreal Canadiens.
Now TSN reported Kostitsyn
has agreed to rejoin the Bulldogs after meeting with Canadiens General Manager Bob Gainey on Wednesday night. The National Hockey League team confirmed today that Kostitsyn is back with the organization.
Kostitsyn was first suspended on September 30 when he refused to report to Hamilton after being sent down by the Canadiens. The 22-year-old forward demanded a trade from the team but when one wasn't made, he accepted to play for Montreal's AHL team.
Earlier this week the forward provoked rumors of leaving the organization once again by expressing interest to play in the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia. Several reports suggested Kostitsyn had received numerous offers from different KHL teams.
A French MSN article posted on Wednesday reported a preseason physical altercation between Kostitsyn and Montreal Canadiens forward Scott Gomez may have been the reason for his demotion. But as RDS recently stated, no such dispute exists between the two players.
Kostitsyn has four points in five games with the Bulldogs so far this season. Last year, the forward scored eight goals and had 15 assists for the Canadiens in 56 games.
