Fantasy Impact: The Nashville Predators have acquired Andrei Kostitsyn from the Montreal Canadiens for a second-round draft pick plus the conditional draft pick that they got in the Hal Gill deal.

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The Predators get: a talented, but inconsistent winger named Kostitsyn. Their second such player in the last 18 months.

The Habs get: a good draft pick, plus a conditional one. There were rumors that they got Alexander Radulov in this deal, but that didn't pan out.

Fantasy Players Impacted: Obviously, the inconsistent Kostitsyn will pop. He is capable of some big numbers in 10-game spurts, and with a new contract needed this summer he should be able to reach deep down inside and give it 20 good games. His brother Sergei should also be excited by the move. The two are very capable of playing among the NHL's best... but the question marks are well documented. Sometimes with these players, hitting their prime is all that is needed. Andrei hits his prime soon, and Sergei is a couple of years away. Very high risk and high reward with both players, but for the short term it should be a safe play.

The move also opens up some room in Montreal for Louis Leblanc to stick full time, and for Lars Eller to get some much-deserved ice time. Bump Eller up a bit on your production expectations.

The Predators score by committee. So the big question is, which winger will see less ice time? Andrei, Sergei, Martin Erat, Patric Hornqvist, Matt Halischuk, Gabriel Bourque... I think you'll probably see Andrei, Sergei, Erat and Hornqvist as the top six wingers. Power-play-wise, this may reduce Craig Smith's time for the short term, but he's a great player with a bright future.

Fantasy Players this helps, in order:

1. Andrei Kostitsyn

2. Eller

Fantasy Players this hurts, in order:

1. Halischuk

2. Smith

Comments (4)

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Rob Myatt said:

	Eller yeah, don't really see this helping Eller as they've tried him on the wing several times now with no success. It might help Gomez if anything since they've been using him on the 3rd and 4th line wing position. Also helps Geoffrion, Pulashaj, as there will be a revolving door out of hamilton for the last 20 games that could include Leblanc as well.
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February 28, 2012
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Fred Poulin said:

	Leblanc Louis Leblanc has just been sent down to the AHL and the Habs have called-up Blake Geoffrion from Hamilton
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February 27, 2012
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Ed said:

	Palushaj Doesn't this also help Palushaj?
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February 27, 2012
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raji said:

	... as a Nashville fan i really like the move,didnt give up alot for a talented guy who should play better alongside his brother
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February 27, 2012
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