The Steve Bégin Deal and the NHL Trade Deadline: Bob Gainey Speaks

Montreal Canadiens General Manager, Bob Gainey, held a teleconference this evening and addressed a variety of topics on his team's most recent trade, current status, and a hint of what he may be looking for before March 4.

On today's trade that saw forward Steve Bégin go to the Dallas Stars, Gainey addressed the fact that Bégin had not been a regular player recently and earlier in the season. 

He then went on to note that Bégin did not demand a trade, but in a mature way, gave Gainey a message that if he could find a place with better possibilities for him to play regularly, that he consider it.

As the NHL Trade Deadline quickly approaches, Gainey stated that he is still active with other GMs, although, the phone lines are no longer the main methods of communication in the 30-team league.

"A certain amount of dialogue is now done by email," said Gainey.

"We have goaltenders there that fill our needs right now," indicating Gainey has no intention to move either Carey Price or Jaroslav Halak.

He is confident with the defensive core, but also hopes that the newly acquired Doug Janik will clear waivers to give the Canadiens the support at defense, if injury occurs.

"There's some gamble, some risk there," he said.

Gainey also noted that he would be interested in a depth center to support the four—Plekanec, Koivu, Chipchura and Lapierrre—the Canadiens currently have.

"That would be a place that if we come across a player like that in the next few days, we would be looking to add."

Gainey was finally asked about defenseman Mike Komisarek, and whether or not losing key defensemen to free agency previously would affect his decision on what to do with the blue-liner before the deadline.

He replied to that with one word: "No."