Underperforming Canadiens forward Sergei Kostitsyn will start his hockey season with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the American Hockey League.
The Habs made the announcement on Sunday before leaving town for a three-day pre-season retreat.
Kostitsyn, 22, was to join the Bulldogs on Monday when they return from Scotland where they held the first part of their training camp.
Kostitsyn is a native of the former Soviet republic of Belarus. He has split time between the Habs and the Bulldogs over the last two seasons.
He has appeared in 108 career NHL games with the Canadiens, scoring 17 goals and 50 points.
Montreal opens the regular season on Thursday night in Toronto. The team still has 28 players in training camp.
Latest disappointment
There are reports that Canadiens Head Coach Jacques Martin wasn't happy with Kostitsyn's work ethic.
It's the latest blow to the young winger, who made headlines off the ice last season.
News reports in February said he and his brother Andrei had regular contact with Pasquale Mangiola, who was later rounded up in a big organized-crime bust.
The brothers were not investigated for any criminal acts.
