“I don't want to play here!” says NHL pest

A lot can happen after a trade...

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
“I don't want to play here!” says NHL pest
KeyStone Press

A lot can happen after a trade in the National Hockey League. The player's career can get better, more time on the ice, more points - or it can get worse... It's the case for forward Nicolas Deslauriers, who was traded from the Buffalo Sabres to the Montreal Canadiens at the start of the 2017-18 season. 

Deslauriers, who took part in 42 games last season in Buffalo, was traded to the Habs in exchange for defenseman Zach Redmond earlier this month. Once he made it to Montreal, the NHL pest, who has recorded 186 penalty minutes in 211 NHL games, was sent down to the AHL's Laval Rocket and he is not pleased about it. 

"I don't want to play here," said Deslauriers to the Journal de Montreal. "I respect players in the American Hockey League completely, I was once here. But once you have tasted NHL hockey, you don't want to come back to the AHL."

"I would like the Canadiens to call me up in 10 minutes, but I have to be patient. At the same time, it is a good test mentally. I have to be mature and act like a professional."

The Habs could be looking for a change to spark things up on the offensive front. Deslauriers will be ready to answer the call. 

"If I get a chance, they will have trouble sending me back down here!"