After being a healthy scratch from the Montreal Canadiens lineup on Sunday, left winger Sergei Samsonov is apparently ready to pack his bags.
Samsonov's agent, Neil Abbott, relayed his client's frustration to Le Journal de Montreal, pointing out that Samsonov had been playing better since joining a line with Radek Bonk.
In six games since Samsonov was last scratched in mid-January, he has one goal, two assists and is plus-2 while skating on a line with Bonk and right winger Mike Johnson.
Abbott relayed to the Le Journal that, while Samsonov has not produced as expected, he thinks Samsonov is being portrayed as the primary problem with the Canadiens, so the best solution for all would be for a deal before the February 27 trade deadline.
"Being scratched two games in a row, you're getting a clear answer that you're a problem, so maybe it's the best solution for both parties," Samsonov told reporters after a team skate Tuesday morning.
Samsonov was placed on waivers by the Canadiens Tuesday afternoon.
Canadiens coach Guy Carbonneau is taking a practical approach to his lineup. "I look at what players do on the ice. At the time, I felt the players on the ice would help us win more," Carbonneau told CP.
"It's not easy for Sergei or the team and it's not easy for me, either," he added. "You think I like it?
"I'd rather have Sergei in my lineup with 15 goals and playing well. Those are the decisions I'm paid to make. I had to feel that I put 20 guys on the ice that can win."
The paper noted that a rumour from Chicago indicated that the Blackhawks might deal defenceman Adrian Aucoin and centre Bryan Smolinski to the Canadiens in return for Samsonov and defenceman Craig Rivet.
With seven goals and 22 points in 52 games, Samsonov is well on his way to his least productive pro campaign. Aside from the 2002-2003 season, when he played just eight games (and still had 11 points), Samsonov's previous low mark was the 2003-2004 season when he scored 40 points in 58 games.
The 28 year-old Russian winger has one more year remaining on his contract that will pay him $3.525-million next season.
Montreal hosts the Carolina Hurricanes Wednesday.
Information from Le Journal de Montreal and Canadian Press was used in this report.