Canadians GM Kent Hughes attempts to clear the air on status of Evgenii Dadonov

With forward Evgeni Dadonov sitting out the last two games and very little being said about why, many began to wonder if the 33-year-old's time with the Montreal Canadiens would be short. Brought in over the summer as a potential trade piece at the deadline, Dadonov has been held pointless in all eight games he's played, and has looked listless at best when on the ice. Many were wondering if Dadonov might end up on waivers in order to bury his salary in the minors or get him off the team completely. However, Habs GM Kent Hughes says that's not the case.

Hughes told TVA Sports that Dadonov is going through a virus that has kept him out of the lineup.

"At no point was he pouting," said reporter Marc-Andre Perreault. "He has a virus, even his son is sick. It's a virus that's been going around. It created the perfect storm, especially once a veteran is scratched from the lineup."

Hughes did say Dadonov's agent called him.

"Friday, Dadonov's agent called Kent Hughes. The two don't know each other," said Perreault. "The agent said 'these aren't the best conditions for Dadonov with the ice time given'. Hughes had no problem with the call, and said he would have done the same as an agent."

There had also been a rumour that Dadonov went straight to Hughes when he learned that he would be a healthy scratch on Saturday. Hughes said the opposite is true.

"On Saturday, Dadonov learned he was not playing against the Blues, and Kent Hughes went to see Dadonov, and not the other way around. They had an honest discussion where they laid the facts on the table," said Perreault.

Once Dadonov is ready to come back, Montreal will have some decisions to make. The team is currently carrying 15 forwards in the lineup, too many for what the team needs. Head coach Martin St. Louis has already said he'd like to trim that to 13.

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