Havlat requests release for personal reasons
Posted: Fri Nov 13, 2015 12:01 pm
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/hockey/p ... 6853a.html
The Blues have placed forward Martin Havlat on unconditional waivers. According to general manager Doug Armstrong, Havlat asked to leave the team for personal reasons and the request was granted.
A statement from the Blues said Havlat "has asked for privacy at this time and neither he or the Blues will have any further comment on the matter."
Havlat, 34, didn't sign over the summer and joined the Blues just last week, signing a one-year, two-way contract, after going through a 10-day tryout as the team looked for players to fill in their injury depleted forward ranks. He scored the game-winning goal for the Blues in his first game, on Tuesday against New Jersey and played 14 minutes. He played just seven minutes in Thursday's loss to the Rangers.
On Wednesday, Havlat gave no indications that he might want out.
"I still love the game," Havlat said on the offday between the New Jersey and New York games to Jeremy Rutherford of the Post-Dispatch, "so I just want to play hockey and I want to be part of it.
"It's not about money anymore. It's about playing the game and having fun with the group of guys here.
"It's always a little different when you come to a new team, new coach, it takes time, that's for sure. So one game for me right now, there's a still little things I'm I'm trying to get to know. But it's still the same hockey game, it's just hockey."
With Steve Ott having missed the past three games, the Blues at the moment have just 12 healthy forwards on the roster.
Check back for updates later in the day. The Blues are scheduled to be on the ice for practice at noon.