Habs Players In Trouble With The Law

As per the Tampa Tribune, Montreal Canadiens defensemen Ryan O'Byrne and forward Tom Kostopoulos were arrested outside of Tampa club "Whiskey Park" early Monday morning at around 3 a.m.

O'Byrne is accused of stealing a women's purse, while Kostopoulos is accused of resisting an officer.

The incident began when a woman notified the bar's security officers that her purse was missing. The security officers noticed O'Byrne holding the purse and the women's cellphone outside the bar.

According to the report, O'Byrne told the officers that the purse belonged to his girlfriend, but police determined it belonged to the woman.

"Several associates, who were identified as National Hockey League players/members, crowded around the officers and police car," the police report states. "They were told numerous times to get away from the police car and not to interfere."

O'Byrne was charged with grand theft and Kostopoulos was charged with resisting the officers.

O'Byrne's bail was set at $2,000 and Kostopoulos' was set at $500 - both have been released.

The Canadiens are scheduled to play the Tampa Bay Lightning Tuesday night. Who wants to bet that these tough guys don't see much playing time. I mean honestly O'Byrne, stealing a woman's purse? Aren't puck bunnies supposed to harass the hockey players and not the other way around?

Story Update: The Montreal Canadiens will not discipline O'Byrne or Kostopoulos for the incident.

General manager Bob Gainey told Cyberpresse on Monday, "Our players were involved in a regrettable incident. They will have to answer to the accusations against them, but on our side we are moving forward. I met the players implicated, along with Guy Carbonneau. For now, this is in the hands of the justice system and we will let them do their job. As for the team, we don't want to reduce the severity of these charges, but we want our players to concentrate on hockey now."