Comments on: Two Words: SCRATCH LATENDRESSE

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:59:39 +0000

kostitsyn is a top 10 first round pick. management has to give him some ice time on the top lines. at this point, the most talented forwards on the team are kovalev, koivu, higgins and plekanec. ryder, kostitsyn and latendresse are the next level. only two of the three can make the top lines. if that is ryder he will be traded or not resigned. if it is kostitsyn or latendresse, they will get time on the third/fourth lines until they mature and take kovalev's spot in 09. grabovski and lapierre will not get a chance at the top two lines.

By: Flobomb

Flobomb — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:48:31 +0000

agreed, and in my mind until montreal brings someone else in that is more proven to take a top 2 line spot, Latendresse needs to be in the top 6. Kots and Grabs are not in that category

By: habsrock99

habsrock99 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 16:09:07 +0000

Latendresse has not played with Kovalev or played on the PP all year. He has recently gotten those opputunities. Kostitsyn started the year on the 3rd line with Latendresse and Plekanec, yes, but Kostitsyn has also played with Kovalev more then Latendresse has. When Plekanec relieved Grabovski as the #2 centre, Kostitsyn went with him. No, Kostitsyn doesn't take stupid penalties but he is also a ghost most of the night. I'm not bashing Kostitsyn, I like him, I hope he proves me wrong and he can score consistently in the NHL. Grabovski is probably the most talented of the 3 but has yet to score on a regular basis. Does he deserve 2nd line time, probably, but only because of his skill.

Now, also notice how I said Latendresse ISN'T a defensive forward, well, he's been playing with 2 defensive forwards in Smolinski and Dandeneault/Chipchura most nights. Notice How I also said that when a player ISN'T in his element, he struggles. Latendresse is there to score, not play 3rd line minutes against opposing #1 lines.

Also, you bring up that Smolinski and Dandeneault have 2 and 3 goals respectively, well, one of Smolinski's goals came at the tail end of a PP after a freak bounce after Hamrlik took a point shot. I also believe Dandeneault has 2 Empty Net goals. If not, he has 1.

If Latendresse plays normal Top 6 line minutes, he will score a lot. He thrived when playing with Koivu last year and so far, has played mostly on the 3rd and 4th lines. He hasn't played on the 2nd line nearly every game, he's played on the 3rd line most nights and has been demoted to play with Begin on the 4th line.

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:56:33 +0000

They hated lafleur for his first three seasons when dionne was outscoring him. Latendresse was a third round pick and is still young. He will take a while to develop and if he doesn't, Montreal has other prospects. There is no reason to trade him.

By: Flobomb

Flobomb — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:44:38 +0000

Its about time someone said this on here. I read these posts almost everyday and cannot understand where some of the reason comes from. Prior to the last two seasons every post had Latendresse as the next big thing for Montreal and now people want him shipped back down to Hamiltion, or in some cases traded? You have to be kidding me, now i will be the first to admit that he is not playing near to the level he could be but anyone who as ever played hockey at any deacent level knows that if you are used to be in scoring role, playing on the bottom two lines does nothing for you. Latendresse started this year playing with checkers so that Garbovski and Kostitsyn could play second line and PP time with Kovalev, that shocked me and made no sense. Of course Latendresse did nothing playing in that capacity, and why? So we could see the amazing points totals that Grabs and Kots put up. This guy is right, Latendresse needs to play with talented playmakers who can get him the puck, he showed last year as a 19 year old that when given the chance on a top line that he can score at this level. If he had played more last season on the top lines he would have hit 20+ goals as a rookie and can still be a 30+ goal man for this team. I dont know where anyone finds the backing to say that Kotstitsyn can cut it as a consistant scoring threat at this level nevermind be put above Latendresse, even if we take stats alone Lats wins and that says nothing for Kots. He has been given the same chance as Latendresse and has done even less with it. If anyone should be packaged and shipped out it should be him or grabs, (i know the rangers are always looking for a dead end euro to filter out of their system). They trade Lats for anything less then a package that brings a true star to the team, it would be a huge mistake for a team that lacks anything aside from ryder that has shown the ability to score goals at a consistant rate year after year(not counting this year of course, but given the chance he will turn it around). If you are looking for a young guy who has been playing well and deserves a chance, give it to chipchura and maybe he surprises you people and shows that he has more offensive upside then people think. Even if he doesnt score more points then he is now on the checking line, he is still on pace with Kostitsyn.

By: Flobomb

Flobomb — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 15:36:22 +0000

By: MtlHabs09

MtlHabs09 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 13:00:23 +0000

Koivu and Kovalev both asked to be split up because they felt they were not clicking.

By: MtlHabs09

MtlHabs09 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:57:25 +0000

One game is a start, but in my mind he needs to score to maintain his spot, and he has not done so. He can say he will try harder, but I want to see him do it.

By: MtlHabs09

MtlHabs09 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:57:24 +0000

One game is a start, but in my mind he needs to score to maintain his spot, and he has not done so. He can say he will try harder, but I want to see him do it.

By: MtlHabs09

MtlHabs09 — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 12:55:29 +0000

Notice I said bring in Lapierre/Kostitsyn/START Grabovski (who deserves a chance instead of sitting in theluxury box watching) for 1 game, and then MAYBE 3-5...
Montreal doesn't just need a "BIG, STRONG, POWER FORWARD", they need a "BIG, STRONG, POWER FORWARD" who can score, and Latendresse's 2 goals and 2 assists really don't fit that criteria. So if Latendresse isn't a defensive forward and he has 2 goals after playing on the second line and the powerplay for almost every game this year, what the hell is he? An offensive forward who doesn't score??????????
He's started on the 3rd or 4th line twice this season, and been demoted several times in game, so it really isn't an excuse for him. And I notice that guys like Smokes and Dandelion both have 2 goals so far after playing on the 3rd or 4th line all year.
And with you trying to bash Kostisyn you're doing exactly what I said the French media would do, throw somebody else under the bus so Latendresse looks good. Kostisyn has played in 3 fewer games, has played with Kovi two or three times tops, gets no powerplay time, has a plus 2 rating, has taken no lazy penalties, and is usually on the 3rd line, where he belongs.
Now you're trying to say that a guy who's been on the powerplay all year, and played on the 2nd line with arguably one of the most talented players in the league should have only 1 point more than a 3rd/4th liner?????????????