Comments on: What MTL looks like Going into season now

By: habsrock99

habsrock99 — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 09:22:25 +0000

What is up with everyone putting Latendresse on the 4th line? He was their last year and because of the minimal talent and ice time he had to work with, he didn't score. Now, when he moved to Koivu's line when Higgins went down, what'd he do? Scored in his first game with Koivu. I'd guess that Koivu assisted on at least 12 of Latendresse's 16 goals last year. Latendresse is Montreal's brightest player outside of Carey Price. He was 19 and made the team. He's the power forward Montreal has lacked for almost 2 decades. Begin, Kostopoulos and Lapierre will be the 4th line because all 3 are yappy lil bastards who have sum talent. Lapierre isn't as talented as everyone thinks he is because if he was, he would have seen time up on the top 2 lines when Kovalev was demoted to the 3rd and 4th lines last year. People always say that Montreal lacks size in their line up yet we have Latendresse who is 6'2" and 229 pounds, almost the size as Komisarek. And he's a lot quicker than people give him credit for. Hell, he almost made the team as an 18 year old in his first training camp.

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 08:11:50 +0000

totally agree. btw, that year, roenick's linemates were goulet and larmer and it helped him blossom into a 40 goal scorer.

By: habsgod

habsgod — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 01:13:45 +0000

guys!,guys!, guys! my fellow habs fan! you guys have to stop putting kovalev on the fourth line come on guys cut him some slack! yeah he pissed me off at times last season just like he did to you guys too! but let's get real here guys! this guy is the most skiiled and best player on this team by a mile! not even close!there isn't one player on this team that could tape this guys stick! in terms of talent! i know he doesn't bring it eveynight!but when does their isn't a more dominate player in the game period! this is how i see the lines on opening night,(1st line) higgins, koivu, ryder(2nd line)lattendresse, plekanec , kovalev (3rd line)begin,smoliski, kositsyn,(4tth line) kostopoulos,lapierre grabovski. with carbo mixing and matching between the 3rd and 4th lines! as for defence this is how i see it! komisarek, markov, hamrlik, bouillion, streit,dandeneault o'byrne, gorges, valventenko as depth! i didn't put brisebois in mine until he officially signs! i think huet and price will be the goaltending tandem with huet starting and price taking over mid season i think halak will be dealt along the picks or prospects to add a top 4 defence man as our top 3 are as good as any body (i love the hamrlik signing) big time upgrade over sheldon-skate -by-me- souray1hamrlik will do for markov what he did for phaneuf in calgary finaaly markov will be an elite defenceman (he was close) then you'll see ryder dealt because gainey isn't going to get duped by a player saying that he will sign and then won't and when ryder is dealt it'll be a deal that will benefit us big time! ryder will go for a first r.d. pick and a player with either grabovsky or kostitsyn taking ryder's spot a gradual promontion for one of these guys!i hope it's grabs he reminds me of datsyuk same talent and skill level!

By: Avim86

Avim86 — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 23:55:06 +0000

I find that Latendresse-Lapierre reminds me alot of vinny lecavalier and st-louis but less talented and less dynamic…but I still see similarities!

By: ferron

ferron — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 21:58:14 +0000

I think that Koivu's line will be the first line come openning day but Plekanec's line will finish the season as the first line and I also think that Latendresse wouldn't play well on the checking line.

Higgins-Plekanec-Kostitsyn
Lahti-Koivu-Ryder
Kostopoulos-Smolinski-Lapierre
Latend-Grabov-Kovalev xtras=Chipchura,Begin,Murray,Locke,Ferland

Markov-Komi
Hamr-Streit
Bouillon-Gorges/Dandenault/O'Byrne and hopefully not Brisebois

Huet-Halak/Price/Danis?

By: habsrock99

habsrock99 — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 18:52:04 +0000

Latendresse is Montreal's missing link between scoring and physicality. Putting him on the 3rd line would be like putting Jeremy Roenick on the 3rd line in his 2nd season. Montreal has lacked a power forward for way too long. And now that they have a power forward "prospect", everyone wants him on the 3rd line, where he'll just end up like Begin. Lapierre has limited talent and the only real reason he playing on Montreal is because of his heart, grit and determination as well as his ever improving face off ability.

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:13:32 +0000

i think koivu's line needs that physical play more than smolinski's. latendresse's hitting, fun as it is to watch left him out of position too often. that's why i worry about him on the third line.

he's still just a kid and could easily overcome those issues. but i think his upside is greater on offense and he would benefit more from koivu's offense than smolinski's defense.

also, montreal has a plethora of rookies who could play third line and are thin on the offensive lines with really only koivu, higgins and possibly plekanec as proven long term options. kovalev and possibly ryder will be gone next year. habs have more room for latendresse to develop one th first or second line than the third line.

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:08:11 +0000

very reasonable. but i expect latendresse to play on the second or fourth line. defense may miss rivet's minutes.

By: Dre21

Dre21 — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:33:34 +0000

i think latendresse would thrive on a 3rd line with smolinski and lapierre… botht those guys are very responsible defensively, and latendresse could bring some physical play to that line and little more offensive punch… y'know, throw his body around like he did last year… i think it'll open up even more oportunities offensively for him…we'll see come october what carbo decides…

By: habsoverserver

habsoverserver — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:19:32 +0000

ryder scored around 12 even strength goals last year, he doesn't need koivu to reach that level. ryder needs a great powerplay qb to maintain his 18 pp goal pace.

kovalev earns too much money and is far too skilled to stay on the fourth line.

latendresse would be brutal on a defensive line, the third line is the worst possible place for him.

kostopolous just signed a deal with the Habs. he should make the team.

a hall of fame 500 goal scoring cup winner like selanne isn't coming out of possbile retirement to play the off wing for a team that didn't make the playoffs.

gainey may have replaced souray, but he still hasn't replaced rivet. while i am potentially willing to give brisebois the benefit of the doubt, he certainly isn't as stready as rivet.

this team has the potential to improve through trade or promotion of minor leaguers. i think the roster has a lot of flexibility.