Latendresse looks good to me

chelii chilli · Member

Latendresse looks good to me

Forum Fan · Veteran Member

.. I agree , out of all the rookies he was easily the most dominant , for that matter he was much more visible and effective than most of the vets .....he has a presence ........

Nil d · Guru

I think the guy is noted as having all the tools - offensively, at least - but an attitude that sometimes needs a kick. (Hence his being sat out most of the World Junior tournament.) If the Habs brass can fix that, he should be a start for years to come.

Then again, if they could fix that, they should also do the same for RIbeiro, Kovalev, etc...............

barry33 · Guru

I say they should keep him. The status quo is no longer acceptable and the team needs some new blood (I mean new blood with a PULSE, not Samsonov). The kid hits, skates hard, and to be honest, I would put him on the PP. At least he shows a willingness and ability to go to the front of the net and stay there. Something the habs PP has been sorely lacking.

Nil d · Guru

barry33 wrote:

I would put him on the PP. At least he shows a willingness and ability to go to the front of the net and stay there. Something the habs PP has been sorely lacking.

Habsolutely! I said that a million times last year. WIth Souray blasting howitzers from the point, we need a big nasty guy with offensive skills to jam the crease. Latendresse could be this guy - despite his name!

barry33 · Guru

Nil d wrote:

barry33 wrote:

I would put him on the PP. At least he shows a willingness and ability to go to the front of the net and stay there. Something the habs PP has been sorely lacking.

Habsolutely! I said that a million times last year. WIth Souray blasting howitzers from the point, we need a big nasty guy with offensive skills to jam the crease. Latendresse could be this guy - despite his name!

In all fairness, Koivu shows a willingness to go to the net, that is how he got clipped by Williams in tha playoffs. But he does not have the frame to be standing there taking that punishment.

plouf · Guru

I'm starting to be sold on the Latendresse idea too. So what if he's raw to start out. I don't like that he showed up to camp out of shape, but if he's showing desire and physical play, get him out there! Push those veterans!

AB Habman · Guru

Again, if Latendresse doesn't make the team...I'll eat my shorts.

Muller93 · Guru

Problem is he is standing out because the other chumps are playing with zippo inspiration.

Face it, if riblet/kovalev/samsonov had to "make" the team...they would be sent to junior, not even Hamilton based on performance.

So is latendresse playing well...or just standing out due to the poor play of the rest?

barry33 · Guru

Muller93 wrote:

Problem is he is standing out because the other chumps are playing with zippo inspiration.

Face it, if riblet/kovalev/samsonov had to "make" the team...they would be sent to junior, not even Hamilton based on performance.

So is latendresse playing well...or just standing out due to the poor play of the rest?

It could be a bit of both Mulsey. But irregardless he has shown he belongs on this team. I do NOT BUY the theory that "Samsonov and Kovalev have nothing to prove and it is only pre-season so why should they try" theory. Pre-season is to get the kinks out and to develop some chemistry with your linemates, learn about team systems etc. If Kovalev and Samsonov are only coacting (and they are) then what makes anyone think that in a week, when the games start for real, that they can just all of a sudden tune into each other? I have said it before. PRIDE. PRIDE. PRIDE. Unless Samsonov shows me alot more this season, Gainey has wasted a roster spot on him. Latendresse will make the team meaning that either Kotsysten or Perez will need to clear waivers because you will have too many wingers.

Fatherhab · Senior Member

Muller93 wrote:

Problem is he is standing out because the other chumps are playing with zippo inspiration.

Face it, if riblet/kovalev/samsonov had to "make" the team...they would be sent to junior, not even Hamilton based on performance.

So is latendresse playing well...or just standing out due to the poor play of the rest?

The TENDER has proven in 2 training camps that he deserves the opportunity to play at least the first 10 games in Montreal. Right now he plays with determination, inspiration and a whole lot of heart. If he is not given the chance now and sent back to Junior, then Gainey is sending the wrong message to every kid who ever gets drafted by Montreal. The kid took it in the teeth last season by going back to Jr., and to do it a second time may destroy him. I'll be very disappointed in Gainey if this happens. The kid has done evreything that Carbo has asked of him and needs to be rewarded. The kid makes things happen out there.

barry33 · Guru

Fatherhab wrote:

Muller93 wrote:

Problem is he is standing out because the other chumps are playing with zippo inspiration.

Face it, if riblet/kovalev/samsonov had to "make" the team...they would be sent to junior, not even Hamilton based on performance.

So is latendresse playing well...or just standing out due to the poor play of the rest?

The TENDER has proven in 2 training camps that he deserves the opportunity to play at least the first 10 games in Montreal. Right now he plays with determination, inspiration and a whole lot of heart. If he is not given the chance now and sent back to Junior, then Gainey is sending the wrong message to every kid who ever gets drafted by Montreal. The kid took it in the teeth last season by going back to Jr., and to do it a second time may destroy him. I'll be very disappointed in Gainey if this happens. The kid has done evreything that Carbo has asked of him and needs to be rewarded. The kid makes things happen out there.

AMEN Father..AMEN. Why play the preseason and have a training camp if you are not going to give the kids a chance to make it? I don't care about his motives. He has done everything and more that has been asked of him for the second year in a row. Who WOULDN'T be discouraged being sent down after that? No matter how much character you had, your attitude would have to be affected after that.

wright · Veteran Member

Too bad Latendresse is not a center! At this point he is exactly what the club needs, a winger that plays with a physical component to his game, does not get pushed off the puck easily, and actually displays a consistent work ethic on the ice, something that a number of Hab forwards do not have on a game to game basis. Latendresse would add scoring depth to the team, and could give Carbo the option of creating three forward lines that could contribute offensively, something that Buffalo and Carolina had going for them last season. Additionally, if Kositsyn is outperforming some so called established players he too should at least get a chance to start with the club as well. The Habs have consistently been in the bottom third in team scoring for the last 5 plus years, the team needs improvement in that area, perhaps these guys can contribute.

barry33 · Guru

wright wrote:

Too bad Latendresse is not a center! At this point he is exactly what the club needs, a winger that plays with a physical component to his game, does not get pushed off the puck easily, and actually displays a consistent work ethic on the ice, something that a number of Hab forwards do not have on a game to game basis. Latendresse would add scoring depth to the team, and could give Carbo the option of creating three forward lines that could contribute offensively, something that Buffalo and Carolina had going for them last season. Additionally, if Kositsyn is outperforming some so called established players he too should at least get a chance to start with the club as well. The Habs have consistently been in the bottom third in team scoring for the last 5 plus years, the team needs improvement in that area, perhaps these guys can contribute.

I know we have salary cap issues and contracts etc etc..but what baffles me is how a team that struggled to make the playoffs the last two years can only have one or two openings for newcomers?!? You would think we were the Detroit Red Wingls loaded with talent and dominating the league.

plouf · Guru

I wonder if now isn't the time to switch Higgins to centre. I know there'd be some kinks, but the kid has shown his ability to adapt.

Then we could drop Ribeiro and keep Latendresse and Kostitsyn up.

I know, I know, I'm dreaming.

Anyway, we haven't heard the last of Ribs yet.

Nil d · Guru

plouf wrote:

Anyway, we haven't heard the last of Ribs yet.

I certainly liked what I saw last night in the guy. He was hustling and even mucked it up a couple of times. He seemed to have bulked up too. In uniform, he did not look skinny, even from close up.

And he and Latendresse had chemistry, for what it's worth.

plouf · Guru

Well the good thing is that there are tough choices to make, rather than a bunch of garbage in the system. A lot of the youngsters sound like they are showing up, especially Latendresse and Kostitsyn. And if Ribeiro is playing tougher, that can't be a bad thing.

Habtastic · Guru

Plekanec is a speedy, tough, two-way center with offensive upside... sounds like the kind of guy who would fit well in between the two Ruskies. If it works and Ribs has continued chemistry with Lats (Johnson would give that line speed and D), then we could have 3 solid offensive lines. Bonk, Begin, and Ferland/Murray can check. Downey was kept to be an assistant coach/room leader/insurance policy and I think that is a good role for someone making near league minimum.

As for Perez and Kost... aren't they on two-way contracts? If they are they can be sent down and brought up without using waivers.

Habtastic

Traveling Hab · Veteran Member

Habtastic wrote:

Plekanec is a speedy, tough, two-way center with offensive upside... sounds like the kind of guy who would fit well in between the two Ruskies. If it works and Ribs has continued chemistry with Lats (Johnson would give that line speed and D), then we could have 3 solid offensive lines. Bonk, Begin, and Ferland/Murray can check. Downey was kept to be an assistant coach/room leader/insurance policy and I think that is a good role for someone making near league minimum.

As for Perez and Kost... aren't they on two-way contracts? If they are they can be sent down and brought up without using waivers.

Habtastic

The two-way contracts do not mean they can be sent down without clearing waivers. all it means is that if they do clear waivers, we can pay them less money. Kost can go down without clearing waivers, but only because he has not played enough games in the NHL to be considered an NHL player. Perez has, so if we send him down, someone will almost certainly take him.

barry33 · Guru

Perez will not go on waivers. Gainey will not be that stupid. I still say that Kotsysten will go down to Hamilton and be the first call up should an injury occur. Latendresse will play on the 3rd line plus the PP, getting about 10 -12 quality minutes a game.

chelii chilli · Member

I think Latendresse will even make Ribiero into a better player. At least try him out for 9 games. At this point, there is no reason not to.