Something I need to get out of my system...
Posted 12:02 AM ET | Comments 3
Alright, time to get some frustrations of mine off my mind.
I've been browsing around the Canadiens' facebook groups recently, and I've been noticing people bashing #84.
The arguments about him is that he has not improved in three NHL seasons thus far. Um, last time I checked he was 22 years old, with size and plenty of upside. Give the guy time. Patience seems to be something that my fellow Montrealers lack.
The fact that he is 22 years old and has three seasons under his belt, should not have happened. He was fed to the pack of dogs that we call the "Montreal media" way to early on in his career. He never played a single game in the AHL. If you look at some of the Habs' players who have been acquired by drafting, almost all of them who are affective played at least a full season in the AHL. Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre, Christopher Higgins (yes yes yes, he's no longer on the team I know), Matt D'Agostini, Gregory Stewart, Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak; just to name a few.
Disregarding the fact that he was brought in too early, has he ever gotten the opportunity to produce like the top-6 forward everyone (in the French media) expects him to be? Has he gotten the proper amount of ice time to be able to produce in three full seasons? No, he has not. With the exception of the beginning of last season (due to injuries) Latendresse has been relegated to playing on the third and fourth lines, with minimal power play time. How are you supposed to produce goals and points on a consistent basis like that?
If you put this guy on one of the top two lines and give him consistent power play time, he will be effective. Will he score 30 goals and be a point-a-game player? Probably not, for the time being at least.
And that's my rant for the day.
Cheers.
I've been browsing around the Canadiens' facebook groups recently, and I've been noticing people bashing #84.
The arguments about him is that he has not improved in three NHL seasons thus far. Um, last time I checked he was 22 years old, with size and plenty of upside. Give the guy time. Patience seems to be something that my fellow Montrealers lack.
The fact that he is 22 years old and has three seasons under his belt, should not have happened. He was fed to the pack of dogs that we call the "Montreal media" way to early on in his career. He never played a single game in the AHL. If you look at some of the Habs' players who have been acquired by drafting, almost all of them who are affective played at least a full season in the AHL. Tomas Plekanec, Andrei Kostitsyn, Sergei Kostitsyn, Maxim Lapierre, Christopher Higgins (yes yes yes, he's no longer on the team I know), Matt D'Agostini, Gregory Stewart, Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak; just to name a few.
Disregarding the fact that he was brought in too early, has he ever gotten the opportunity to produce like the top-6 forward everyone (in the French media) expects him to be? Has he gotten the proper amount of ice time to be able to produce in three full seasons? No, he has not. With the exception of the beginning of last season (due to injuries) Latendresse has been relegated to playing on the third and fourth lines, with minimal power play time. How are you supposed to produce goals and points on a consistent basis like that?
If you put this guy on one of the top two lines and give him consistent power play time, he will be effective. Will he score 30 goals and be a point-a-game player? Probably not, for the time being at least.
And that's my rant for the day.
Cheers.
Agreed. Same goes for all of the young players on montreal!
I agree, Latendresse should be given the chance to improve before we all smash him to bits. My only concern with him is his skating .
Yeah... he kinda blows at skating... but even in limited ice time its clear he can play the game at a high level... he seems suited to the third line for the time being and as his game develops (third line minutes nothing to shake at) he can expand his role.