powerforward41

Latendresse is key in the future for te Habs. I am not a fan, but even I can see it. Maybe some time in the minors would help, but come on..lets not say that he is useless. Do you expect a young kid, 20 years of age to step right up and know everything. I know there are guys like that, but give him a break. He's come a long way in my opinion..

Æn7ropy

Same could be said about Grabovski and they don't hesitate to sit him out.
If he can't do the job right now he'd be better off in the minors, Hamilton has one of the best staff for forming players. But noooooooo the argument is "well he's the kind of guy who would get discouraged" blah blah blah.

Every year they pressure for a Koivu trade or Kovalev trade, when he's bad let's trade him if he's great let's trade him but dropping Latendresse a single line gets the French media in an uproar and it's really starting to piss me off. It's a multi million business and if you're taking up space for nothing step aside there's plenty who are ready to take your place.

I'm starting to think that maybe he was simply overrated and isn't more then a 3rd liner with good hands (not that he's showing he's got good hands.

Last year was the same story, how long did it take him to get his first goal? 14 games or something? and they had to team him up with habs best when you have players finding ways to score on the 3rd and 4th.

In hockey there's many roles you can take on, Latendresse is fortunate in the way that he's got size and good hands (apparently) so he needs to get it through his head that if he doesn't score he needs to hit and if not he needs to get in passing lanes and in front of shots. Presently he's not doing any of those and he's barely skating. I've had enough patience with him send him down and if he can't handle it maybe he's just not NHL material.

powerforward41

Yes, I understand, but that would be too smart for Montreal to send him to the minors to develop. I just hope they make a desicion sooon, before its too late in the developing stages. Hes designated as a scorer. A big guy, that can score, that is why the Habs drafted the winger. But Latendresse isnt the only problem on the Habs...look at Ryder. Whats he doing? And he is "first line talent" that hasnt cashed in many points this year... Chipchura needs more ice-time aswell, he deserves it.

Æn7ropy

Fully agree with the double post lol

I think Chipchura is a nice surprise, I didn't think he'd be this useful on the ice. Ryder I agree he needs to stop thinking about his contract and just play, at least he's had good past season. Latendresse is designed to play in front of the net but he plays at the corners, his size was meant so he can win the slot space against the D but I see Koivu win that space more often. Win the space get the pass or rebound past the goal tender with a quick deke or wrister and he'll finish the season with over 20 goals.

powerforward41

Haha im sorry about that. But overall, the best desicion i think would be to give Chipchura/Grabovski the ice-time and develop Latendresse in the minors. Chipchura is obviously ready to take his game to the next step. And Latendresse needs to know that his ice-time can be taken away if he doesnt perform, but I still say wait, he is useful for the right kind of role, and he WILL be.
As for Grabovski...awesome prospect, but Carbonneau just wasnt giving him the ice-time when he was in the line-up :(

Æn7ropy

Fully agree, I think his problem (Latendresse) is that he's timid (not to say scared) about facing the opposition, I'm sure he will more against Buffalo next game if Peters isn't on the ice (yes last game against them he hammered peters but ran away the rest of the game) tonight though with all the big Islanders (Simon, Sutton, Witt) while the rest of the team played through the grit Latendresse was no where to be seen, at one point koivu passed in front of the net (where he was supposed to be) but he was also behind the net and no where near the slot.

Maybe some boxing lessons would be good I dunno but the minors would be good, at least it'd leave the spot for someone else

CrAcK_N_CoKe

Latendresse is too slow to play in the NHL.
He seriously need to improve his game with the bull dogs.

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Æn7ropy

I have a problem with that notion that you need to be lightning quick in the NHL, a lot of good players fund a niche in the NHL and are far from the fastest play while you have quickies like Samsenov are a complete disaster.

I think it's more important for a player to just have a good vision of the play, knowing where to be and when, something Latendress could better learn in the AHL with Hamilton, they have a great staff and good AHL veterans all while being free of the media pressure.

Also maybe could learn to row some balls too..

CrAcK_N_CoKe

i dont mind having a slowplayer with great vision or passing abilities or hitting abilities who brings energy to the team , but this is not what i see every game when i look at Latendresse.and im a quebecois...im suppose to like him , still , i think he should go in hamilton.

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Æn7ropy

That's exactly how I feel and I think giving him continuous chances before (lets face it) he's a young french canadian only ends up hurting him and the team (especially with the 4 line system where you need every player to fill his spot)