Here’s an excerpt from the Canadiens.com article by Heather Engel
While watching Lang and Kovalev renew their chemistry thrilled many, putting the duo back together wasn’t part of the original plan.
“Some guys had visa problems, so we had to juggle with some lines before our first pre-season games,” explained Carbonneau. “I was going to play them together at some point during camp. Now, with Lang, we can have three offensive lines.”
Though the trio looked good in practice, Kovalev, Lang and Latendresse will have to wait until Wednesday in Detroit before suiting up for their first game. Tomas Plekanec and the Kostitsyn brothers (Group B), who formed a unit on Saturday, will hit the ice in both of the Canadiens’ first two pre-season matchups, Carbonneau said.
Latendresse’s linemates weren’t the only reason he caught people’s attention; the excellent physical form of the third-year winger had many talking. After working hard this summer at improving his skating and dropping some pounds, Latendresse is happy with the progress he’s made and even drew praise from Habs strength and conditioning coordinator Scott Livingston after the physicals on Friday.
“I want to take control of my career and that’s why I worked so hard this summer,” said the 21-year-old, who couldn’t be happier to have older brother Olivier with him at training camp. “Before, it would take me awhile to recover after a session like this. Now, I come off the ice and I still have lots of energy.”