posted by Kyle
Looks like Habs fans will have to find something else to talk about.
Canadiens GM Bob Gainey has shipped the young embattled Guillaume Latendresse to Minnesota for former 1st round pick Benoit Pouliot.
Pouliot has not lived up to his billing so far as the 4th overall pick, but a fresh start could be what he was needing to break out. He was selected 1 spot ahead of Carey Price by Minnesota in 2005. His stats in the NHL so far are not all that impressive, but he’s got the size the Habs have been looking for. Age and size are pretty much a wash in this deal, but Pouliot does not play a big man’s game (nor did Latendresse for the most part!)
You can check out Pouliot’s stats here, but basically it boils down to 65 games played; 9 goals, 9 assists.
My quick analysis is that it’s a fresh start for both players that doesn’t really affect the Habs now one way or the other. It will take some time for Jacques Martin to get him back on track, if at all, but at least we will soon have a new youngster to pick on.
And we’ll all be left wondering what Guillaume Latendresse could have been as a Canadien, if he had been handled properly. He was mismanaged from the very beginning, although he did not do himself any favors by not working hard, and drinking his own kool-aid.
Any thoughts?
Benoit Pouliot coming off an upper-body injury . . . Any information on that?
I was just saying how great it was that the Habs didn't draft Pouliot and bingo… we end up with him anyway…. Ugh.
We'll see what happens. At the very least, he can't be all that much worse than Latendresse, right? (of course now that I've said that, we're in for it).
I agree we have nothing to loose. I know hockey is just a business run by rich owner and unionised players but still I believe there has to be real players out there that play for team success and the fans. Yes we are a hard crowd to please in Montreal but if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Guillaume is a nice guy but he did nothing to help the team win… Furthermore he never showed the fighting spirit it takes when they sent him to the forth line. Come on! A guy your size with your talent… You should have broken your stick on the board at least to show the fans & the coach that you are not gonna take this BS. Maybe now Lapierre will show a little more of what he is capable of now that his buddy is gone. I love French players on our team but I will take real winners first. Find a Chris Nilan or Mario Tremblay young look alike then lets rock & roll boys… Good luck for the rest of the season.
Phil
Pouliot has been out of the Wild lineup with a hand injury. He has only played 14 games this season. Pouliot will meet with Canadiens doctors when he arrives in Montreal on Tuesday afternoon. We may have more information on a return to action date after that.
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