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?