Rocket:
As many of you do, I play fantasy hockey. I was really disappointed to see a negative advisory posted regarding Guillaume Latendresse this morning. Here it is:
Cyberpresse.ca reports that Canadiens RW Guillaume Latendresse is not happy with being a healthy scratch lately. “It is not a situation I was expecting, but I have no choice; I have to live with it,” said the 21-year-old. “I really don’t know what more (coach Guy Carbonneau) wants. It came as a surprise, I really didn’t understand 100 percent. He may be expecting me to bring more to the offense. I must just carry on and try, despite my lack of confidence.”
It is a translated passage taken from an article in La Presse written by Marc Antoine Godin. (Perhaps BB will have more on it later.) My disappointment is that elements of the poor attitude and sense of entitlement (explained in a previous article) are appearing again from Gui.
How in the world can Latendresse be surprised? And saying that he doesn’t know what more he can contribute to the team is just plain silly.
So if Gui needs it to be spelled out, so be it. Latendresse has 1 goal in his last 10 games. He has 2 points in his last 15 games. Including last season, Lats has 4 goals in his last 46 regular season games.
Are you sure that you are doing all you can Gui? Because if that is true, maybe you will never live up to the potential that was promised.
At times, Latendresse has played better this season, but it seems that he is only willing to put in a few good shifts at the beginning of the game, and then sits back and listens to the cheers from his adoring fans (wonder if Demers voice can be heard at ice level?) Also, when he does play well for part of a game, he expects to be promoted to the first line.
Latendresse has made a marginal improvement but remains as a slow skater who has difficulty keeping up to his linemates and cannot get back to his zone for defensive responsibilities. Hence, he is not a two-way player. And Gui still has a reluctance to go to the front of the net. (According to Carbonneau, he has spoken to Latendresse about all these things.) Despite his size, Latendresse prefers being a perimeter player.
BB and I both mentioned in the last game review that we hoped that Latendresse was paying attention to the play of Matt D’Agostini. D’Agostini plays aggressive, wins battles for the puck, has good vision on the ice, and goes hard to the front of the net. This is a perfect template for Latendresse to follow but unfortunately, for Gui and the Canadiens, it seems that his attitude may get in the way.
from La Presse:
Latendresse: «Je ne sais pas vraiment ce qu’il veut de plus…»
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/sports/hockey/200812/03/01-807049-latendresse-je-ne-sais-pas-vraiment-ce-quil-veut-de-plus.php
a previous related article:
Latendresse as a Power Forward: Myth or Potential?
http://allhabs.blogspot.com/2008/11/latendresse-as-power-forward-myth-or.html
(Photo credit: Bernard Brault, La Presse)