Alright, is it me or are we actually underrating him? We saw him play 80 games in the NHL, and we all know his style of play: he is a power forward. He'll skate hard to the corners to make a big hit, will crash the net looking for rebounds, will stand in the crease to tip in pucks, and dominated at times in the offensive zone with his size and strenght. Now, having a 19-years old power forward play a significant role on our team (I think we can safely say Gui was at least a 3rd liner last year) is pretty surprising, considering how the general consensus around here is that it takes power forwards a couple of years to developp their games.
Latendresse had 16-13-29 in his first NHL season, at 19 years of age. Bertuzzi had 39 pts at 21 years old, and it then took him 5 years to beat that total. Getzlaf had 39 pts in 57 games, as a 21 years old. Iginla had 50 pts in his rookie year as a 20 years old, and 32 the following year. Brendan Morrow 33 pts at 20 years old.
Those are only a couple of exemples that shows Latendresse isn't too far behind, in terms of developpement, from most power forwards that are dominating the NHL nowaways.
A guy like Blake Wheeler had been doomed a project when he was drafted at 5th overall by the Yotes, yet it has been a couple of years now and no trace of him near the NHL, even though reports are saying he's been improving every year. Latendresse, IMO, is in a class by himself. He can literally do it all, he is a versatile power forward, or what I like to call 'new-era power forwards'. Latendresse, if he gets faster (and he will), and when he understands the defensive game a little better, will be one of our most complete players. We saw how he can make moves to deke defenders, how he can be a very nice playmaker, we all saw his wrist shots, and of course, the hitting and the board play.
Guillaume Latendresse is a Québécois to top it all off. He's only going to get better, and next year I'm sure he'll get to the 20 goal plateau. I can even see him put up more than 40 points. He's only going to get better. Folks, we've got our power forward!
Lats has to lose some fat and he has to work on his skating. His numbers were impressive for a 19 year old but he doesn't seem to have a mean streak like most great power forwards.
I'm still happy with his progression though thus far. A lot of hockey people said it was a mistake not returning him back to Junior but there is no doubt now that Habs brass made the right call. Having said that, I still don't think a stint in the AHL (now that he's eligible) would be the worst thing in the world for him. We'll see what he looks like this Fall.
He definitely needs to improve his conditioning, and I think he will. He's got great hands and can already throw the body very well for a kid his age, if he can improve his skating and lose some weight (without losing any of his muscle), he'll be a real terror for a long time I reckon.
I think that Latendresse will show his real value next year : a bust. He is totally slow, had a pretty good (id almost say lucky) first year but was not there when it was important, is always lost in defensive zone and we got some prospect with much more skills in Hamilton.
And dont come up saying "oh but hes so strong".. the check hes giving are always crappy as any un biaised fan would admit.
The best thing would be that we trade him while he has some good value IMO.
I'm quite sure the Habs have a drawn a very good training program for him this summer. They will, i think, submit him to Power Skating sessions but most of the training will be to change the flab into real muscle.
Let him play at 225 lbs, but a muscular 225! This will make him an even bigger treath! And he was a decent skater i think, not the slowest skater in the league at all.
As for a 'mean streak'... well he did display he had one in the Juniors but it will show more and more as he gets more confident and gets to be his own man, not fearing penalties.
I think that Latendresse will show his real value next year : a bust. He is totally slow, had a pretty good (id almost say lucky) first year but was not there when it was important, is always lost in defensive zone and we got some prospect with much more skills in Hamilton.
And dont come up saying "oh but hes so strong".. the check hes giving are always crappy as any un biaised fan would admit.
The best thing would be that we trade him while he has some good value IMO.
Jesus Christ a bust at 19 years old "crappy checks" I hate HF boards why did I even read this post I'm going to pour bleach down my throat brb
he's gonna be good, theres no doubt about it....but we need to be patient before he becomes a dominant scorer....I say he plays like a 13-23 goal scorer for a good 4 years, then breaks out and becomes a dominant 30 goal power forward.....Which would be great!....A top line guy...similar to a Holmstrom or a fine wine....better with age
I think that Latendresse will show his real value next year : a bust. He is totally slow, had a pretty good (id almost say lucky) first year but was not there when it was important, is always lost in defensive zone and we got some prospect with much more skills in Hamilton.
And dont come up saying "oh but hes so strong".. the check hes giving are always crappy as any un biaised fan would admit.
The best thing would be that we trade him while he has some good value IMO.
Yeah... Lats is no good: a has-been at 19! Let dump him and have him come to MTL for years and kill us with his goals...lucky goals i'm sure cause he's no good...
Lats is overrated imo. But that doesn't mean he won't reach his ceiling. He has lots of time and room to develop, and has to work on a lot of things like his skating. The original poster said he drives the net... I dunno what games he saw, but Gui played a lot of perimeter in the 2nd half of the season and didn't "drive" the net like a power forward does. He doesn't use his size like he should. Sure he throws a hit here and there, but it's not the kind of hit that will open up space for his linemates.
A pal of mine has a kid who will be 20 soon... the kid, he's still deciding where he will go study and dreads the day he'll be without his family...he's just 19 yrs old.
I held that kid in my arms when he was 4 days old, he calls me 'Uncle' too...
Latendresse is still 19 years old guys: lets put things in perspective here and realise the potential that might be in a player who is still a teenage kid that is asked by the public to become the next 'Quebecer Star'!!
He seems very solid between the ears: he will develop into great player i'm sure one day!
stop being so damn biased. How many bone crushing hits did Lats do this year?
Most of his hits were little tiny ones against a defenseman behind the net after the d-man past the puck (not to mention it takes Gui like 10 seconds to skate to the d-man)
He has the potential to be a force. He needs to lose some of his fat and work on his skating.
He didn't impress me at all this year with his "physical" play. Hopefully that'll change starting next season.
Lats hits hard, i don't know why you're saying he doesn't.
Losing his baby fat will come over time, the guy is 19 yrs old, he's a kid. Kids don't grow up into ice cubes overnight, it takes time and a lot of work.
Same thing with his mean streak. This kid is playing vs men. He will be more comfortable next year in the league and I guarantee you he will become more aggressive. Notice how he dropped the gloves at the end of the season.. he wouldn't have done that a year ago.
Lats is a smart kid, he knows exactly what he needs to improve on, and he will do it because he's a hard worker and dedicated to his game.
stop being so damn biased. How many bone crushing hits did Lats do this year?
Most of his hits were little tiny ones against a defenseman behind the net after the d-man past the puck (not to mention it takes Gui like 10 seconds to skate to the d-man)
He's 19 years old.
And he still hits better and harder than every other forward on our team.
I was happy with his contribution as a 19 year old. Only time will tell what his potential will be... Hopefully he will be a part of Montreal's next Stanley Cup winning team
stop being so damn biased. How many bone crushing hits did Lats do this year?
Most of his hits were little tiny ones against a defenseman behind the net after the d-man past the puck (not to mention it takes Gui like 10 seconds to skate to the d-man)
He has the potential to be a force. He needs to lose some of his fat and work on his skating.
He didn't impress me at all this year with his "physical" play. Hopefully that'll change starting next season.
Holy crap, and people wonder why french canadian dont wanna play in montréal.
I was happy with his contribution as a 19 year old. Only time will tell what his potential will be... Hopefully he will be a part of Montreal's next Stanley Cup winning team
Its too hard to rate gui one way or the other due to his tender age and his hulking size.
But the fact of the matter is that if you would tell me that he would get 30 points this season while averaging 10-13 minutes per game... I'd take it
Personally, I expected 35 points at the very maximum this season from gui so I dont really have much to complain about. Lets just hope that the progression continues.
people calling him bust at 19 years are funny !
Latendresse has the skillset to be a elite player in the league. But he will have to work very hard to reach it!
His hits are heavy and bother the defenseman quite a lot if you didnt notice this you should start watching star academie instead of hockey. Could he becomes a better hitter, sure, give him more speed and better conditioning and he will make the defenseman pay to get the puck in the corners. He has the potential to be a 1st line power forward and the downside of a 4th liner right now. Last year he showed glipse of elite skills and other times looked like a rookie. The key with him is patience !!! so please never ever call a 19 years old bust again this is a disgrace to hockey in general.
To be honest I didn't see him playing as much of a power forward. If anything I think he has more potential as a finesse forward. He has great hands and decent creativity. I was unimpressed by his mean streak and physical game. He could be much better but I guess time will tell. From what I heard he never was much of a physical power forward type in juniors.
To be honest I didn't see him playing as much of a power forward. If anything I think he has more potential as a finesse forward. He has great hands and decent creativity. I was unimpressed by his mean streak and physical game. He could be much better but I guess time will tell. From what I heard he never was much of a physical power forward type in juniors.
