Montreal Canadiens

Patience required for Latendresse and Pacioretty

The singular story of training camp for the Canadiens, has been the play of 19 year old Max Pacioretty. A first round 2007 draft pick, Pacioretty has attracted the attention of the fans and the media with dominant preseason performances. MaxPac’s game, a hybrid of power and finesse, has cause observers to annoit him a starting roster position, months removed from his US college playing days.Pacioretty’s style of play has media and fans alike, salivating at the prospect of having a true power forward in the Canadiens lineup. The rushed assessment, based on limited information, is similar to the attention and perceptions that were accorded to Guillaume Latendresse, only a couple of years ago. At that time, Latendresse displayed traits of a prototypical power forward:big size at 6 feet 2 inches and 222 pounds, a physical dimension, strong body checks, an imposing unmoveable object down low in the offensive zone, complemented by slick puckhandling abilities and a punishing shot. Two years later, there is a perception that Latendresse career is somewhat in jeopardy, and Pacioretty has become the teams new power forward supernova.

The quick evaluation of Latendresse and Pacioretty should be a cautionary tale of rushing to judgement.Hockey history is littered with examples of players identified as power forwards taking an often ardious pace of evolving and developing to their true potential. Joe Thornton required 4 seasons before he became a point a game player. Todd Bertuzzi required 5 seasons before he became a 20 plus goal scorer. Iginla need 5 seasons to hit the 30 goal mark. In his first two seasons in the league, Latendresse has scored 16 goals in each season, while only averaging 12 minutes of ice time per game, often playing on the clubs third or fourth lines. At 21, it would appear far too premature to jettison Latendresse as the teams potential power forward, based on unfilled expectations that were unrealisitically established based on one outstanding training camp performance. Ironically, elevated expectations are now being placed on the new flavour of the month, 19 year old Pacioretty based on his first training camp experience with the Habs.

Canadiens management may have proved a disservice to Latendresse, by perhaps rushing him to the NHL straight out of junior hockey. Since coming to the NHL, number 84 has not being able to effectively define his game. The intensity and belligerence needed to offset his slow skating ability has been inconsistent. Lats has displayed good playmaking abilities, and a goal scorers touch in close, just not consistently. In part, the inconsistency is due to his age, he is only 21, years away from hitting his prime. At this juncture, Lats seems a little unsure in how to evolve his game. He needs to accentuate his puck retrevial abilities to complement his assets. When he is first in on the puck, he needs to take the player off the puck. Take the right direction in the offensive zone if he is the trailer on the play. At this juncture in his career, his on ice instincts are at times lacking. In that regard he is behind Pacioretty in terms of development. Perhaps an additional year in junior hockey would have aided his evolution as a player.

Thus far, Pacioretty has displayed tremendous assets. Fast, gritty winger with a nose for the net, accomplished on ice vision and instincts. MaxPac has the rare combination of uncommon physical strength blended with quick hands enabling him to execute one timers displaying a heavy probing slapshot. Unlike Latendresse, there is no hesitancy to his game, he reads the developing play extremely well, enabling him to be positionally sound on a consistent basis. Nonetheless, Pacioretty’s talents have been on display during a limited exhibition schedule. At 19, he still requires refining his game. The tempo of a regular season game is far different from meaningless exhibition games, and as such immediate expectations for Pacioretty need to be scaled down somewhat.

The Canadiens have not had a true power forward in their lineup since the departure of John LeClair in the mid 1990’s. On a team that has great skill, but at times lacks a physically punishing forward, it is small wonder that fans and the media are excited about the complementary dimension that Pacioretty could incorporate into the Canadiens. Nonetheless, it would be inappropriate to write off Latendresse prematurely, and rush the development of Pacioretty. Patience is required in both cases. Latendresse took power skating lessons in the off season, and recognizes the need to better utilize his size and strength in terms of establishing position in front of the opposition net. Lats has not had the benefit of having a mentor on the team, a veteran player who has a style of play that he could emulate. On a team defined by speed, quickness and puck possession, Lats attributes of power, physicality and a lack of foot speed, at times seem incongrous with his teammates. Latendresse has to forge his own path, create his own identity, a lot to ask, on a consistent basis for a 21 year old. Number 84 has assets, only 3 players out of 230 selected in Latendresse 2005 draft year have more points than he does. Pacioretty has many intriguing capabilities, but like Latendresse, is still very young, no sense retarding his development with premature expectations. It would appear Habs management recognizes the need for more refinement, and as such MaxPac will start the year in Hamilton, a good place to develop under the tutelage of Don Lever. Expectations based on realisitic time frames could see the Habs with two power forwards in the coming years, patience however is required.