The only "against" the grain you have there is the Theodore trade and that's if you're referring to 2002 one(doubt it since I don't think E=CH2 was a member back then). Plenty of people wanted him gone in 05, despite decent statistics in 03-04, he was the goaltender who let in the most 5 goal games, the defense was very, very good in front of him, he was average. Arguing for Price, Higgins and Latendresse are and were very fair positions. So is arguing for drafting Q players. I understand your point about working hard and I agree to some extent.
But that's not why I'm asking the question. I'm asking it because I've noticed more than a few times you've made questionnable posts. Just in this thread, there's one about Kostitsyn and another about Perron. And it is important, because you'd understand how Kostitsyn was utilized, why he saw his ice time reduced and why he saw his ice time increase later on. His play improved when put on the fourth line, if he didn't work harder, he worked better and he got the promotion he deserved. So I'm asking again, when was the last complete NHL or Habs game you saw?
go ask him then if you don't think he was a member and a guess he'll tell you that we weren't plenty of people who wanted him out. IF you go back to 05 threads you won't find too many people supporting the Price pick either.
not saying I never made questionable posts but anyway. I don't make the same connections from point A to B as people do. I don't see the time spent on the 4th line as being a cause for his scoring burst. His scoring drought was simply a bad stretch, nothing more, nothing less. I'm fine if people want to give credit to a coach for turning a player around but I don't buy it. Scoring is more random than people make it out to be, that's my only point. Bad stretches happen.
As for the last complete game, a precise answer, I don't know, I miss a few minutes tonight skipping around with the Us-Slovakia game. So did I the game before with Canada's game going on. I guess the precise game that I fully watched without skipping much time would be the game against the Islanders, lucky me, if that changes anything.
I mostly remember the 2007 draft because of the "Why the h.. did Timmins and Gainey pick that McDonagh american kid instead of local sure value Esposito " riot. I bet Mathletic was there too (unfortunately the search forum option does not go that far back so I could not dig for proof).
Let's face it - Latendresse is not as bad a player as he was with us this year. He simply refused to play the way he was asked to, forcing the team into a trade.
In his interview he said that ever since he did not get a contract similar to Brassard, he "knew he was not wanted here". Then he was in a semi-strike, refusing to do what was asked of him. In Minny he started playing his normal way doing all kind of stuff he refused to do here.
I honestly wish him luck and success, the same way I do with all the players that were Habs at some time (Komisarek excepted). But it was his decision not to put an honest effort here - he had tons of chances and he blew them.
not so much for Esposito. Not that I didn't want him. I mean, if it meant picking Esposito would mean picking more QMJHL players then fine you would have got me with it. I still thought up to his recent injury that Esposito was a fine player. I thought he played well for the Juniors in his final season and played great for Canada and showed he could play a 3rd line role to start his career in the NHL while scoring goals. That said, it's not like McDonagh is turning out like a monster player on defense either. A fine player sure, but still.
Latendresse is doing in Minnesota what he did the years before, he hits and scores goals. He's not asked to play Selke-like defense, simply doing his part. He may have improved in Minny like he could have improved in Montreal had he been given the ice-time needed. He's a young player, it's normal that we'd think he's improved in Minnesota but I don't buy that he couldn't have given this to Montreal this season.
