Is Guillaume Latendresse Ready To Go Wild in Minnesota?

In 2009, the Minnesota Wild were supposed to improve offensively, but things didn't improve much.  Looking ahead to the upcoming season, it appears they will once again toil in mediocrity.  However, Guillaume Latendresse might provide the kind of offensive spark they have been searching for.

He has a great combination of size and skill and is equally adept at scoring and passing.   It also doesn't hurt that he knows how to throw his body around. So why has it taken so long for him to establish himself as a bona-fide NHL talent?  

His critics point to his skating ability and commitment to the game. There are also some who say he can't be relied upon defensively.   

Nevertheless, Latendresse is a legitimate scoring winger with size, and will be a force to be reckoned with in 2010.

Drafted in the second round in 2005 by the Montreal Canadiens, he was supposed to be the hometown hero that the city has been clamoring for.   When he made his debut in the 2006 season, the organization was excited that a kid his age could come into the league and make an immediate impression.  

Sending him back to junior at 18 was an option, but his confidence was already sky high and the club decided to keep him in the NHL so he could work on his weaknesses. 

When teamed with Saku Koivu, he showed flashes of what he could become: A dominating scoring winger.  At 6'2", 230 pounds, he had all the attributes to become a star in Montreal.

Yet, this never materialized for the Quebec native.  Over the next few years he spun his wheels under new coaches and never developed the kind of chemistry with linemates needed to breakout.

His ice time was limited and he was never counted on to score consistently. Coaches rarely trusted him with top line minutes and they eventually shipped him out of town.

So much for the storybook ending.

At the young age of 23, Latendresse already seems like a seasoned vet.  He has four full seasons under his belt and once he put on the new digs, he reminded everybody just how good he could be.

Last year this youngster scored an impressive 25 goals in 55 games for the Minnesota Wild and serves as an early indicator of what to expect from him this year.  He finished the year plus one for the Wild proving that he is no longer a defensive liability on the ice.  

Despite his rugged playing style, he was only sent to the sin-bin six times for 12 penalty minutes.  His shooting percentage bordered on a sky-high 20 percent as the Wild coaching staff gave him the most ice-time he's seen in his whole career.

With seven goals on the PP, Latendresse has demonstrated that he is capable of producing in a scoring role and this season he will be counted on to help the Wild reach the playoffs once again.

The only thing that people should be cautious about is not spreading the word to Montreal Canadiens fans. This situation has all the hallmarks of another John Leclair situation.  

And for Latendresse, that ending will suit him just fine.