Latendresse was not even identified by name

Kostitsyn is a pure offensive threat.He has the best shot on the team, employs his speed, and isn't afraid to go to the front of the net or get involved in heavy traffic.None of those qualities are found in Latendresse's game. Even this year, Kostitsyn has been publicly and loudly dressed down by the head coach in practise.The worst Jacques Martin ever said about Latendresse was an indirect comment about him not being "willing to go to war."Latendresse was not even identified by name. While Latendresse has enjoyed a daily ego boost from the French media, Kostitsyn had to endure vicious and unwarranted attacks.Some media even went so far as to manufacture stories about him and his brother last season.They talked about a scandal so serious that it would shake the foundations of the organization to an unrecoverable point.As we now know, the rumours were false. For Latendresse, the praise was overzealous.In Kostitsyn's case, some of the coverage has been cruel. Let's be frank.Latendresse was a power forward in stature only.He refused to go to the front of the net and did not make effective use of his size.He was slow and was not defensively responsible.

In addition, Latendresse did nothing to earn a spot on the top line.His poor work ethic and negative attitude meant he was not willing to improve his slow foot speed or his level of physical conditioning.Despite ongoing requests from team management, Latendresse participated in only a token amount of power skating instruction. One wonders if Latendresse's replacement, Benoit Pouliot, is prepared for the media attention that is waiting for him. After learning of the trade, Pouliot said, "I do not come very far from Montreal. In my corner, when you're young, you look at the Canadiens games My family and friends should be happy for me right now I have never been traded in my career. It's going to be new, exciting." The French media has not wasted any time in attacking Pouliot even before his plane has landed in the city.

Already, we have heard comments from Norman Flynn, who said, "Until now, Pouliot is a bigger flop than Latendresse. If the transaction is not working for the Canadiens, it will be easier to get rid of Pouliot than Latendresse." Flynn is assuming that Pouliot will be a failure in Montreal and is looking ahead to the day he is dealt again. Gaston Therrien said, "Personally, I do not think Benoit Pouliot is the ideal player for the Canadiens." Perhaps that should be an indication of how little value there was for Latendresse outside the studios of RDS Other media comments were blunter. "We lost one and didn't gain one.""Pouliot is not a real Quebecker.