Andrew Ebbett and Guillaume Latendresse: What's the effect?

by nathaneide on Nov 23, 2009 9:49 PM CST in News Comment 15 comments

Paul Chiasson - AP

In the last three days, the Minnesota Wild have added Andrew Ebbett off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks and traded Benoit Pouliot to the Montreal Canadiens for Guillaume Latendresse. These moves are likely seen from the front office as a way to spark a rather anemic offense and to try to provide some change to a team that has been underperforming to the expectations set by the franchise and the fanbase.

We've already looked a bit deeper into Andrew Ebbett, and much has been said about Latendresse's lackluster performance in Montreal, culminating in this passage from Habs Eyes on the Prize

2009-10 was said to be a season in which Latendresse would finally surpass the 20 goal mark, which is still something noteworthy for depth player on teams thought to be playoff bound. After seasons of 16, 16 and 14 goals, much more was expected of the former second round pick.

What effect will adding Ebbett and Latendresse have on the Wild? Where will they fit in the lines? How will this affect the offense, and will they be the type of players to give their all on every shift, work hard in the offensive zone and get back to cover their defensive responsibilities? How will this change the

Ebbett seems to be a second or third line center. He'll likely fit with Cal Clutterbuck and will likely see Latendresse on his other wing. With these two coming in, it's already moved Nathan Smith back to Houston and will probably see Danny Irmen on his way out other, with Robbie Earl joining them if/when Chuck Kobasew, Petr Sykora and Pierre-Marc Bouchard return.

With everyone healthy, lines might look something like this:

Andrew Brunette - Mikko Koivu - Martin Havlat
Owen Nolan - Eric Belanger - Antti Miettinen
Guillaume Latendresse - Andrew Ebbett - Petr Sykora
Cal Clutterbuck - Kyle Brodziak - Chuck Kobasew

So, where does this leave PMB, should he ever return? What about Derek Boogaard? Can you move Robbie Earl back to Houston? Does James Sheppard fit anywhere? Obviously injuries have played a major role this season, but if everyone's healthy, there are simply too many spots, and not enough guys have proven that they are assured a spot in the lineup.

So Wilderness, give me your answers!

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Comments

what a complete mess this team is…

by JeffE on Nov 24, 2009 12:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Isn't it too many guys and not enough spots?

Last year we had a whopping 6 players with 14 goals or more.

Bergeron 14G
Miettinen 15G
Bouchard 16G
Koivu 20G
Brunette 22G
Nolan 25G

So if that’s where we’re starting from, a guy like Latendresse who has scored 14+ goals in previous seasons is sadly still a step up.

Eventually one of these moves has to make something happen, right?

Havlat? Bust.
Sykora? Bust.
Kobasew? Bust.

How is it even possible this team has gotten so much worse?

by SpaethCo on Nov 24, 2009 2:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Whoops, too many guys, not enough of whom have proven they deserve a spot.

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Nov 24, 2009 1:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I am not sure we can gauge Havlat and Kobasew as busts yet. I would say let the season play out.

by Eric B on Nov 24, 2009 1:34 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What are the chances of them getting rid of Boogaard…? He’s not the best hockey player in town, everyone knows that, but it’s still enjoyable to see him out on the ice.

by shleske on Nov 24, 2009 6:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Earl

I’ve loved watching Robbie Earl play and feel he has added a bit of a spark or energy, would hate to see him go back down to Houston.

by Futuregrace on Nov 24, 2009 6:59 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I just don't know.

IS PMB coming back this year? I’m starting to get a bad feeling about that head of his. The former MN Twin 3B Corey Koskie took 2 1/2 years to get over his last concussion.

I have a feeling that if Sykora doesn’t start to produce, when he gets back into the lineup, he’s a candidate for being put on waivers or simply being bought out. It looks like Sheppard will have to see if he can stick as a wing for now.

And hey, I’m thrilled that the Wild were able to get anything for Poolboy.

by Krotz the Wall on Nov 24, 2009 8:39 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Oh...

And I like the idea of letting Latendresse get some time to watch Nolan play the game, the approach and mentality.

by Krotz the Wall on Nov 24, 2009 9:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Buyer vs. Seller

I think the bigger problem currently is that Minnesota is buying up players in a season when we’ll end up being sellers come the Olympic Break. The Wild are dead last in the West. On top of that, teams like Detroit, Vancouver, and Anaheim are still out of the playoff picture (if the playoffs started today). Sure, Pouliot was a serious underproducer, but this whole lineup is. Maybe we should have shopped Havlat around to see if we could have brought back a shooter instead of a passer.

by oni_link_04 on Nov 24, 2009 12:25 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe the sell-off is coming sooner?

Nolan and Bruno will be traded off for prospects and high picks sooner? As forwards get healthy, Fletch might start to sell off his most valuable assets.

Just a guess to add fuel to the fire.

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Nov 24, 2009 1:01 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I actually like this idea

By which I mean, I hate it, but it’s the right move.

Owen Nolan is my favorite member of the Wild, there’s no secret there. However, he and Brunette are the only assets on this team that will find takers at the deadline.

It’s best for the franchise that they get moved. After all, with everything you do, ask yourself …

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Nov 24, 2009 1:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Nolan is my favorite, too, and I really hated when Bruno left the first time. I’ll be very sad to see them go, but it is indeed what is “good for the company.” :(

By the way, did you get the memo about the TPS reports?

Let's Go Wild!

by redheadzeb on Nov 24, 2009 4:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

No

Can you send me another copy of the memo?

Proprietor of Hockey Wilderness - We take Minnesota hockey WAY too seriously.

by nathaneide on Nov 24, 2009 5:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sell-off

Ok, so here’s everyone that will be some sort of free agent at the end of this year…

Unrestricted:
Owen Nolan, Eric Belanger, Petr Sykora, Derek Boogaard, Robbie Earl, Andrew Ebbett, Andy Hilbert, Nathan Smith, Danny Irmen, Kim Johnsson, Marek Zidlicky, Shane Hnidy, John Scott, Jamie Sifers

Restricted:
James Sheppard, Cal Clutterbuck, Guillaume Latendresse, Josh Harding, Anton Khudobin

Looking at the list, the only players that can return the draft picks the Wild need are Nolan, Sykora (if he gets healthy), Johnsson, and Harding. Regardless, my guess is that the Wild defense looks very different next year. Anyone think that Leddy will be able to step up next year?

by oni_link_04 on Nov 25, 2009 11:03 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

looking at the list

I’d try to trade off everyone I can off the unrestricted list except perhaps Robbie Earl. I don’t know enough about Hnidy, Sifers, Zidlicky, Smith, or HIlbert to make an opinion on whether or not they should stay or go but I could see the Wild just dumping everyone and starting over.

As for the restricted list, can they trade these guys? The only one on the list I’d keep is Clutterbuck. He’s my idea of what the “New NHL” enforcer looks like. I like him.

John Scott simply astounds me that he’s in the NHL. He wasn’t very good in college at all. Boogaard is a one trick pony who never would have made the NHL in the first place had he not been such a good fighter. Good news though… Brock Lesnar has made it in MMA. That means we’ll see the Boogaarbrain in the octagon sooner or later. Hey, I might even root for him then.

The Wild have a way to go. They’re not going to be very good for the next few years. However, they WILL start going in the right direction. If you want to know how they’ll progress (according to my amateur prediction), go back to 2 years prior to Crosby’s draft with the Penguins. Watch the progression from then to now. That’s the track Minnesota will follow. Now the Penguins are an elite team again and fun to watch.

As for Leddy: No. He won’t step in next year. This year is lost due to the injury. However, he could make the jump after Minnesota’s season ends in 2011.

by blah blah blah on Nov 26, 2009 1:07 PM CST reply actions 0 recs