All through the summer of 2005, few individuals during the hockey world was forced to ask the question that him and i pose while in the title of this article: Who does you go for? Benoit Pouliot or Guillaume Latendresse? Over four years later absolutely suit definitely valid and we'll try and aid you with a verdict.Ahead of the '05 draft the Central Scouting Bureau had Pouliot ranked because the #2 overall skater in The states, while Sidney Crosby was #1 and Bobby Ryan was #3. There seemed to be without a doubt in anyone's mind how the skilled forward with great skating ability including a hard shot was likely to be an NHL star. Pouliot was drafted 4th overall by its Minnesota Wild, one spot before Canadiens franchise goaltender Carey Price.That same year, Guillaume Latendresse, the major bodied power forward who was coming off a 43 goal, 83 point QMJHL campaign whereby he played only 51 games, was selected 45th overall - one spot after Colorado Avalanche star center Paul Stastny. The objective with Latendresse was that she would have been a player who needed some development time but could eventually be a second or 3rd line player at the NHL level.Fast-forward to November 23rd, 2009. The Montreal Canadiens traded Latendresse on the Minnestoa Wild in exchange for Pouliot within a deal that many observers filed underneath the term "minor trade". The Canadiens organization was exhausted obtaining the big-bodied Latendresse in store the online, and then the Wild were allegedly equally frustrated with all the once highly touted Pouliot's a shortage of work-ethic and consistency. The trade barely made headlines, and also the commonest thought was the oft clichéd, "maybe a new experience of scenery get this business going".Well, 60 days following the deal that no-one noticed, the change of scenery WAS all of that was had to get both players going. Since joining the Wild, Latendresse has 13 goals (19 points) in 27 games, one simple this has come in the powerplay. Latendresse is going difficult the online world and it has quickly endeared himself to Wild head coach Todd Richards. Lately he's been playing about the line with Kyle Brodziak and Martin Havlat. Meanwhile Pouliot has been doing just the same, scoring 10 goals (11 points) in 15 games to your Canadiens as well as being seeing ample ice-time playing in the 2nd line with set-up man Scott Gomez and Russian enigma Sergei Kostitsyn.And then we ask, so is this all are the real deal? Was obviously a change of scenery all it took to get the two of these skilled guys playing in their potential, helping their NHL clubs, as well as becoming waiver-wire gold for pool owners?Even four-plus years since they were drafted it is probably still too early to understand. You should remember the fact that both players will always be very young - Latendresse is 22 and Pouliot is 23. My belief tends to be that Pouliot often is the more valuable player your can purchase inside of your hockey pool long-term. He's an increased skater than Latendresse which is certainly the harder skilled player.Benoit Pouliot is overall the better skilled player and still carries the possibility being an NHL star. Guillaume Latendresse carries significant offensive skills but will surely have to will continue to drive in to the net consistently - something he refused to carry out in Montreal, and ultimately will finish up as a top-6 power forward long-term.
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