MN Hockey News

Updated 7/1/2010 @ 11:42 am

The Minnesota Wild has confirmed the signing of left wing Guillaume Latendresse to a two-year extension worth an estimated $2.5 million per season. The news was first reported by RDS Montreal—Canada’s French version of ESPN—and was picked up by multiple outlets late last night.

The 23-year-old Latendresse was acquired by Minnesota in a Nov. 23 trade with the Montreal Canadiens for Benoit Pouliot in an exchange of under-achieving forwards. The trade has since proven to be, arguably, Wild GM Chuck Fletcher’s shrewdest move to date.

Speaking to Wild.com’s Glen Andresen, Latendresse clearly feels the future is bright in Minnesota, both for him personally and his team.

"I think we have a great team, great young guys," he said. "I think we're one or two players away, and I don't think a lot of teams can say that. That's why I'm so excited and looking forward to next season. I know management wants to do some moves and want to do things that are going to help our team to get better and to raise another level. It's fun to be a part of that, and it shows they want me to be in the core of that group."

Relegated to fourth-line duty with the Canadiens, Latendresse has flourished in Minnesota since becoming unshackled from the intense fan and media scrutiny immediately fastened to every highly-touted French-Canadian player in Montreal. He has capitalized on the dramatic increase in ice time and special teams play Head Coach Todd Richards has afforded him.

Upon his arrival in Minnesota, the 2005 second-round pick of the Canadiens (45^th overall) promptly rediscovered the scoring touch which had mostly eluded him since notching 210 points in 169 games for Drummondville of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In his first 24 games in a Wild sweater, the Saint Catherine, Quebec native registered 19 points (13-6=19) while the team went 16-7-1 over that stretch.

Latendresse’s 27 goals overall led the team and his 25 goals in only 55 games with the Wild were good enough to tie Andrew Brunette for the team lead. In addition, his 40 points overall meant last season was, by far, his best as a pro.

A prototypical power forward, Latendresse was selected in the first round (second overall) of the 2003 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft by the Drummondville Volitgeurs, just one spot behind a somewhat familiar name. . . . Sidney Crosby.

The 6'2", 230 lb. Latendresse will undoubtedly be motivated to spend the next two years building on last season's production to pad his resume` for a possible huge payday down the road.