There is a reason why Buffalo and Detroit managed to buildup to
powerhouses from within. Remember that a lot of their key players were
not all that hyped up when first drafted. The recipe is fairly easy:

-Admit that your chances of having a good season with a shot at long
playoff run are slim.
-Get rid of the dead wood, even the one that is still capable of
giving you good hockey.
-Have the young players play the key roles.

I'll take the example Latendresse, but you could do the same pretty
much anyone. Have him play regularly on the first 2 lines. He'll be
out of place on more then one occasion but keep him there regarless.
What kind of player do you think he'll be in 2 years from now ?

With the current recipe, he'll get a shot to replace a struggling
winger every now and them with the pressure of having to perform every
night else he is sent back to a checking role. Of course he won't
perform like a veteran and end up back in a checking role. What kind
of player will he be 2 or 3 years from now with that regiment ?

Just prior to the lockout, I saw Buffalo at the Bell center. They were
awfull. I'm not sure they would have perform well in the AHL. The same
players that couldn't organize a proper zone exit or a credible
offensive press were giving everyone a hard time after the lockout.

Stefan Mazur

And there are plenty more of their ilk on the way, IMHO.

Also basically nobody who can be pointed to as a real candidate for
"stardom", however.  Which means that it should not be counted as any
failing of the organization if/when none of them actually do fill that
star void either.

Briere and Drury weren't homegrown by Buffalo.  Vanek was drafted in
star territory.  (As was Price for us).  But as for the rest of the
makeups for either team, I don't feel like we're at all shortchanged
by stacking up our Plekanecs, Higginses, Kostitsyns, and Chipchuras
against their Roys, Pominvilles, Afinogenovs, or Gaustads.  Etc.

Our team is a couple years behind in terms of Carbo driving a system
through their skulls, vs. what Ruff was ultimately able to do in
Buffalo.  And we perhaps haven't hit the jackpot yet with our hunt to
airlift in some additional star talent.  But I'd say the Buffalo and
Detroit models are something that the Habs seem to be on a good path
towards replicating reasonably well, all things considered.

Latendresse is only 20.  A lot of those guys for Buffalo and Detroit
were nowhere near the NHL at 20, btw.  He's getting force-fed an NHL
diet as it is, no especial need to make that a top-2 line diet, at
least not as a general policy.  As a specific instance of
dissatisfaction with Dandenault on Koivu's line instead of him, well,
okay, I'll buy that as a valid complaint.  But I don't see that as an
organization policy towards the development of their youth, but rather
as some kind of temporary head-scratcher/dice roll by a frustrated
coach.  For Detroit or Buffalo, Latendresse would be in the AHL, not
on the 1st line.

l8r,
Gerry