Observations:

Nov 2015 – Latta has played in only three of the Capitals 11 games playing on the fourth line. He barely manages any ice time as he has not seen over 10 minutes of ice in any of the three games. Barring an injury to the fourth line do not expect him to play much, and he will not see enough ice time to warrant picking up this season. Pat Quinn

February 2015 – Having only played four games in the month of January Latta is trying his best to stay in the line-up consistently. He is only playing about eight to 10 minutes per game and Trotz is finding him interchangeable as he tends to land on the fourth line. Latta needs to figure out a way to stay in the line-up, whether it is through winning face-offs or offering a physical game. Pat Quinn

November 2014 – Being used in a fourth line role for the Capitals this year Latta has not had much opportunity to produce seeing an average of 8:20 in 12 of 15 games, as he has been a healthy scratch for three. The problem for Latta is the Caps bottom six is crowded and the fourth line is not being used much. He is still getting a shot seeing as he is still playing a majority of games, but he only has one assist and 14 minutes in penalties to show for it. With this usage it is hard to expect more. Pat Quinn

August 2014 – Latta signed a two-year one-way deal July 1st of this year insuring that he will be in the NHL for the 2014-15 season. He compiled 34 points and 134 penalty minutes in 52 games with Hershey, and when called up he posted 4 points and 12 penalty minutes in 17 games with the Caps. He played his tenacious game during development camp and will be looking to fill a bottom six spot for next season, likely the 4th line centre role. He plays an agitating game and should be a great source of penalty minutes who will carry modest points for a third/fourth line player. Pat Quinn

January 2014 – Latta came to Washington along with Martin Erat as part of the Filip Forsberg trade and little was talked about him at the time. In his draft year in 2009 he had 57 points in 69 OHL games but his 92 PIM, along with the feistiness that came with his game, is what made him a third round pick. After an OHL career where he compiled 485 PIM in 241 games, he turned pro with Milwaukee and the results continued: incredibly high penalty totals with decent, but ordinary point totals. This season he made the Caps out of camp but was stuck on the 4^th line and had four points in 17 games. Since being returned to Hershey things have started to change for the better as he has nine points in eight games, which brings his AHL season total to 16 in 20 games. And of course he is still bringing the same toughness, in the form of 81 PIM. Nathan Kanter

Fantasy Outlook: C+

Latta is unlikely to play a top-six role at the NHL level but could perhaps be a pest on a third line with the ability to chip in offensively and thus he warrants some fantasy value.

Footage:

Latta’s 1^st career NHL goal.

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