I don't see what the fuss is all about, 1.3M is what he deserves, nothing more, he don't even have 50 career points in the NHL yet, he's not gonna get 2.5M thrown at him like the people on the first few pages were saying.
16 goals in his second year, with some of the worst wingers in NHL history.
There's no 'fuss', it's just a very reasonable contract for an up and coming center.
16 goals in his second year, with some of the worst wingers in NHL history.
There's no 'fuss', it's just a very reasonable contract for an up and coming center.
... Exactly my point, come to think of it.
I mean, yeah, he played with bad players...
Desharnais signed a cheaper deal last year and played with even worse players. And outproduced Eller (well... ppg-wise).
This said, i expected Eller to get something like 1.7., and anything over 2 would have been a wee bit expansive, considering RFA status. 1.325? Awesome.
Desharnais signed a cheaper deal last year and played with even worse players. And outproduced Eller (well... ppg-wise).
This said, i expected Eller to get something like 1.7., and anything over 2 would have been a wee bit expansive, considering RFA status. 1.325? Awesome.
Pouliot and Darche that year were, strangely, a productive pair that year. Even Halpern got 11 goals that season. But still, you could see DD's mad skillz then.
That said, Eller was certainly "slow" in his own right when it came to his shooting and passing; he was starting to get better last year though, but not up there yet.
Pouliot might be a headcase but he's more talented than most players Eller got to play with, minus Kostitsyn who was moved around himself.
Pou-Pou is good for 15ish goals and is a decent 5 on 5/possession player half the time.
Still Eller was rough in his first year (he should have never been in the NHL) while Desharnais showed promise during his time up. Of course age and familiarity with the North American game matters.
Mind you it's no competition either, right now none of our centers are at peak value and despite the obsession with trading Plekanec, he's the only proven commodity.
Exactly, most smaller speedy guys are winger and I would not be surprised if he would shine even more from the wing then at center.
Until he learns to be more balance in choosing whether to shoot or pass, he'll just be a smurf Tanguay. But hey, maybe switching him to wing will cause him to undergo that desired change.
Size matters. Putting him on the wing isn't getting rid of him. It addresses a need.
Why is it centers need to be bigger than wingers?
Its wingers forecheck and play on the boards. Sure having a longer reach is useful, especially on defensive roles but thats not what Desharnais is paid to do.
Until he learns to be more balance in choosing whether to shoot or pass, he'll just be a smurf Tanguay. But hey, maybe switching him to wing will cause him to undergo that desired change.
Move the team's most creative offensive player to another position in favor of a player who averages an assist every 7.5 games and who had all of 3 assists in his final 42 games last season and who has a face off percentage in the mid 40s.
HFBoard logic.....gotta love it
Eller's contract seems fair for both parties based upon what I've seen of him.
DD is willing to go to the tough places. If anything he'll be more like Gionta in that particular regard(yes, I know Gio scores goals while DD racks up assists).
16 goals in his second year, with some of the worst wingers in NHL history.
There's no 'fuss', it's just a very reasonable contract for an up and coming center.
I expect his goal total to stay around the same area, but his assists should go up. He's clearly a playmaker, he just had no options on the wings.
I expect him to play with Moen and Armstrong. They aren't very talented, but it will be a line that generates offence by cycling the puck. Big boys that aren't afraid to go in the corners.
Wasn't he the second fastest skater at the Habs' skills competition?
His speed isn't part of his game, since he's all about moving the puck around, but he can definitely skate.
He was, but most veterans didn't take part in that competition I think.
DD's skating has improved, like most smaller players he has balance and good at changing directions quickly, but he doesn't have the explosiveness most very small players who make it have, like Gionta and St. Louis.
From what I can tell I don't see the same breakaway speed that Plekanec, Gomez, Eller have, but Desharnais has agility.
He was, but most veterans didn't take part in that competition I think.
DD's skating has improved, like most smaller players he has balance and good at changing directions quickly, but he doesn't have the explosiveness most very small players who make it have, like Gionta and St. Louis.
From what I can tell I don't see the same breakaway speed that Plekanec, Gomez, Eller have, but Desharnais has agility.
A very good analysis of DDs skating.
When I think of fast on the Canadiens, I think of Cole. He's a runaway freight train after just a few strides. DD doesn't have that gear. No matter. Few do.
DD is under control at all speeds. That's one of his greatest assets. He can make his great plays at top speed and standing still.
DD has the ability to change his skating speed and alter the entire flow of play on the ice. He's not even close to Gretzkyesque in this ability, but he has it to a degree which few players have.
He's also sneaky fast in spurts. Combined with his size, it gives him the ability to make room in tight quarters where others cant.
When he played in the ECHL in Cincinnati, I thought that the only possible part of his game which could keep him from having success in the NHL was his lack of a top gear in skating speed. I had failed to keep in mind that Greg Stewart had made it to the NHL
When I think of fast on the Canadiens, I think of Cole. He's a runaway freight train after just a few strides. DD doesn't have that gear. No matter. Few do.
DD is under control at all speeds. That's one of his greatest assets. He can make his great plays at top speed and standing still.
DD has the ability to change his skating speed and alter the entire flow of play on the ice. He's not even close to Gretzkyesque in this ability, but he has it to a degree which few players have.
He's also sneaky fast in spurts. Combined with his size, it gives him the ability to make room in tight quarters where others cant.
When he played in the ECHL in Cincinnati, I thought that the only possible part of his game which could keep him from having success in the NHL was his lack of a top gear in skating speed. I had failed to keep in mind that Greg Stewart had made it to the NHL
Pretty good post, but I have to disagree on Stewart, he is a speedy forward.
Pouliot and Darche that year were, strangely, a productive pair that year. Even Halpern got 11 goals that season. But still, you could see DD's mad skillz then.
That said, Eller was certainly "slow" in his own right when it came to his shooting and passing; he was starting to get better last year though, but not up there yet.
