Love how he wasn't backing down from that piece of **** McQuaid. Another great game by Lars and love that Therrien trusts him a lot more now and is using him in key situations.
I think Eller's the perfect 3rd line center down the line. Versatile enough to play a shutdown role and fill in the top-6 when needed. With Galchenyuk as the future #1, that leaves the #2 between Plekanec and Desharnais. I'm thinking keeping Desharnais might be a better idea as we could get a lot in a trade for Plekanec (not now though, in a year or two). Or we trade Desharnais for a lesser return.
I think Eller's the perfect 3rd line center down the line. Versatile enough to play a shutdown role and fill in the top-6 when needed. With Galchenyuk as the future #1, that leaves the #2 between Plekanec and Desharnais. I'm thinking keeping Desharnais might be a better idea as we could get a lot in a trade for Plekanec (not now though, in a year or two). Or we trade Desharnais for a lesser return.
You don't trade Plekanec because you have Desharnais. He's not well rounded enough. Either keep them and shift DD to wing if we want to fit them all in, or deal DD.
You don't trade Plekanec because you have Desharnais. He's not well rounded enough. Either keep them and shift DD to wing if we want to fit them all in, or deal DD.
Desharnais is good enough for a 2nd line center role, nobody's going to convince me otherwise. I don't know what it'll take for our fans to stop underrating him. Is it the Napoleon complex again? Not every player on a team is going to be flawless. I'm not talking about building around Desharnais, I'm talking about a 15min 2nd line center. Not debating the fact Plekanec's better. He is. But: what's better? Plekanec at 5M to play on the 2nd line, or Desharnais at 3M with the addition of a top-6 winger/top-4 D acquired in a transaction for Plekanec?
Again, this is down the line, not right now obviously.
Eller really took his game to a new level this season and against the Bruins, it was fun to see him hold his ground. That said, he had an average game last night... don't you think?
Eller really took his game to a new level this season and against the Bruins, it was fun to see him hold his ground. That said, he had an average game last night... don't you think?
His work ethic is insane, he gaine 10 pounds of muscle during the offseason. This kind of player is exactly what you need as a 2nd or 3rd line center to win a cup with.
looks like Therrien's scratching of Lars for a couple games has paid off
Clearly, he's out to ruin him.
And then, he had the AUDACITY of making him play on the 4th line. Clearly, that was only meant to further grind him under his heel.
I want to know; I probably missed these events, but what did Eller did yesterday to annoy Boston fans that much? He seems to be part of the Top-6 Habs They Want To See Bashed (after Subban, Emelin (new arrival), Pacioretty and Gallagher).
looks like Therrien's scratching of Lars for a couple games has paid off
I knew someone would say this.
I disagree entirely. Lars is just progressing naturally from his previous two seasons. Did Therrien's benching also make him successful in Europe during the lockout where he led his team in PPG?
What paid off is Eller putting on mass. His game was always centred, even the last two years, on carrying the play through the neutral zone puck possession and board work. He finally now has the mass to consistently win board battles and set up plays along the wall where one aspect his game thrives (the cycling play and his ability to set up point men from the half wall with his shot). He's more successful this season because he finally has wingers to set up when carries the puck through the neutral zone on the rush, which is the second aspect of his game that he thrives at.
No surprise that Eller started putting up points the minute he started playing with quality wingers, which is what most of asked for going back to last season.
Also, Lars has always been a take no crap player, remember in his first season with Briere at the face-off dot? Also his first playoff season against Boston in his rookie year where he and DD looked good for rookies, both taking no crap?
It has less to do with Therrien and more to with the fact that he's only 23 playing in his third season (came into the league as a lanky 21 year old) and that not all players come into the league 100% ready. This latter fact is probably why people overlooked Eller's talent and are suddenly surprised at where he is currently at, while for others we see it as him progressing the way most of us expected.
Eller is a late bloomer, yes he's 23 and turning 24 but he took a huge step forward last year. He's pretty much an all 3 zone player right now. He reminds me of Tomas Plekanec with size. Being that said, I don't think Eller is offensive enough to be a #1 center, he may be a good #2 center or a very good #3 center.
At 6'3" 220lbs he has the size and speed to play a rough game. Its a matter of time he'll put everything together.
Clearly, he's out to ruin him.
And then, he had the AUDACITY of making him play on the 4th line. Clearly, that was only meant to further grind him under his heel.
I want to know; I probably missed these events, but what did Eller did yesterday to annoy Boston fans that much? He seems to be part of the Top-6 Habs They Want To See Bashed (after Subban, Emelin (new arrival), Pacioretty and Gallagher).
Desharnais is good enough for a 2nd line center role, nobody's going to convince me otherwise. I don't know what it'll take for our fans to stop underrating him. Is it the Napoleon complex again? Not every player on a team is going to be flawless. I'm not talking about building around Desharnais, I'm talking about a 15min 2nd line center. Not debating the fact Plekanec's better. He is. But: what's better? Plekanec at 5M to play on the 2nd line, or Desharnais at 3M with the addition of a top-6 winger/top-4 D acquired in a transaction for Plekanec?
Again, this is down the line, not right now obviously.
He doesn't have the defensive game required to play center long-term. The only way he can match up given his size is being far superior defensively than his opponents are offensively. Otherwise we'll have to continue to shelter him. He's very good in the offensive zone but you have to be responsible in your own end as a center man. He's still earned a top 6 place for me though, just not at center.
