I just replied to a post on the Oilers board in their trade rumour thread from a fan saying the Oilers should target Eller since he's low on the Habs depth chart. I told him that Eller as been playing probably the best hockey of his career since his benching and he might be tough to pry away from the Habs. Atleast he didn't offer Whitney + 3rd or something.
Y'know, I can't stand how all criticism gets reduced to 'hating'. I never hated Eller, but I did doubt him. Flashes of potential aren't the same thing as actual production. I was concerned that even with all his skills, Lars wouldn't develop the confidence and aggressiveness to use them regularly. Luckily, Eller seems to have taken that next step and gained control over his game. He's been a pleasant surprise.
Yeah, that's not what I would call hating. This is jut bae rational thinking and my opinion wasn't far from yours.
When I refer to the haters, I refer to people who labeled him as a 4th liner(I hope you feel bad.) or even as a 3rd liner at best.
It might be the first time since Damphousse, Muller, Carbo (when Lebeau left) that we'll have nothing to worry about at center.
Galchenyuk-Eller-Plekanec sounds sweet to me (DD really is our current Lebeau, second line cup winning center?)
We have A LOT to worry about at center. Why? We use our centers as wingers while wondering what the h*ll went wrong with their development after given "every" chance. Let alone playing "D" on their off side. Venting I know
We have A LOT to worry about at center. Why? We use our centers as wingers while wondering what the h*ll went wrong with their development after given "every" chance. Let alone playing "D" on their off side. Venting I know
Yeah, that's not what I would call hating. This is jut bae rational thinking and my opinion wasn't far from yours.
When I refer to the haters, I refer to people who labeled him as a 4th liner(I hope you feel bad.) or even as a 3rd liner at best.
I considered Eller a very good 3rd liner at best and I don't hate the guy whatsoever. If not very good 3rd liner, then it's top 6 forward. If one feels he couldn't show consitent play, why would they label him as a top 6 forward?
Granted, as Lshap said, he's been surpassing many of the doubters expectations, including my own. Very happy about that for Eller and the team.
I considered Eller a very good 3rd liner at best and I don't hate the guy whatsoever. If not very good 3rd liner, then it's top 6 forward. If one feels he couldn't show consitent play, why would they label him as a top 6 forward?
Granted, as Lshap said, he's been surpassing many of the doubters expectations, including my own. Very happy about that for Eller and the team.
I have a hard time understanding why anybody would think the ceiling of Eller would only be one of a solid 3rd liner.
I mean, he wasn't the most consistent prospect, but he did show some offensive instincts, scored a very respectable amount of goals as a 3rd liner, and was very solid defensively as he progressed.
When placed with AK, you saw the offensive potential.
So the potential was always there, but it seemed we never have him a chance.
So how can one be so set on a ceiling when the kid (who showed potential on both side of the ice) hasn't even been given good offensive linemates or PP opportunities.
It's kind of tough to be dead set on a ceiling when all you do is give the player defensive duties.
I considered Eller a very good 3rd liner at best and I don't hate the guy whatsoever. If not very good 3rd liner, then it's top 6 forward. If one feels he couldn't show consitent play, why would they label him as a top 6 forward?
Granted, as Lshap said, he's been surpassing many of the doubters expectations, including my own. Very happy about that for Eller and the team.
consistent play shouldnt be expected from +/- 50 pts players (otherwise they would be more than 50 pts players). Yet we see plenty of them around the league playing top 6.
I have a hard time understanding why anybody would think the ceiling of Eller would only be one of a solid 3rd liner.
I mean, he wasn't the most consistent prospect, but he did show some offensive instincts, scored a very respectable amount of goals as a 3rd liner, and was very solid defensively as he progressed.
When placed with AK, you saw the offensive potential.
So the potential was always there, but it seemed we never have him a chance.
So how can one be so set on a ceiling when the kid (who showed potential on both side of the ice) hasn't even been given good offensive linemates or PP opportunities.
It's kind of tough to be dead set on a ceiling when all you do is give the player defensive duties.
Thing is, I just didn't see it. Perhaps my scouting skills are suspect but I didn't see it then. I see a more aggressive and comfortable eller now. In either case, a lot of 3rd liners show offensive instincts. Offensive creativity isn't reserved for the elite. Many of these guys were scorers in lower leagues and everybody has some moves even enforcers.
One thing I'd like Eller to work on is the quickness of his release. I feel he'd be much better offensively if he worked on it. Everything else is good but nothing elite IMO. So clearly he's not one dimensional but I didn't see him as an impact player consistently. Granted, he's been playing good as of late and leaving me open to change my mind.
I have my doubts but I'm not hoping I'm right. I'm hoping he continues this play because 3rd liner, 2nd liner or whatever people want to call him this is an Eller any team can use. So regardless of his upside, I like what im seeing.
I have a hard time understanding why anybody would think the ceiling of Eller would only be one of a solid 3rd liner.
I mean, he wasn't the most consistent prospect, but he did show some offensive instincts, scored a very respectable amount of goals as a 3rd liner, and was very solid defensively as he progressed.
When placed with AK, you saw the offensive potential.
So the potential was always there, but it seemed we never have him a chance.
So how can one be so set on a ceiling when the kid (who showed potential on both side of the ice) hasn't even been given good offensive linemates or PP opportunities.
It's kind of tough to be dead set on a ceiling when all you do is give the player defensive duties.
A lot of people don't contextualize, i.e. they don't realize he was a young player playing with scrubs for limiting ice time, so when they see his 28 points last year, they see a lack of production.
You often see posts on this site saying "let's get this guy to score 45 points from the third line", they don't get what third line ice time, linemates, and opponents does to production. Scoring 28 points from the third line is actually an amazing achievement, and 45 is simply not happening.
For me, I was convinced of Eller's ceiling by his play last year with Bourque. I kept seeing him make brilliant passes to Bourque, and then Bourque would fan. Other people would respond to me that Bourque can't be the problem as he's had multiple 27 goal seasons, and that Eller has never made a brilliant pass. They must have not watched the games.
We now know the truth, Bourque had a rib injury last year, that is why he could not convert on Eller's good passes.
A lot of people don't contextualize, i.e. they don't realize he was a young player playing with scrubs for limiting ice time, so when they see his 28 points last year, they see a lack of production.
You often see posts on this site saying "let's get this guy to score 45 points from the third line", they don't get what third line ice time, linemates, and opponents does to production. Scoring 28 points from the third line is actually an amazing achievement, and 45 is simply not happening.
For me, I was convinced of Eller's ceiling by his play last year with Bourque. I kept seeing him make brilliant passes to Bourque, and then Bourque would fan. Other people would respond to me that Bourque can't be the problem as he's had multiple 27 goal seasons, and that Eller has never made a brilliant pass. They must have not watched the games.
We now know the truth, Bourque had a rib injury last year, that is why he could not convert on Eller's good passes.
Those few games he played with bourque were dreadful. I was pulling my hair out man. Bourque couldn't handle anything.
What me and overlords wrote. Basically acted like Eller is far away from even being a 3rd liner and not looking like a 13th overall pick. Seemed to suggest his recent streak is almost a fluke. The total lack of ability to evaluate talent was on display.
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