ColRouleBleu Posted July 2, 2012 Report Share Posted July 2, 2012 #81 Lars Eller Bio Stats Video Draft Class Official Twitter account: @Eller_89 Archive 2011-2012 QUOTE LIBRARY "One thing I figured out is that I play best when I compete. A lot of times, I haven't competed hard enough, I don't win my faceoffs, I don't win my battles. I have to compete every game. If you succeed at the little things, you get more confidence and everything goes better." - The Gazette April 1st, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme-1 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Given that we now have Gally in the pipeline and it sounds like Gomez has a reasonable chance of being here come fall, I wonder if it makes sense, both short and long term, to convert Eller to wing? He could fit in very well with Plekanec and Gionta: adds some needed size and gives Plekanec legitimate scoring threats on both wings (the matchups this line gets may be tough for a 23 year-old, but playing with our best two-way forwards should help cover for that). I'm thinking that the spot is Bourque's to lose, but I think there is more upside long-term to trying Eller there and trying our luck by putting pure-goalscorer Bourque with pure-playmaker Gomez (both arguably legitimate top-six players coming off brutal seasons) to try and give us some needed depth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weepingminotaur Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 If Gomez is still a Hab to start the season, I'd absolutely convert Lars to wing and play him on the Plekanec line with Gionta. Gomez could then center a third line with Bourque on one wing and either Galchenyuk or Leblanc on the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbaker8787 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I would keep Eller on centre if he is in the plans long term. Gomez won't be here long and id rather him converted to the wing if he plays next year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I would keep Eller on centre if he is in the plans long term. Gomez won't be here long and id rather him converted to the wing if he plays next year I'm just not sure Gomez's game will work on the wing. He doesn't go to the physical areas like Eller is willing to do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grecohab Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I'm just not sure Gomez's game will work on the wing. He doesn't go to the physical areas like Eller is willing to do. Come on, guys...Eller is a center, and Gomez is an AHLer... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennifer_rocket Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Come on, guys...Eller is a center, and Gomez is an AHLer... Yeah, I'd rather just demote Gomez as well and give Lars the third line center position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbaker8787 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I'm just not sure Gomez's game will work on the wing. He doesn't go to the physical areas like Eller is willing to do. I'm just thinking long term, if that's where they see Eller long term then great, but if not I'm in no favor of catering to Gomez whatsoever, unless he improves his game tenfold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grecohab Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Yeah, I'd rather just demote Gomez as well and give Lars the third line center position. Not a priori 3rd line centerman. Let all Eller-Plekanec-Desharnais battle through camp for the available spots, and define the roles between them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jedimaas Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 If Gomez is still a Hab to start the season, I'd absolutely convert Lars to wing and play him on the Plekanec line with Gionta. Gomez could then center a third line with Bourque on one wing and either Galchenyuk or Leblanc on the other. I would keep Eller on centre if he is in the plans long term. Gomez won't be here long and id rather him converted to the wing if he plays next year I'm just not sure Gomez's game will work on the wing. He doesn't go to the physical areas like Eller is willing to do. I agree with Weep on this one. The problem with keeping Eller at center, unless we're swapping him with DD, is that he will get better ice time & better linemates playing 2nd line wing than playing 3rd line centre. I think that from a development standpoint, playing on the wing (especially with two players who cover a lot of ice, dont just go north-south like Pleks and Gio) on a higher quality line will be much more valuable than more of the same on the 3rd line. He can always go back to centre at some point if we want him there. The idea of a 1-2 punch of Galchenyuk-Eller in 5 years is very exciting. For now, lets just keep him in the best position to improve & I think that is with higher quality line-mates / more /better ice time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MIASUN Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I agree with Weep on this one. The problem with keeping Eller at center, unless we're swapping him with DD, is that he will get better ice time & better linemates playing 2nd line wing than playing 3rd line centre. I think that from a development standpoint, playing on the wing (especially with two players who cover a lot of ice, dont just go north-south like Pleks and Gio) on a higher quality line will be much more valuable than more of the same on the 3rd line. He can always go back to centre at some point if we want him there. The idea of a 1-2 punch of Galchenyuk-Eller in 5 years is very exciting. For now, lets just keep him in the best position to improve & I think that is with higher quality line-mates / more /better ice time. This is an on-going debate in the lines thread as well. I agree with your reasoning jedimaas, I echo the thought of more minutes with better players is better for development than being the 3rd line center at all cost. As I said in the lines thread, I'd rather find out if Eller's real top end potential is as a top 6 forward rather than as a very good 3rd line center. There are plenty of potential 3rd liners in the pipeline(Leblanc, Dumont, Geoffrion) and available every year but a 6'2 top 6 player with hands good enough to dazzle opponents on occasion needs a legitimate shot with offensive players. On top of that, I find his defensive responsibility is a nice fit next to Pleks and Gio. IMO, his puck handling and work in the corners would really help Gionta get more chances to finish and allow Pleks to look for his shot more. I believe we're onto something here on this forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grecohab Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I agree with Weep on this one. The problem with keeping Eller at center, unless we're swapping him with DD, is that he will get better ice time & better linemates playing 2nd line wing than playing 3rd line centre. I think that from a development standpoint, playing on the wing (especially with two players who cover a lot of ice, dont just go north-south like Pleks and Gio) on a higher quality line will be much more valuable than more of the same on the 3rd line. He can always go back to centre at some point if we want him there. The idea of a 1-2 punch of Galchenyuk-Eller in 5 years is very exciting. For now, lets just keep him in the best position to improve & I think that is with higher quality line-mates / more /better ice time. As you said Jedi a Galtsenuyk-Eller tandem, 1-2 down the middle, in the future is very exciting. Thats why i would like Eller to refine even more the defensive aspect of his game, by playing the 3rd line shut down role, just the way Philadelphia is bringing up Couturier, behind Giroux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbaker8787 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I don't know If Ellers played the wing before but from personal experience I hated coming off center to play wing, it made me half the player and no better than someone from that position naturally, ie Bourque. Im not an NHL caliber player by any stretch of the imagination but it's a much different position so if that's the plan long term then just stick with it, I don't like the flip flop back and forth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
31Careyprice Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 Personally I'd rather see Eller on the 2nd line winger then 3rd line center, it will develop his offensive game more and he will show that he can produce as a top 6 forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeanCountingHab Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 My preference is to have Eller at center long-term but I do get the appeal of giving him top 6 minutes. I'll throw out what CRB suggested in another thread about trying Pleks on the wing (he has experience at LW in international play) and letting Eller center that line. I wonder if it would be too detrimental to the line to experiment a bit and switch Eller and Pleks back and forth a little? Even if we like Eller at center long term, playing on the same line as our best two way center and learning from him may offset some of the developmental concerns about playing out of position for the better part of a season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graeme-1 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I'm just thinking long term, if that's where they see Eller long term then great, but if not I'm in no favor of catering to Gomez whatsoever, unless he improves his game tenfold. I agree with this: I wouldn't hurt Eller's development just to cater to Gomez. But long term, we have Gally, DD, Leblanc, plus Plekanec is only 29 and someone I think we may want to re-sign when his current deal is up. Compare that to wing: we don't have many top prospects, Cole and Gionta are both 33, Bourque doesn't seem like a guy we'll want to hang onto, really I only expect Pacioretty to still be around in 3 or 4 years: there just seems to be more room. Of course, how effective he'd be at wing is a big question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123 Posted July 4, 2012 Report Share Posted July 4, 2012 I would try Eller on the wing with Pleks and Gio. Eller has played wing and has not had much success with us previously but he plays wing internationally and plays quite well, and if you look at his skill set, it fits as a winger. We've never tried him with Gionta before but looking at their skill set I have a feeling they will work well. And playing against top lines with our 2 best 2-way wingers would let us see where he is defensively, and playing with guys with talent can let us see where he is offensively. If he doesn't work on wing we can try and switch him with Pleks. But if Pleks isn't good on Wing either than I guess we would have to use Eller on the 3rd line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habsonbrain Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 I would try Eller on the wing with Pleks and Gio. Eller has played wing and has not had much success with us previously but he plays wing internationally and plays quite well, and if you look at his skill set, it fits as a winger. We've never tried him with Gionta before but looking at their skill set I have a feeling they will work well. And playing against top lines with our 2 best 2-way wingers would let us see where he is defensively, and playing with guys with talent can let us see where he is offensively. If he doesn't work on wing we can try and switch him with Pleks. But if Pleks isn't good on Wing either than I guess we would have to use Eller on the 3rd line. What about moving DD to the wing with Eller at centre and Pacs on the other wing. I think DD might do well on the wing. Pleks could centre Gionta and Cole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123 Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 What about moving DD to the wing with Eller at centre and Pacs on the other wing. I think DD might do well on the wing. Pleks could centre Gionta and Cole. It's something worth considering, I guess. Has he played wing before? If so, than has he had success? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habsonbrain Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 It's something worth considering, I guess. Has he played wing before? If so, than has he had success? I'm not sure if DD has played wing before or not. I just thought that last year Eller looked much better at centre than on the wing. I also prefer having the size down the middle (especially in the defensive end). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwdemonwolf Posted July 5, 2012 Report Share Posted July 5, 2012 Eller is a smart player, I am sure he could get used to playing on the wing without a problem. I actually hope he gets to play with Pleks and Gio. Two great, speedy two-way forwards with hockey sense, and Lars bring some size to the line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noob616 Posted July 6, 2012 Report Share Posted July 6, 2012 I don't like DD on the wing. I think that stifles his biggest asset in his offensive creativity. Eller plays a more physical game, and is bigger and stronger, and thus better suited to the wing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timmeh04 Posted July 6, 2012 Report Share Posted July 6, 2012 I would like to see Lars put on 5-10 lbs this off season, to get to around 205...maybe a bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jbaker8787 Posted July 6, 2012 Report Share Posted July 6, 2012 I would like to see Lars put on 5-10 lbs this off season, to get to around 205...maybe a bit more. I hope alot of players out on some weight but only if it's muscle obviously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
THEBIGGESTHABSFAN123 Posted July 6, 2012 Report Share Posted July 6, 2012 Habs sign him to a 2 year deal. http://canadiens.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=637426 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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