As Canadiens fans, we can always find something to debate. At All Habs Hockey Magazine, we have assembled an excellent group of contributors who bring different perspectives and writing styles to our pages. Naturally, we don’t always agree.
In an effort to showcase these opposing views, All Habs is unveiling a new regular feature called “Faceoff.” Our writers will address a hot topic from all angles and invite you to participate by adding your comments.
In our first article, Coach K takes on Kristina debating whether Lars Eller should be in a Bulldogs or Habs uniform.
On which side of the faceoff dot do you stand?
by Coach K, AllHabs.net
SAINT-LAZARE, QC.– Four minutes. Two hundred and forty seconds.
It’s the benchmark that was established by Jim Ryun in 1964, when he was a junior in high school, for running the mile. It’s the time it takes to kill off a double-minor. In some instances, it can seem like an eternity, and in others, a blink of an eye.
Lars Eller was drafted in the 2007 NHL Entry draft, 13th overall, by the St, Louis Blues. Since then, he’s played for Frolunda in the Swedish Elite League and for the Peoria Rivermen of the AHL. He had his best season in the AHL in 2009-2010, when he amassed 57 points (18 G and 39 A) in 70 games with the Rivermen.
Sounds like he would fit right into the NHL right? You would be right, if this were any normal situation, but it’s not. Eller is a natural centre. What that means is he has played the position through most of his adolescent years. That is normally the period when a player’s prowess comes forth the most.
Because of the signing of Jeff Halpern, Eller’s position on the Canadiens’ depth chart dropped down. Although I have nothing, but praise for the Halpern signing by GM Pierre Gauthier, what is the purpose of trading your greatest asset of last season for an extra centre. The Hamilton Bulldogs, the Baby Habs if you will, are chock-full of these types of players.
With the depth at centre, and Eller’s obvious talent, comes the need to develop him at another position, which in his case is left wing. Does anyone think that you can teach a player a new position at the NHL level? You may be able to do that with a seasoned veteran, but Eller is a kid. He’s under enough pressure to perform under the rigors of the NHL, without having to learn a new position. Putting him at left wing only adds fuel to the fire.
Four minutes…that’s how much time per game the Canadiens have decided to give Lars Eller, per game, to develop into an NHL left winger. And let’s not forget that he doesn’t see any time on specialty teams of any significance, so you can’t develop that aspect of his game either.
I think sending Lars Eller to Hamilton is the best option not only for the Canadiens, but for his future. While in Hamilton, Eller will play a larger part in the offensive schemes of the Bulldogs. It will also give him the time to develop his abilities at the left wing position, while adding his talents to their specialty teams as well.
Player development takes two elements: time and repetition. These elements are luxurys that the Canadiens can rarely afford, considering the stiff competition in the Eastern Conference. Other players have paid their dues in the AHL, like Ryan White, Max Pacioretty, Aaron Palushaj and Ben Maxwell. Anyone of them could replace Eller for the time being on the Habs’ roster.
by Kristina Ashqar, AllHabs.net
MONTREAL, QC. — Nine minutes and forty two seconds.
That is Lars Eller’s average time on ice in 16 games played. Not four minutes, not no minutes and not necessarily anything less than what a rookie forward in the NHL needs at this early stage of the season.
At 21, Eller has played the game in Sweden where he was considered one of Frolunda’s best defensive players in the under-20 elite league. He represented Denmark at the World Junior Championships in 2008, racking up three goals and three assists in six games and he led the Peoria Riverman of the AHL in scoring last year with 57 points. Eller has also played seven games as a St.Louis Blue in the 2009-2010 season, scoring two goals.
So is his resume and a one 70-game season in the AHL enough for anyone to say that Eller has outgrown what he can learn at that level? Maybe, maybe not. But with the skating ability, skill set, size and work ethic Eller holds, it is without a doubt that the best place from him to learn how to become an NHLer is in the NHL.
Eller’s time on ice per game of 9:42 ranks him 38th in ice time out of the 67 rookie forwards playing in the NHL and it provides him with ample opportunity to get accustomed to the speed and pace of the game at the NHL level.
Projected to become a second-line, two-way forward in the NHL, Eller ranks 20th in short handed time on ice and 25th in power play time on ice among the 67 rookie forwards. The coaching staff has used him in every situation and he has been juggled on a variety of line combinations, just like the rest of his teammates in Jacques Martin’s “effort” to find chemistry and consistency. He has played as a winger, he has played as a center and he has visited the press box once so far. The rookie has been exposed to it all in the 17 games the Canadiens have played so far and he has recognized that the defensive aspect of his game needs to be improved at the NHL level before he can develop into a scoring play-maker.
So what’s the point of sticking him in the AHL where the game is slower, the calibre is weaker and the system played is different? Nothing. He already was the best player on his team in the AHL once, why should he attempt to do that again? The number one aspect of Eller’s game that needs to be improved is his decision making – it has to match the quickness and pace of the game played at the NHL level. He is not going to learn that in Hamilton.
With the Canadien’s depth on the top two lines, Eller does not find himself in a situation that allows him to play top-six minutes in his first games as a rookie. He instead find himself on a team that has made the playoffs for the last three years and in a situation where he will have to move up the depth laddar inch by inch. Gaining his minutes with sound defensive play, hard work and offensive contribution.
Being sent to the Bulldogs means one thing – he won’t have to work very hard to get his top-line minutes. I’d rather see Eller scratch and claw in the NHL then have him needlessly tear up the AHL.
If Philippe Dupuis of the Colorado Avalanche, a 104th overall pick can score two goals and get three assists averaging 7:07 of ice time in 14 games played, there is no reason why a 13th overall pick in Lars Eller can’t make the most of his nine plus minutes in the NHL either.
(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)