By Paulo Cerqueira, Staff Writer, All Habs Hockey Magazine
MONTREAL, QC. — On June 17, 2010 Pierre Gauthier, General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens, surprised hockey fans by trading the city’s new favourite son Jaroslav Halak. Who doesn’t remember the 2010 playoff run the Habs had? Halak was a man possessed and his performance was one reason that Les Glorieux reached their first Conference final since 1993.
As news began to break on that early summer day, it was hard to believe for some fans. Halak traded? Impossible! The Canadiens were not going to trade away their playoff hero. But quickly the rumours became reality and what seem impossible, was in fact on the verge of happening. King Jaro was on his way to St. Louis. Facing the bitter truth of losing their crown jewel between the pipes, fans quickly began mulling over the Blues roster. They began imagining what such a tremendous goaltender could fetch as a return.
T.J. Oshie? Patrick Berglund? Maybe dreams could really come true and local favourite David Perron would be heading back in exchange for Halak. Whoever it was going to be, one thing was for sure: It was going to be a young budding superstar because that’s what the Habs needed and St. Louis had a handful of them.
For Schultz who was viewed by many as a “throw in” in the deal, the cold reaction by the fans wasn’t really going to be an issue. He most likely would never make the team and not much was expected of him. For Eller on the other hand, he was now faced with the task of making people forget Halak. That wasn’t going to be easy to accomplish. Just ask Jocelyn Thibault how he felt trying to replace Patrick Roy. Not by any means could Halak be compared to Roy but Jaro had captured the hearts of many fans during his playoff run.
Since joining the Habs, the young Dane has been doing his best to deliver what the fans were expecting or at least hoping for and that is a young superstar. Although he was a first round pick for the Blues, 13th overall in 2007, Eller hasn’t been able to bust out yet. He has played more the role of fringe forward alternating from the 3rd line, to the 4th line and even into the press box. But the press box is where things seemed to finally click for Eller.
Being a healthy scratch last year early in the season seemed to light a fire under No. 81. Since that short stint watching the games from above center ice, Lars has not been that same timid player. He is more confident with the puck and with his decision making. His improved decision making helps enormously in creating time and space for his two wingers. But where his game has had the most drastic improvement is the physical part of his game. Eller is a lot harder to take off the puck now then he was when he first started with the Canadiens. He just looks a lot bigger physically and it shows in his battles for the puck along the boards. He doesn’t lose many battles.
Eller was the Habs best forward for the second half of the lock out shortened season. However coming into this season there was a huge question mark hanging over his head. How would Lars Eller be after that gruesome injury he suffered following the hit by Eric Gryba during game 1 of the playoffs?
Well it’s safe to say that question has been answered and then some. Two games does not make a season but Eller has picked up where he left off last year prior to the injury. He is playing well in both ends of the ice. Which forces Head Coach Michel Therrien to have to cut ice time from some of his veterans and give it to Eller. He along with his two young linemates, Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher, have been the primary offensive spark plug for the Habs chipping in five of the teams seven goals so far this season.
While it’s still early in a very long season, the emergence of the “EGG” line is a great sign for the Montreal Canadiens future. Considering that at 24 years old Eller is the grizzled veteran of the line, it speaks volumes to the potential and long term success the three of them playing together have. It’s a pretty impressive pedigree when you consider that you have a Calder trophy nominee, a 3rd pick overall and some guy who came over for Jaroslav Halak.
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