Eller already in the doghouse?

[Agnostic]

Where was Eller again last game? If he was on the third, I'd like to see him moved up, give him a shot on the second or even the first line. Spread out Patches, DD, and Cole.

I agree. I don't view line changes as always having a punishment attached to them, but Eller is a guy that is red circled for having a future with this club. He's not going to get any closer to that with sandpaper on his wing.

Therien will eventually discover that he can't win a lot of games with this club. I am accepting of that, and would be moreso if some development was happening with some key players. Eller is tops on the list in need of it.

 

[Andy]

I think WS is right. Therrien has come into this team with his favorites already picked out.

Then what has changed from Martin to Therrien? I really am starting to hate these ideologues behind the bench

 

[Whitesnake]

Isn't the whole new motto of the team "no excuses"? Already there are exceptions being made as well as preferences. So the no excuses only applies to certain players?

If that is the motto, does who played bad deserve the short-end of the stick no matter who it is. This is singling out Eller when he wasn't even the worst player on the ice. I forgot that Ryan White and Armstrong were on the team that's how invisible they were.

I hope we stop with that "no excuse" motto. That motto is just that...a motto. There are always excuses. The guy who put that motto on the wall had actually, before that, said that they would be flat in the first game because of how few practices they had. That's an excuse. So it's just a phrase that means so much. Like every other phrase on every other board of every other dressing room.

Now, in all seriousness, you seriously think that a new coach will bench one of his top players the 2nd game he's coaching? Seriously? Therrien had probably talked to Eller already and while the end-result it's him not playing, Therrien couldn't have said that he's benching him based on performance. But he's benching him based on the kid they have to evaluate in 5 games. And another kid who was great last year in preseason, did good today with the Dogs so he'd like to know what he can do this year. Like I keep saying, the Galchenyuk experiment will most likely end soon, though seeing him at center (hoping he looks good...) makes me think they might really envision him to stay. And the Gallagher experiement will also most likely stop. But the coach cannot bash anybody. Not now. He's not THAT stupid. And to proof that it's not a penalty, I guess that if he would have went with how was the worst, Eller wouldn't be it. Since he wasn't, that "sitting in the stands" doesn't qualify as a penalty. We're still in the experiment period.

 

[hototogisu]

I don't want to be "that guy", but this is a pretty absurd overreaction. We barely had a training camp and didn't have a preseason - when else is a coach supposed to experiment with different lines and combos? Holy smokes...let's wait and see what the line ups look like at puck drop before flying off the handle.

 

[MXD]

The strangest thing is that while being bashed, Therrien might agree with most people in here which is to believe that Eller might be a total waste on the wings. So since you can't replace anybody on the wings aside from when Gallagher leaves, Eller takes a brake. Yet, for me Eller vs White at center....it's a no brainer. White sits for sure. Even if it's for a 4th line. You have a White at center on a 4th, you do have a crash and bang line. You add a Eller on it, you still have that crash and bang but add talent on it.

Half-agree.

Eller DID look bad on wings before.
And it's not his ideal spot, considering the fact he's pretty good defensively.

But being on the W would kindof "shield away" his biggest weakness, which is arguably hockey sense. I COULD play a "lane" game and be effective.

This said, if the team wants to develop him as a C, then he should play C...

Totally agree with your last sentence.

 

[yianik]

I know we are in a rebuild/retool whatever and that MB needs a couple of years to start putting together his vision of the team ( and 4-5 years before we can judge MB on what he has done ). So far so good. The only thing I was disappointed about was Eller 's place in the line-up. I don't know how good Eller can become, but he looked like he was getting his offence together last year playing with Moen and AK. As in Eller benefitted by playing with a skill player like AK who he can give and go with on the rush and such. So my thought was that to give Eller a chance to develop his offensive ability and to show what he has this year, he needs to have at least one skilled winger with speed, like AK. Bourque has ability but he isn't the kind of player I think Eller needs. Now Eller might be a dud, or a decent 3rd line player, or top 6, but without the proper linemate (Moen is great as the 2nd winger ) I don't think we are giving Eller the chance to succeed. Hell, if Gally was going to stick around I'd be happy with him on Eller's wing ( I know Gally is a center and we want him as a center in the long run ) because he would be a better complement to Eller than Bourque.

 

[overlords]

Then what has changed from Martin to Therrien? I really am starting to hate these ideologues behind the bench

The difference being that Martin was a far better coach. As tough as that pill may be to swallow.

All I want from this season is that we don't somehow piss off or trade away any of our young talent. Not saying Therrien is necessarily doing that with eller...yet. But it's something I considered as soon as he was hired.

 

[CrAzYNiNe]

I don't want to be "that guy", but this is a pretty absurd overreaction. We barely had a training camp and didn't have a preseason - when else is a coach supposed to experiment with different lines and combos? Holy smokes...let's wait and see what the line ups look like at puck drop before flying off the handle.

The first game was bad, really bad. If it wasn't the first game in 8 month, I would of stopped watching.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

The difference being that Martin was a far better coach. As tough as that pill may be to swallow.

All I want from this season is that we don't somehow piss off or trade away any of our young talent. Not saying Therrien is necessarily doing that with eller...yet. But it's something I considered as soon as he was hired.

Didn't Therrien tweet that he was looking forward to making PK a better player and person? To me that just sends a message that there's a problem with the guy and Therrien is there to "fix" him.

For some reason I'm starting to get visions of the Roy disaster. Inexperienced GM, coach who doesn't like one of our best players, plus a contract holdout.

If PK goes away, this franchise is set back for years. And I'm not happy about us messing with Eller either.

 

[Whitesnake]

Like you said Whitesnake, do we really want to endure another trade of young players who haven't shown what they can do?

You know that's the last thing I want and I will be all over this management if that happens again. I was with Gainey, was with Gauthier, will not refrain myself for being it for Bergevin and Co as well. So the day they decide to trade Eller if ever, they HAVE to have played him incredibly long enough, and in all the situation to know that he's not what we need anymore. But we're far from there. And in his case, not only you don't do that 'cause he's a young player with talent that you haven't evaluated properly but also because of who he was traded for. But again, we are not there yet. We are not talking as if Eller is sitting out for his 5th consecutive game now.

 

[poetryinmotion]

I don't want to be "that guy", but this is a pretty absurd overreaction. We barely had a training camp and didn't have a preseason - when else is a coach supposed to experiment with different lines and combos? Holy smokes...let's wait and see what the line ups look like at puck drop before flying off the handle.

I think the main issue here is exactly what WS pointed out. Why not Eller instead of White on the 4th line?

And this is where I agree with the MT likes his grinders comment.

 

[Andy]

Didn't Therrien tweet that he was looking forward to making PK a better player and person? To me that just sends a message that there's a problem with the guy and Therrien is there to "fix" him.

For some reason I'm starting to get visions of the Roy disaster. Inexperienced GM, coach who doesn't like one of our best players, plus a contract holdout.

If PK goes away, this franchise is set back for years. And I'm not happy about us messing with Eller either.

That's the thing. I really feel like the management from the beginning singled out two players on this team. Subban with the better person and Eller with the "we expect nothing but for him to hit the next step" (which is said in a negative context).

I just get bad vibes. We'll see how it plays out, after all it is early.

 

[Andy]

I don't want to be "that guy", but this is a pretty absurd overreaction. We barely had a training camp and didn't have a preseason - when else is a coach supposed to experiment with different lines and combos? Holy smokes...let's wait and see what the line ups look like at puck drop before flying off the handle.

I know it sounds like overreaction, but I think (at least I am) we're speaking in hypotheticals: if this were the case then.... etc

 

[Natey]

I think WS is right. Therrien has come into this team with his favorites already picked out.

Wasn't that obvious with Bouillon getting 23 minutes?

The fact that Diaz was our second best defenseman but will probably sit if Subban returns tells you something.

 

[Monctonscout]

My guess would be taht they would play Eller 4th C instead of White.

 

[Andy]

Wasn't that obvious with Bouillon getting 23 minutes?

The fact that Diaz was our second best defenseman but will probably sit if Subban returns tells you something.

Yah but Diaz is "soff". Don't remind me about Boullion. Ugh.

 

[Wats]

Pacioretty - Desharnais - Bourque
Galchenyuk/Eller - Plekanec - Cole
Prust - Eller/Galchenyuk - Gionta
Moen - White - Armstrong

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Wasn't that obvious with Bouillon getting 23 minutes?

The fact that Diaz was our second best defenseman but will probably sit if Subban returns tells you something.

If Bouillon gets 23 minutes a night for the rest of the season we are in 15th, no doubt about it. And if they sit Diaz then I seriously hope MB has the good sense to go to the coach and overrule him. Bouillon is the past and guys like Diaz are the future. We've got to see what that kid can do so play him.

 

[Natey]

Yah but Diaz is "soff". Don't remind me about Boullion. Ugh.

Diaz is "Eberle-soft." (Stolen from another thread). Some people, eh, Andy?

 

[SeriousHabs]

Wasn't that obvious with Bouillon getting 23 minutes?

The fact that Diaz was our second best defenseman but will probably sit if Subban returns tells you something.

In all honesty, neither Bouillon or Diaz can be game changers. Both are 6th or 7th Ds at best, and they are not the reason why we win or lose games.

 

[Natey]

Pacioretty - Desharnais - Bourque
Galchenyuk/Eller - Plekanec - Cole
Prust - Eller/Galchenyuk - Gionta
Moen - White - Armstrong

Galchenyuk - Plekanec - Cole
Pacioretty - Desharnais - Gallagher
Bourque - Eller - Gionta
Moen - White - Prust

 

[overlords]

Diaz is "Eberle-soft." (Stolen from another thread). Some people, eh, Andy?

With all due respect, if I'm not mistaken, I think you're taking Et le But's post out of context (if that's the one I'm thinking of) in regards to Eberle's squishiness.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Wait to see if they are still running these lines tomorrow morning.

But at this point, I'm almost wishing the lockout had wiped this season out...

why ? with half of season to go will be drafting in the top 5 again

 

[Natey]

In all honesty, neither Bouillon or Diaz can be game changers. Both are 6th or 7th Ds at best, and they are not the reason why we win or lose games.

Uhhh.. Bouillon was a game changer on Saturday. When you play 23 minutes, you're not a #6 or #7. You're a #1 or #2 (in this case #2).

Diaz would look great with 18-20 minutes a night. No reason for him to be sheltered with 14.

With all due respect, if I'm not mistaken, I think you're taking Et le But's post out of context (if that's the one I'm thinking of) in regards to Eberle's squishiness.

Maybe. Not sure how I took this out of contextd though.

"Once again, a 1D is more valuable than a soft scoring winger."

 

[Canadian_Brewtality]

time to post the panic button pic