The 24-year-old Dane is now entering his fourth season as an NHL forward, a season that oftens translate into a 25% offensive breakout
for NHL forwards. After an uneventful first season with the Habs during which
he recorded a mere 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 77 games, the first-round
draft pick in 2007 improved his offensive numbers in 2008, notching 16 goals
and 12 assists for 28 points in 79 contests.
Last season, Eller found himself centering two rookies,
Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk, during most of the season. The influx of
talent on wings helped bolster his offensive production to a very interesting 8
goals and 22 assists for 30 points in only 46 games because of the lock-out.
Over a full season those numbers would translate into a 14 goals and 38 helpers
for 52 points!
Including the first two games of the season, Eller has now
accumulated 18 points (7 g and 11 a) in his last 14 regular season games with
Montreal (excluding last playoffs). If Eller hadn't been knocked out of the
series last Spring by a vicious neutral-zone bodycheck laid out by Ottawa Senators'
defenseman Eric Gryba, who knows if the Habs would have been eliminated by the
Sens in the first round.
Eller was even named the NHL's second star of the first week
of action in 2013 after recording 3 goals and 2 assists for 5 points in only 2 games.
Eller has also improved dramatically on face-offs, posting a .515% efficiency so far in
2013-14 (he finished with .493% in 2012-13, .466% in 2011-12 and .425 % in 2010-11, respectively).
Eller and his linemates, dubbed the EGG line, are steadily seeing
their playing time increase as they have been the Canadiens' best line so far
this season. With the increased responsibilities will come more power play
time, which will translate into more points for Eller and the Gallys. Eller is
currently ranked sixth among Habs forwards with an average of 3:11 TOI/G on the
man advantage after playing a mere 42 seconds per game on average on the power play last season!
Stronger and faster, Eller is on a mission this season after
bulking up during the off-season! The 6'2'', 215-lb pivot has everything you
want in a first-line center: a high hockey IQ, the speed, the grit, and the
play-making ability that every NHL coach is looking for.
Eller is ready to shine this season with the Habs and don't
be surprised if the young Dane finishes as the team's leading point getter
among forwards, battling the team's scoring title with Norris Trophy winner
P.K. Subban.
No Foolin' Fred Poulin
3 comments:
Isn't it ironic that the big center the Habs have been looking for since big Pete Mahovlich left us, is right under management's nose. I hope Eller goes on to be that big center we have wanted for years and produces at that top level we all have been wishing for. Go Eller and stay healthy
Another loss at Calgary, we Better be praaising Lars Eller, as he at least scored one of the Habs two goals tonight..What amazes me with this franchise is one really bad management team after another..Marc Bergevin gets rid of lousy contracts in Gomez and Kaberle, yet the Moron wastes it on losers such as Desharnais, Moen and then signing another useless midget in Danny Briere. Hey Molsons, hire someone that Knows what he's doing.
I agree with you, I just don't understand why they signed Desharnais. He is constantly pushed off the puck; he is on his butt more than on his skates. Without Cole and Pac on his wings to give him room he is showing what he really brings to the Habs....unfortunately nothing.
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