you're missing my point though Marty... it's not about Eller. it's about DD being miscast as a #1 center in the regular season and being woefully outmatched as a #1 center in the playoffs when you don't get to play the Hurricanes and Panthers.
- DoubleDown

Well ALL know that Desharnais isn't a suitable #1 center. There's no debate here.

Exactly
- Fredo

Soldier on then!!

also that stretch of games was like half of his playoff career... can't just not count it
- DoubleDown

Can I count that time he had his head up his ass at center ice and got destroyed by Gryba?

also that stretch of games was like half of his playoff career... can't just not count it
- DoubleDown

It was Lars Eller being Lars Eller. Hot for 10-12 games. Nothing more.

He just happened to be hot at the right moment.

Eller is far more suited to handle physical play than DD. between playing with Pacioretty and getting a few mins of PP time per game, i'm confident saying that Eller would outproduce Desharnais' 0.35/ppg pace in the playoffs. i told you i'm not a huge Eller fan and i don't think he'd score at a high level. i just think he'd outscore DD.
- DoubleDown

Eller has no vision, and hogs the puck. That's why he can't break out of the 30 pts range. I really have doubts that he could produce more than Desharnais.

Can I count that time he had his head up his ass at center ice and got destroyed by Gryba?
- Fredo

It was at the blue line, and player #61 set him up.

Looking strong. Will come down to pitching.
- hscesq

I can see Hutch being detrimental to the run. Strolman's got a rehab outing on the 21st. If only...

Eller has no vision, and hogs the puck. That's why he can't break out of the 30 pts range. I really have doubts that he could produce more than Desharnais.
- stinger67

They won't win the cup with either Eller or Desharnais in the top center spot. They'll be a couple of rounds of playoffs hockey until they find that center. Maybe it's Galchenyuk but under Therrien I doubt it.

It was at the blue line, and player #61 set him up.
- hscesq

Diaz

I can see Hutch being detrimental to the run. Strolman's got a rehab outing on the 21st. If only...

- Stee-Dot

Hutch pitches to the score. 10-2 isn't bad.

Stro back would be nice but more likely long relief than starting, no?

Eller has no vision, and hogs the puck. That's why he can't break out of the 30 pts range. I really have doubts that he could produce more than Desharnais.
- stinger67

in the regular season i agree. it's just playoffs where i disagree. i just think that DD is so useless in the playoffs that even Eller is an upgrade. he's marginally less useless.

in the regular season i agree. it's just playoffs where i disagree. i just think that DD is so useless in the playoffs that even Eller is an upgrade. he's marginally less useless.
- DoubleDown

They need more than a marginal upgrade to be a contender so it's pretty useless. It's like Yan putting on high heels to try to dunk.

They won't win the cup with either Eller or Desharnais in the top center spot. They'll be a couple of rounds of playoffs hockey until they find that center. Maybe it's Galchenyuk but under Therrien I doubt it.
- Fredo

of course. they are in need of major upgrading at center but that doesn't seem to be a priority. and stinger before you make a sarcastic comment about acquiring Crosby and Malkin, let me say that it doesn't take a Crosby or Malkin to upgrade our centers. you can still upgrade with non-elite players when your current players kind of suck.

Well ALL know that Desharnais isn't a suitable #1 center. There's no debate here.
- Pecafan Fan

Even Desharnais knows it.

It's been like that since the Koivu days. It's incredible how this team, whatever the management, was and is unable to find a 1st line center, whether it's through trade or the draft.

Even Desharnais knows it.

It's been like that since the Koivu days. It's incredible how this team, whatever the management, was and is unable to find a 1st line center, whether it's through trade or the draft.
- stinger67

Maybe someone should have a word or two with Timmins...

Even Desharnais knows it.

It's been like that since the Koivu days. It's incredible how this team, whatever the management, was and is unable to find a 1st line center, whether it's through trade or the draft.
- stinger67

i thought Koivu was way better suited to it than DD. Koivu always produced in the playoffs and in the regular season he was good for 60-70. even in the regular season, DD struggles to crack 50 points.

You don't discuss Eller without DD and vice versa. Just not possible.
- hscesq

None of them is the solution for a number one centre. I 'm not sure why this a debate. This team is far from Tampa, unless Semin plays like the old Semin, Sherback makes the team and contribute right away and Galchenyuk break out as a number one centre.

Hutch pitches to the score. 10-2 isn't bad.

Stro back would be nice but more likely long relief than starting, no?
- BingoLady

For sure. Too soon to rush him in the rotation. Might be ready closer to the PO though.

Even Desharnais knows it.

It's been like that since the Koivu days. It's incredible how this team, whatever the management, was and is unable to find a 1st line center, whether it's through trade or the draft.
- stinger67

I think it's time they offer sheet a RFA center. (frank) the picks anyway they always draft 20-32

They need more than a marginal upgrade to be a contender so it's pretty useless. It's like Yan putting on high heels to try to dunk.
- Fredo

This. They need a Kopitar or a Getzlaf.

I think it's time they offer sheet a RFA center. (frank) the picks anyway they always draft 20-32
- Fredo

Anyone available in the near future?

None of them is the solution for a number one centre. I 'm not sure why this a debate. This team is far from Tampa, unless Semin plays like the old Semin, Sherback makes the team and contribute right away and Galchenyuk break out as a number one centre.
- deadpoulet

last attempt here. that was not the debate. i brought Eller in to illustrate how useless DD is in the playoffs. let's agree that they're both useless in that role and move along.

oh and to further compound the mess this team is at center... Plekanec is a UFA in July 2016 and based on the contracts signed by Kesler, Sutter, O'Reilly, etc... he's not coming cheap.

i thought Koivu was way better suited to it than DD. Koivu always produced in the playoffs and in the regular season he was good for 60-70. even in the regular season, DD struggles to crack 50 points.
- DoubleDown

different era. Best scorer this year had 87 points. Back in the Koivu days, leaders had around 100+.

Koivu's best season was 2006-07 where he had 75 points

The top leaders that year were Crosby (120pts), Thornton (114pts), Lecavalier (108pts), Heatley (105pts) and St-Louis (102pts).

We are really in "Dead-puck Era II"

last attempt here. that was not the debate. i brought Eller in to illustrate how useless DD is in the playoffs. let's agree that they're both useless in that role and move along.
- DoubleDown

You should really stop comparing them.