I was watching the players’ interviews as they were clearing out their lockers last week, and it hit me: Lars Eller indirectly called out head coach Michel Therrien for the way he forces him to play a defensive role.
It was evident in Eller’s body language and answers that he was far from being satisfied with his role as a third-line, checking centre. I can’t say that I blame him entirely- he’s 6’2, 209 lbs. and is 26 years old. He was selected 13th overall in the first round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He made waves by putting up 30 points in 46 games during the lockout-shortened 2012-2013 regular season (and an additional 15 points in 15 games in Finland), and was a force to be reckoned with during the 2013-2014 playoffs, finishing with 13 points in 17 games. He’s inexplicably often moved around in the Canadiens’ lineup, alternating between being a centre and a wing, and has not had consistent linemates.
When asked about what’s missing on the team, he said that “… everyone has an opinion on what’s missing…… and that he would not broach that subject. He did mention, however, that he believes in the solid core of the team, yet doesn’t understand why during the shortened 2012-2013 season the Habs were one of the highest-scoring teams in the league and how that was not the case in 2014-2015.
He makes a good point: the Canadiens scored 149 goals in 2012-2013, bested only by the Washington Capitals, Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks. The Habs’ goal differential was +23, and only the Pens and Hawks fared better.
What, then, could be the cause of Eller’s dismay? Sheepishly, he paused for a few (long) moments, offered up a nervous chuckle, and thought twice before answering the question every journalist was dying to ask him: “were you happy with your role this season?… You could tell it was a query that made him uncomfortable because he wouldn’t dare speak his mind and provide the media with the truth. Of course he wasn’t satisfied, and who in their right state of mind would be? Instead, he quietly said that every player could always do and desire more, especially of themselves. He added that he always wants to play more.
It was when he was further probed and asked if he feels his role should be geared more towards offense that he flat-out said, “Yeah, it is…. The look in his eye gave away a frustration that has to have been building up for a few years already. Ever since he was removed from the infamous “EGG… line (Eller-Galchenyuk-Gallagher) early in 2013-2014, he has not been a shadow of the player he could be.
The question is, is this behavior acceptable by the Montreal Canadiens’ organization?
Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau had a horrendous season with rare flashes of brilliance, yet everyone is fully aware of what he’s capable of doing in terms of offensive output. During his interview, you could see that he was optimistic for next year, and vowed to train very hard during the offseason in order to redeem himself and prove that he belongs on this team next year. Staying humble and admitting his own shortcomings is a very commendable move, and that’s exactly the kind of approach that is expected of every single player in the locker room.
I’ve always believed that Eller could be the Habs’ second line centre, and that his issues on the ice were ones of confidence. He’s consulted more than once with Dr. Sylvain Guimond, a sports psychologist, and yet somehow it seems that the only person not willing to change is Lars Eller.
Hockey is a game that’s often been lauded as being 85% mental, and unfortunately for a player with a great deal of potential like Eller, he fails to see that.
He needs to change his attitude and promise that he will be better, not moan and complain about his role. Nobody else has done that on this team, and those who have don’t stick around long enough to see their wishes come true. There's a fine line between being arrogant and being driven, and I unfortunately cannot place Eller within the last category.
As a player on the Habs, you must always remember that you are an ambassador to the most storied franchise in the history of the National Hockey League.
You must therefore behave accordingly.