How do you expect these guys to be motivated when they are told to play in a way that doesn't suit them? Or when they see crappier players getting better or more ice time?
Take Eller for instance. How can you blame this guy if he isn't motivated?? He has had to bend over backwards in order to get just a tiny bit of recognition. He was scratched, benched, put on 4th line, given grinders, until finally the coach had the common sense to try him out with decent offensive wingers. But hey, they had to be rookie wingers.
He does quite well with them. Still, they're frequently broken, and aren't really given PP opportunities.
This season start, he's given the same linemates. Every time they play together, they create something offensively, dominate their opposition and even produce. Still, they are yet again frequently split up in order to jump start other problems.
Another line clicks with Gallagher, so he's out. Eller sees his offensive role diminish, drop of ice time both at ES and PP. At least Galchenyuk is kept on his wing and he produces at a .5 ratio. Until Therrien is sick of seeing Plek play with tired vets or a rookie (despite it decently working) and puts him there.
Eller is left alone with dead wood, no more offensive role, no PP opportunities, reduces ice time.
How exactly do you want him to be motivated?? No matter what he does, he's being glued to a 3rd line checking role at best. Such a waste..
Therrien is horrible. Ever went to work with a horrible boss?? It pushes people to quit sometimes. I see no difference in hockey. If you think the coach is running the team like a moron and doing things wrong, you can't expect someone to be motivated.
