The season is dwindling.. our starting goalie is still injured.. we can't afford to sit around and play with ourselves hoping that chemistry will develop when it is abundantly clear that Vanek/Gionta is a doomed combination.
It's been a long time since I've seen two players so incredible out of sync with each other. Gionta does not understand Vanek. Gionta's skill-set does not bring anything to the table of that line that makes it an threatening line.
Give Vanek some legitimate skill to work with on the right side and Plekanec can be the responsible two-way guy that he has been throughout his career.
I personally would have no problem with Vanek/Pleks/Galchenyuk. Some may say that that line would be doomed defensively going head to head against top opposition, which may hold some water, but I think so highly of Plekanec's defensive game that I wouldn't hesitate to put anyone on his wings. Looking at Bergeron in Boston and his two most common teammates this season are Marchand/Smith. I wouldn't call those wingers defensive stalwarts, but all 3 players have 40+ points on the season and are a combined +70... (pains me to complement the B's). Point is is that not every two way center in the league absolutely needs a Gionta on their wing to survive. I think Pleks' could survive head to head with whoever is on his wings, he's not DD.
What is there to lose at this point anyway? The team is 20-17-1 since December 1. That's an 88 point pace over the course of 82 games. Not exactly top of the East type play. I think these 3 players would be more capable of spending more time in the offensive zone than if Gionta was there, and more time on attack is about as good a defence as you can come up with.
I like Gionta, but I don't think Gionta on the top line helps the team win as much as it does help the team tread water. Also, on the subject of line matching there's been games where MT hasn't exactly been consistent sending Pleks' line against opposing top lines. Their last game vs. the Leafs the Kessel line got away from Pleks' line half the night, on the road... So, yeah.
Gionta on Eller's line let's say gives enough defensive stability to his line, that MT could almost roll 3 lines and get away with it. Add Moen there and you're covered, and then the 4th line could have Bourque/Briere/Prust to basically demolish opposing 4th lines. This team has so much going for it on paper, it's ridiculous they've been so mediocre since December.