They outproduced him because he had a bad season, not because they were so much better. Eller and Gally haven't been lighting it up since the beginning of the camp - are you confident that they'll have a better season than Desharnais? Personally I'm not. It's certainly possible, but I certainly wouldn't bet a place in the playoff on this question.
If Eller or Gally can't clearly outplay Desharnais (and reading how some people see the latter it shouldn't be very difficult isn't it?), then there's no point in thinking they deserve his place (although I certainly hope both will get more PP time this year). Desharnais started his NHL career on the bottom lines, and had to produce with everyone he was playing with before having a sniff on a scoring line. IMHO Eller and Gally have yet to show how they can create offense by themselves and make their teammates so much better just by their play, like Desharnais did two years ago.
Points per 60 minutes played:
Galchenyuk : 12th in the NHL
Eller : 17th in the NHL
So they outproduced DD cause they were part of the best in NHL, considering
their respective ice-time. Not only cause DD had a bad season.
You said: Desharnais started his NHL career on the bottom lines, and had to produce with everyone he was playing with before having a sniff on a scoring line
He played 58 games precisely before being put on a scoring line:
27pts in 58 games....not bad!!
BUT
He was on the powerplay from day 1 and that helps a lot.
A chance that very few player receive.
What was his true production as a bottom 6 players (Without PP)
17 pts in 58 games.....That's not what i call "producing well on the bottom line"
Last year, Eller had a rotating lines....He played with Galchy, but not every shift (Ice-time will show you this). He played 2nd, 3rd and 4th line....from wing to center....with Armstrong, Dumont, Moen, Prust, Cole, Ryder....He practically played with every player...and everytime it works.
I'm not saying throw DD out and put Eller at his place.
I'm saying: try it!!
Cause IMO, Eller prove way more than DD did when given that job!
But then again, if you think DD made Pacioretty and Cole better two years ago...
I think it's they other way around! Never forget, Pacioretty did as well with Gomez than he did with DD!!
Yes, Eller has to prove he can outplay DD over a 82 games season. DD also has to prove he belongs to the NHL. That's what I like, players that feel the need to prove themselves so they upgrade their game and effort night in and out.
You're entirely right about coaches putting offensive tools when the worst defense of the oposing team is on the ice. That said, I've yet to see Eller being a dominant offensive force you can rely on, as much as DD. As much as I like Eller, he's as much a product of Gallys than DD is a product of Pac.
DD will prove once again he's a reliable 50-60 points center and haters are going to hate. Imagine the hate now if he can developp his defensive game, and become a two-way center like Plek. DD is entering his peak and what we'll see in the next few years is going to be his best, and the lenght of his contract pretty much covers his peak. Considering there is no better options at this point, I'm happy they signed him for those terms. Don't forget that Plek is past his peak and that Eller / Gally are still raw. Only in Montreal a player gets critiscized because of size when he puts up .6X PPG.
The way i see it:
We now know that given good winger, Eller is able to make things works.
He played like 10 games with Gallagher and 2/3 of every game with Galchenyuk.
(Even then, he and Galchenyuk didn't play together at the start of the season...took about 12-14 games)
But of course it would help any center to be given good wingers!
Being a dominant offensive force......name me one player that is dominant force playing 15 minutes a games (with 2.5 minute on the PK) without powerplay time.
Hard to do....30pts in 46 games is kind of the best you can hope for in these conditions. Give the kid a chance, he diserve it, that's all!
And the reason why in MTL poeple critized a 0.6X player cause of his size...is pretty simple.
Gomez was a small 60ish points player
Koivu was a small 60ish points player too
Plekanec is also a small 60ish points player
And if i go back in time.....we've been crying for a decade that we need to get bigger at center. Now we have another small 60ish point player...and he is the smallest of them all:
And suddenly we think we're gonna be fine???
And suddenly getting bigger at center is not an issue???
And suddenly having the smallest player in the NHL at that position is a great idea??
Mayby it is....i wanna see the habs win, no matter what!
So i would be thrilled to see DD become an offensive juggernauts
But....
Been there, done that....just don't wanna try it one more time after it failed for more than a decade!
