Gotta say I am happy with this deal. Yes Eller isn't solving our grit holes but he's a workhorse who is good on the defensive end. He's a useful playoff player especially at that price.
Quoting my own post here because it needs to be said. But as one of only three players on our roster who had been to an ECF before, I knew Eller was a workhorse in the playoffs and this year he is stepping up in an even bigger way than I thought. Impressive player, further highlights this solid signing. I'm not going to give BMGM too much credit for it, as if you look to a few quotes below by Eller, it seemed like it was a puzzle piece fitting in the right place situation for both the team and the player. Not just in terms of fit structurally in our line up, but also personally. However it still doesn't change my opinion on the fact that we want players who want to not only be on our team, but enjoy playing and step up in the playoffs.
A big, likely underrated reason for our playoff success this year has been the type of guys that committed to signing longer term here that happen to have a bit more of that playoff experience, or have the type of skills to be more of a playoff performer. That really is the only way to change the mentality, fill the locker room long term with guys that help fight the bleeding.
"I like the playoffs," Eller said. "I like, I embrace when there's more on the line and the stakes are higher. I always like that, and I think that it brings out in the best in me, and now with Nick out, I've just been playing more minutes. The role is not that much different, I think. It's just I'm out there more.""I just feel at home on this team," Eller said. "I enjoy playing my role and I enjoy playing in [coach Barry Trotz's] system. There's just a lot of things that have come together for me, but playing in this system, you have a lot of freedom offensively and I have good support all around and I have a lot of stability. So it wasn't a hard decision for me wanting to stay in Washington."
