Pittsburgh Penguins | A thousand matches later, Eller is still here

(Pittsburgh) Times are tough for the Penguins. The locker room doors open Friday night after a 3-2 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers.

A defeat that is hard to swallow, firstly because the degree of animosity between the two teams reached unexpected proportions, especially after Kristopher Letang caused Aleksander Barkov to fall near the boards. Players from both clubs spent the rest of the evening bickering.

But the defeat was especially hard to swallow because the Penguins have won only one of their last six games (1-2-3 record), and three of their last ten (3-4-3). Here they are six points from the last place giving access to the series, with the aging core that we know.

It is therefore in this slightly gloomy context that the players, several of whom are still at their lockers, welcome the journalists. We sense Lars Eller a bit impatient to discuss, at the end of his 999^e match. “Go ahead, I’m listening,” he says a little dryly.

His face will light up throughout the short interview, especially when we talk about our conversation with Brendan Gallagher, the last survivor of the “Eller years”, if such a thing exists.

“I met several good people in Montreal. Some of these people will come to the game [samedi], these are old friendships, he unpacks. I was lucky to play there. I remember every series. Playing series games at the Bell Center is incredible and I will never forget that. »

Eller was drafted by the Blues and has worn the Penguins colors for 45 games, but it was not in St. Louis or Fort Duquesne that he had his most memorable years. It was first in Montreal, from 2010 to 2016, where he quietly found his identity as a third-line center, where he showed for the first time that he could elevate his game in the playoffs.

Then, in Washington, from 2016 until last winter, he had his most productive seasons and, above all, he won the Stanley Cup in 2018, amassing 18 points in 24 playoff games.

“He was a good teammate,” recalls Gallagher, whom we met earlier this week. In their younger years, they formed with Alex Galchenyuk what some had nicknamed the EGG linea nod to the first letter of their last names.

“I was his linemate for a long time. He was an important player, continued Gallagher. He won a Stanley Cup, he had quite a career. I’m happy for him, he’s a hard worker who has always been appreciated by his teammates. »

Even today, at 34, he plays an important role. Friday, in addition to piloting the third line and a penalty kill unit, he was dispatched to the second wave of the power play, and even in overtime. The colossus hasn’t changed that much: skilled at faceoffs, a fluid skater for his size, but limited offensive creativity, which leads him to retreat when others would attempt an incursion.

This Saturday evening, against the Canadian, Eller will become 389^e player in NHL history to reach 1,000 games, and the 39th^e among active players.

“He’s a true professional in his behavior, his work habits,” praised Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan. He controls everything necessary to be successful. It’s not easy to play in this league, let alone play 1000 games. When you look at the guys from the 1000 game club, passion and determination to work are probably the common denominators. »

Unlikely journey

Eller, however, will become the first Dane to play 1000 matches. It must be said that only 18 of them have reached the NHL. But when he made his debut on the circuit on November 5, 2009, he was only the 6^e Danish. The most prolific so far? A certain Poul Popiel, who had played 225 matches.

“When I was little, it wasn’t really a possibility to make it to the NHL,” Eller recalls. It seemed so distant, I never saw any matches. The best players from my country went to Sweden or had careers in Europe. But I loved hockey, I knew I wanted to do this with my life. »

In 2022-2023, according to the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF), Denmark had 5,944 registered players, who shared 27 rinks across the country. For comparison, there were then 548,000 players in Canada and 2,830 ice rinks. Barely 100 times more.

“He made it to the NHL, which in itself is difficult for a Dane,” said his Jets compatriot, Nikolaj Ehlers, met before Christmas. We don’t have many players, we have 26 rinks [sic], which is not much. So it’s pretty impressive for a guy to reach that number. »

From Halak to Harris

Son seems bored? He’s messing with his little sister and you can’t take it anymore? Well, sit him on your lap, because you have a fabulous story to tell him here. It appears that Jordan Harris’ stay in Montreal originated somewhere in 2003, when the defender was… 3 years old. The Habs actually drafted Jaroslav Halak that year, before trading him to the Blues for Lars Eller in 2010. Then, in the 2016 draft, the Canadian traded Eller to the Capitals, for picks of 2^e tour in 2017 and 2018. The one in 2017 was used to draft Joni Ikonen, to whom the CH never offered a contract. But that of 2018 was then given to the Oilers, against choices of 3^e and 5^e turns. The choice of 5^e In turn, Samuel Houde, also did not receive a contract offer, and he now plays for the Penguins’ farm club. But the choice of 3^e turn became Jordan Harris, who has given 104 games to the Canadian so far. That son’s look you’re seeing right now? It is his wonder at such an absurd story. No need to thank us.

Malkin scored in the right goal

The Penguins were playing their first game since an embarrassing 5-2 loss at Arizona, in which Evgeni Malkin scored in his own net. Malkin responded with character Friday, scoring the tying goal late in the third period that allowed the Penguins to force overtime. The Russian was in all the fights. “It was a big goal for me, a big goal for the team,” Malkin said. You saw my goal in my own net. Everyone sent me the video of the goal. It hurt my confidence. But it’s bad luck, it happens. I needed a good match, a goal. Now I feel much better. »