Impact: He has just three assists in 16 games this season, well off the pace we expected based on his history and his promising role on this team. His recent ice time reflects his lack of productivity: In his first 10 games, he averaged just under 14 minutes a game, but in his last six, that figure is around 8 1/2 minutes. Some of that dropoff is attributable to coach Peter Laviolette's decision to use him sparingly in the first couple of games after he returned to action after missing four games due to illness and injury, but we believe that much of it reflects the fact that he isn't producing. Eaves is just 24, and it is not out of the question that he could be sent to AHL Albany for a few games to rediscover his scoring touch.