Confirmed with Link: The Tiger 2.0 | Lars Eller traded back to Washington from Pittsburgh (for a 3rd in 2027 and a 5th in 2025)

[SherVaughn30]

I was kind of meh on this, but Lars faceoff win percentage has been 56%!

 

[EroCaps]

See if someone will give you a 1st for Lappy or a young D prospect.

There isn’t room for a top 2 C for the foreseeable future unless Dubois flames out spectacularly.

 

[Melkor]

Lapierre is done for. Dude is pushing 23 and can't even hang onto the bottom six spot, at this point you're better off trading him for something else, for example, a right handed D prospect with a similar pedigree and age.
Also I expect them to get rid of Milano and Vrana down the road and call Leonard and Ivan the Man up for fun come playoff time.

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

I think the only main value to keeping Lapierre in DC is if fatigue is the main driver of his issues. A month into the season he's been replaced and there's just one spot open otherwise (with Vrana having some experience with Eller). It doesn't look great for Lapierre. At his peak he may outclass the AHL but I'm not sure he's truly outgrown Hershey overall. He's clearly got better skating than 99% of AHLers but in terms of 1v1 battles he's not a man amongst boys. Even if he finds his game again I'm not sure what sort of role he'd grab with the Caps when they're healthy. He's not a checker. His speed should be helpful when going but the strength limitations and general inability to assert his game led to a pretty quick hook. Sgarbossa arguably playing better than him had to give them some pause.

Just because CMM/Protas have broken out doesn't mean Lapierre eventually will. We'll see. If his future at center is murky there are an awful lot of wingers coming that at least make the match less clear. Bigger picture I don't doubt there are center-needy rebuilding teams that come calling willing to withstand those growing pains. That's not a move they need to rush into unless the player is unhappy but a card they're in position to play at some point if they want to.

Milano being on IR allows them some time before making an assignment decision. Given that they seem content carrying 8D that should mean a subtraction up front and sending Lapierre down is the easiest move to make. Waiving Milano may eventually happen but I'd at least keep Milano around in the hopes he finds his game and can at least become movable. With Sgarbossa faring better than 29 in spot duty and this move I'd be surprised if Lapierre remains on the roster all year. Mostly that's because the team's improved overall pace makes them less thirsty for a somewhat limited but fast player if the overall package isn't cutting it.

He can get stronger in DC. Are his actual hockey skills going to improve a lot more in Hershey? I’m not seeing it. I mean beyond maybe a short mental reset stint…

If he’s doesn’t have a spot here, they should package him when the time is right…I’d waive Milano first if forced to make a move.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Go look at the main board comments in the Eller trade thread by Pens fans. It should make everyone against this deal feel better.

Meh. Those guys told us Orpik was washed.

 

[DWGie26]

OK… have to bring it back to culture once again. You think the Caps didn’t have conversations with Lapierre before this move. Guaranteed they did. They have great examples to point to in McMichael and Protas.

This isn’t about a demotion. This is about pulling the pressure release value and letting a player grow into the role. Remember he is a draft year behind McMichael and Pro. Not saying his jump will be as dramatic but getting him in the right spot is important.

 

[um]

See if someone will give you a 1st for Lappy or a young D prospect.

There isn’t room for a top 2 C for the foreseeable future unless Dubois flames out spectacularly.

Lapierre is done for. Dude is pushing 23 and can't even hang onto the bottom six spot, at this point you're better off trading him for something else, for example, a right handed D prospect with a similar pedigree and age.
Also I expect them to get rid of Milano and Vrana down the road and call Leonard and Ivan the Man up for fun come playoff time.

You guys are out of your mind. Have you learned nothing from McMichael and Protas this year?

Lapierre isn’t being traded because of a one year rental who’s 35.

 

[Midnight Judges]

Lapierre is done for. Dude is pushing 23 and can't even hang onto the bottom six spot, at this point you're better off trading him for something else, for example, a right handed D prospect with a similar pedigree and age.
Also I expect them to get rid of Milano and Vrana down the road and call Leonard and Ivan the Man up for fun come playoff time.

Eh it's too early to go that far IMO. Lapierre is still young. A year ago Conner McMicheal (who is a year older than Lapierre) wasn't much better than Lapierre is now. Protas was arguably worse.

I don't think you can expect that kind of a step but you can't rule it out either.

 

[Langway]

He can get stronger in DC. Are his actual hockey skills going to improve a lot more in Hershey? I’m not seeing it. I mean beyond maybe a short mental reset stint…

If he’s doesn’t have a spot here, they should package him when the time is right…I’d waive Milano first if forced to make a move.

He can get stronger. He won't necessarily become more assertive or confident not playing games I don't think. Some elements of his pro details and mentality can improve in Hershey if he puts in that work. He could easily go back, rely on his existing strengths and not get as much out of it. It's up to him. He earned the benefit of the doubt based on his AHL play and late season NHL play it bought him a month. Now he's got to show some legit signs to maintain any advantage.

Typically when they need a guy it's about who's earned the opportunity and that should also hold for what may be the lone extra forward spot. Overall I think you'd have to say to this point at least Sgarbossa or Miro would be more deserving.

 

[DWGie26]

Reality is, we need depth at NHL center. And i think it is clear this team is going to make a run in OV’s last two years. This is a good safe way to get deeper, have experience for a run, and let Lapierre develop (which he clearly needs to do - see CMM 2-3 years ago).

I think Lapierre hangs around WSH and pro environment as long as he can. Injuries may happen. Maybe not, but he will continue to grow here with the big club.

 

[Ovechkins Wodka]

You guys are out of your mind. Have you learned nothing from McMichael and Protas this year?

Lapierre isn’t being traded because of a one year rental who’s 35.

This x100

 

[DWGie26]

He can get stronger. He won't necessarily become more assertive or confident not playing games I don't think. Some elements of his pro details and mentality can improve in Hershey if he puts in that work. He could easily go back, rely on his existing strengths and not get as much out of it. It's up to him. He earned the benefit of the doubt based on his AHL play and late season NHL play it bought him a month. Now he's got to show some legit signs to maintain any advantage.

Typically when they need a guy it's about who's earned the opportunity and that should also hold for what may be the lone extra forward spot. Overall I think you'd have to say to this point at least Sgarbossa or Miro would be more deserving.

they will invest in Lapierre. I believe that means leaving him in Washington to develop there. Better trainers. Better diet. Better practices. He doesn’t need games as much as he needs to catch his breath and absorb the game. So he stays until Milano comes off IR and I suspect that isn’t happening anytime soon.

 

[PlushMinus]

I was kind of meh on this, but Lars faceoff win percentage has been 56%!

Glad you mentioned this as it had crossed my mind as another positive to Eller's game

Also if they were thinking of trading Lapierre they could have just sent him to the Pens for Eller, maybe? Since Dubas supposedly wanted players in return, not futures. I dunno, maybe it was discussed between Dubas and our GM (I forgot his name) and Dubas got knocked back

 

[SherVaughn30]

Lapierre is done for. Dude is pushing 23 and can't even hang onto the bottom six spot, at this point you're better off trading him for something else, for example, a right handed D prospect with a similar pedigree and age.
Also I expect them to get rid of Milano and Vrana down the road and call Leonard and Ivan the Man up for fun come playoff time.

Dude, Caps don't dump on their prospects like that. Milano, I agree with but all the others won't happen like that. HL is waiver exempt and can be sent to Hershey to work on his game.

Glad you mentioned this as it had crossed my mind as another positive to Eller's game

Also if they were thinking of trading Lapierre they could have just sent him to the Pens for Eller, maybe? Since Dubas supposedly wanted players in return, not futures. I dunno, maybe it was discussed between Dubas and our GM (I forgot his name) and Dubas got knocked back

Chris Patrick is the Caps GM now.

 

[trick9]

Interesting trade.

On one hand, these picks are next to nothing.

3C upgrade was propably coming anyway, since i don't think they like having that line play ~10 minutes in the Playoffs. I'd have hoped the give Lapierre a bit longer leash since he's been better lately but it is what it is. It's not like Vrana or Milano has lit the world on fire on the wing either so Lapierre might be getting a shot there with a defensive center.

If he plays like he has played in Pittspurgh, it's a good stopgap move before guys graduate next season. I hope he plays like that and not the way he played when he left us.

 

[TheSmokingMan]

This is a good move. Improving center depth is never a bad thing. Eller will give them another center who can take faceoffs and kill penalties other than Dowd. He stabilizes that line and gives the coaches a ton of flexibility to move pieces around until they find the right combination. He's the perfect center to help younger players on his line.

It was clear that Lapierre was struggling with the responsibility of center and I don't think it was going to imrpove if they kept throwing him out there every night. With this move, they'll give him a chance at wing and he'll get another go at center next season.

 

[Nogatco Rd]

Lapierre is done for. Dude is pushing 23 and can't even hang onto the bottom six spot, at this point you're better off trading him for something else, for example, a right handed D prospect with a similar pedigree and age.
Also I expect them to get rid of Milano and Vrana down the road and call Leonard and Ivan the Man up for fun come playoff time.

Who’s an example of the type of player you think they should be targeting as a return? And what do you think Lapierre’s ceiling is at this point?

 

[Melkor]

Eh it's too early to go that far IMO. Lapierre is still young. A year ago Conner McMicheal (who is a year older than Lapierre) wasn't much better than Lapierre is now. Protas was arguably worse.

I don't think you can expect that kind of a step but you can't rule it out either.

CMM at least was a serviceable NHLer and they still tried to trade him, the rumours about that were all over the social media in the offseason. There comes a point where you have to make the right decision until it's too late and the dude just walks away with dead value around the league. Lapierre doesn' have Protas' big ass to at least do some dirty work when things go south offensively. If there's no generating offense what can he do? Can he win faceoffs, retrieve pucks, shoot like Semin, block shots, hit like a train? I can't see what he brings to the table. If there's a belief around the league that he's still good you have to fill up that right D side. You can still draft a good center at the bottom of the 1st round. You're highly unlikely to get a top-4 RD in the 20-30 range though.

 

[MW6]

Another caveat is that if Lapierre is sent down he and Miro can work on building chemistry for next year.

 

[Roshi]

Didnt expect our GM just waiting for my acceptance of the idea to pull the trigger.? I guess Pens wasnt willing to give enough for us taking Crosbys albatross-contract then.

Welcome back Lars. Its makes sense so why not.

3rd+5th, meh. Ill take the guy who scored our cup-winning goal, while Pens waiving the white flag, for that price everyday And twice on sundays.

 

[Roshi]

Reading back, its overthinking to call out Lapierre as a trade chip here.

If they actually did try to trade McMichael last season, if anything thats the one example that gives them more patience with Lapierre and not less, seeing what McMike is doing now. Eller is here for depth and competition. Its fine, there will be injuries and there will be rotation. Having the depth just gives Lapierre more time and less pressure to get over whatever he is going through now.

They wont trade Vrana or Milano either. Atleast not both (Milano is starting to look a bit of "not mixing in" so could see that one just to give Sonny a more favourable chance elswhere - buts its way too early to go there yet). We dont have cap problems and we are winning games. They wont do dirty on Hershey either, Bears are looking to 3-peat. If they bring Miro or others up for good, thats only because they really forced their way in, and with the depth we have they would have to absolutely crush it. Their (Lapierre,Miro,Leonard, etc) time will be next year, or even a year after that. Theres no rush when we are fifth in the league with w%. Let em cook.

 

[ovikovy817]

I don't hate this for three reasons:
1) If we're running Leonard at 3R in the playoffs, then we're going to want an experienced center who is very good defensively, which Lapierre was never going to be, regardless of how well he was playing.
2) There's no chance he'll screw up locker room chemistry
3) We didn't pay much.

Same feeling here

On the + side : what you have said

On the - side :
Older but I don't care because he's here for just this year.
Slower, this is the big - but he has a good IQ so I hope he will make plays to not slow down the pace of the game and be responsible in the D zone.

And if he isn't good enough I'm pretty sure Carbery won't hesitate to send him in the press box.

 

[Portable Mink]

Lot of long time posters round here liking this. I join them.
I personally think he fits perfect with the way Carb runs the team.

Agree that time to acclimate to our system is important
Agree on centre depth for cheap
3rd line centre but Eller as your 4th best centre? Sounds good to me.
Another PK option
Better to do this now and not tempt fate around the success so far, back em in
Team will get a boost in the locker for sure

Would love to see a video of when he walks in.

 

[895]

Just because CMM turned out great does not mean Lapierre will. It’s incredibly illogical to assume that. Some players bust other players don’t.

It happens. It’s pretty much a 50% chance on draft day. Right now Lappy is far closer to bust territory than anything else.

And no one is going to give us a 1st round pick back for lappy. That’s insane. How does not managing to become a regular NHL player 5 years later keep his value?

 

[strungout]