Lars Eller Returns to Washington Capitals in Trade with Pittsburgh Penguins
The Washington Capitals have re-acquired veteran center Lars Eller from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and Chicago’s fifth-round pick in 2025. Eller, who spent the majority of his career with the Capitals from 2016 to 2023, is now returning to Washington after a brief stint with the Colorado Avalanche and most recently, the Penguins.
While Eller is not known for his offensive production, he holds a special place in Capitals history, having scored the decisive goal in the 2018 Stanley Cup Final. Over his tenure with Washington, he registered 87 goals and 208 points in 488 regular-season games, alongside 9 goals and 31 points in 59 playoff games. His reliable two-way play also included more than 3,000 faceoff wins with a 50.1% success rate.
The trade addresses an immediate need for the Capitals, who had been relying on Michael Sgarbossa as their third-line center. Eller, who has tallied four goals and seven points in 17 games this season with the Penguins, will bolster Washington’s depth at center and provide a boost to the penalty kill, where the team is already ranked fourth in the NHL.
For Pittsburgh, the deal comes amid a challenging season, as the Penguins sit at a 6-9-2 record, coming off a recent blowout loss to the Dallas Stars. Eller’s departure could signal the start of a broader roster shakeup, with other veterans such as Marcus Pettersson, Drew O’Connor, and Anthony Beauvillier potentially on the move if Pittsburgh’s struggles continue. The team may also look to trade other expiring contracts as they navigate a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.