The Penguins kicked off their pre-draft activity with a minor swap involving a Metro Division rival. POHO/GM Kyle Dubas sent a third-round pick in the 2027 Entry Draft and a fifth-round pick in the ’28 Draft to the Capitals.
The return?
Twenty-four-year-old forward Hendrix Lapierre.
Whodat, you ask?
Fair question.
For starters, the native of Gatineau, Quebec, was the Caps’ first-round choice (22nd overall) back in 2020. He’s a six-footer who tips the scales at 195 pounds—decent enough size. Lapierre’s strengths include wheels and puckhandling skills, as evidenced by his Elite Prospects thumbnail dating back to his draft year.
“Lapierre’s pucks skills, and the ability to wield them with the same effectiveness at speed as he does at a standstill, make him a dazzling puck-carrier. He can effortlessly weave his way through an entire team on a moment’s notice.”
As for his shortcomings? Lapierre isn’t overly physical (88 hits in 158 NHL games). Although a center by trade, he isn’t good on faceoffs (38.4 percent). Following a decent rookie season with the Caps in ’23-24 when he tallied eight goals and 22 points in 51 games, his production waned the past couple of seasons, along with a reduction in role and ice time.
Ironically, while Lapierre’s boxcars dwindled to only four goals and 16 points in 71 games this past season, his underlying 5v5 metrics took a quantum leap forward, including Corsi (54.45), Shots for % (53.67), Goals for % (51.02) and Expected Goals for % (55.66).
Lapierre’s High Danger Chances For %, a stunning 58.75. For comparison’s sake, Ben Kindel’s was 53.17.
Despite his struggles to establish himself at the big-league level, Lapierre has been productive as a pro. Over his past 52 games with the AHL Hershey Bears spread over two seasons, he tallied a highly respectable 49 points. Nearly a point-per-game pace.
In the spring of ’24 he led the Calder Cup playoffs in scoring (22 points in 20 games) while leading the Bears to a title and garnering playoff MVP honors. Much as Arturs Šilovs did the following spring.
A classic case of Dubas acquiring a young player of promise who perhaps needs a change of scenery to flourish. Well worth the purchase price of a couple mid-round picks.
Oh, his coach with the Bears? None other than current Pens assistant Todd Nelson.
