Penguins
Penguins Trade: Lars Eller Back to Capitals, Small Return
The Pittsburgh Penguins didn’t get the shakeup trade they may have needed Tuesday, but general manager Kyle Dubas did work the phones and shipped Lars Eller back to his hockey home, the Washington Capitals.
The Penguins didn’t get anything of immediate need. Instead, Dubas got a 2027 third-rounder and Chicago’s 2025 fifth-round pick for Eller.
This season, Eller had a pair of multi-goal games, tallying four goals and three assists in 17 games. The Danish center has been a leader since signing with the Penguins on July 1, 2023. He was unafraid to call out his team following poor performances and will lead the Denmark hockey team at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
Eller was the Penguins’ steady third-line center last season and scored 15 goals and 31 points in 81 games. Following this season, his two-year, $4.9 million contract expired, making him a free agent.
The Penguins recalled Sam Poulin to serve as their 13th forward on Monday. The 2019 first-round pick may be thrust into the lineup as a natural center. The Penguins now have about $1.78 million in salary cap space available, according to Puckpedia.com. That number will grow to a proportional $6.63 million at the NHL trade trade deadline.
Later Tuesday, Kyle Dubas will answer questions about the trade from beat reporting outlets that cover the Pittsburgh Penguins, including Pittsburgh Hockey Now. He is currently in Toronto for the GM Meetings.
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Yes, get rid of the player with perhaps the most fight.
Sucks that they let go of a conscientious guy who actually played to expectations consistently and cared. But this has to also be seen as Dubas trying to do right by Eller rather than ship him to Buffalo, for example.
I was very happy with Eller play last season with the penguins. Best of luck with the Caps. I guess Poulin will take over either third or fourth line centerman till Glass or Hayes return to the lineup.
With Dubas being POHO, maybe ownership can talk him into hiring an actual GM.. if not this will be a long, long, rebuild. I have zero faith this guy can actually select talent enough to handle a rebuild. Buy hey that 3rd rounder will be here after sids next contract ends…. why wouldn’t he try trading for an actual Defenseman that can play… hmm actual defense.
Lars wasn’t the problem but they did need to clear out some of the older veterans to make room for someone younger. Not really a shakeup but the options are limited at this point. This could also be the first domino of many to fall.
Let the fire sale – or as much of one as can be with a team comprised of a lot of full and partial no-trade-clauses begin.
Not good…
This trade seems like it was more for Eller vs Pens gains.
That’s unfortunate. He was one of the few players that I actually felt was hustling this year.
Was a solid return for a 35 year old who’s been garbage since mid October. It’s obvious he wanted out and rightly so.
People are downvoting this comment even though it’s the truth. Eller had some great spurts but also fell into terrible slumps. Honestly, the trade doesn’t change the Penguins projections at all. But getting younger and some draft capital is a win
Come on man does he know what the GM job is can’t fix stupid
Interesting. Liked Eller but this needs to be the beginning of a huge shift. With better returns.
One of the last guys I wanted to see traded. Eller was a leader, smart , usually valuable on the ice and a real good locker room guy from all I read ,but this is necessary and just the beginning I hope. I am sure more moves coming soon.
Maybe it was one too many leaders
Yeah. He had a really good season last year for the assignments and linemates he had. Even this year he wasn’t the issue. But, that cap space can open up some things, and he is 35 on an expiring contract.
Dubas didn’t trade him he just gave him to a competitor in our division. Should have known this was the plan just like the ridiculous trades from teams dumping salary. And have a coach that could do anything and not get fired. What a joke this Dubas guy. His last name fits him Dumb A-s
A competitor implies both teams are competitive. …
Glad my #freelars went heeded. Heh. But… there goes the leadership.
Lars will be missed. Caps looks to be a playoff team, their offseason bets seem to be working out. Speculating that KD will make another trade or two this week. Sullivan will have to play the young players; He’ll obviously hate that fact and then resign. Pete rejoices, haha.
Other than waving the white flag I don’t see the purpose of this trade. Eller’s value as a decision maker far outpaced his salary. It must be that we want to bring up one of our many center prospects
Dubas is the worst GM. This guy just ruined the only good move he’s made in Pittsburgh. Getting eller.
Can’t stand him. Hated that he got here and have hated every single move he’s made except Eller.
The guy puts together a shit roster with a bunch of scrubs from other teams and then bails on the team as if their under performance isn’t his lack of. Holding a good line up. This teams toast. No more cups. For a long time. Enjoy irrelevancy. Seriously
I don’t get it, he’s not the problem.
Team leader from the start. Sad to see him go.
So in three years, we will get a third round draft pick? WTF maybe in 2030 we can get a 2nd for Petterssen?
Nothing against Eller, but OK and hopefully there is more where that came from. The season is probably lost even though it’s only Nov and let’s just be realistic and plan for the future. See what we have with the younger kids.
Wish it was EK65 going away but no one is taking his contract
Dubas is in over his head.
Look at what he did in Toronto.
His teams never won a playoff round.
He is on par here in the ‘burgh as
there will be NO playoff’s in his
future as Pen’s GM.
Fan’s will suffer through the losing
seasons until the Quad are retired.
Eller was one of the quality professional players
who always showed up every night.
I guess Dubas will keep the trade door revolving
and keep Sully.
The players have TUNED him out.
New voice, new leader, new system needed.
What a hot mess dumpster fire.
That’s a pretty decent return for Eller and the cap space freed up is valuable.
Only way the prospects will get a chance who are hungrier than a 35-year-old at the end of their career. Time for youth movement. Need more of the same to get some speed into the lineup.
Letang to Montreal, or karlsson to [somewhere] with pens retaining some salary? Seems like has to be one or the other. Love Eller, but now they can use young people more and maybe bundle some assets to get decent left winger for Sid. Clearly there is deficiency 1LW. Sid went on heater with Malkin up there, then immediately went quiet with O’Connor back. I don’t like trading pettersson because that just weakens weak defense further.
It blows my mind that the coaching staff keeps trying to put DOC in the top 6. He’s obviously not a top 6 NHLer. From Guentzel, Malkin, even Rust in recent memory, going to DOC the drop-off is insane. I never thought I’d miss someone like Chris Kunitz or Patric Hornqvist so much.
You’re not wrong, but that’s the issue. Dubas never replaced Jake. We literally have nobody else to even put their. We have no bottom 6, weak D, and only 2 top 6 wingers (with only 1 scoring). Dubas and hextall tanked our depth. When the core gets older they need more support. Unfortunately they now have significantly less support. Either dubas is lying about his intentions, and is actually trying to tank. Or he’s very bad at player evaluation.
Ellen was one of the few players who had the courage to deliver honest assessments of anyone on the team and that will be sorely missed. Not sure about the return. Surprised a player didn’t come back as part of the deal but I guess Dubas wants more picks. Would have liked the 3rd round pick before 2027 but you can’t always get what you want. The question is will that cap space be used to get someone to help now or to take on another contract someone wants to dump with more draft picks.
Lars has been a rock for us on a bad to middling team but it’s the right move. I wouldnt call it a small return at all with all due respect. He’s a 36 year old 3rd line center on an expiring contract who averages under .5 ppg. I wish the years were flipped and it was a 2025 3rd but for example Roslovic last year brought in a 4th and he was 26 years old…
Best of luck to Eller in Washington. I liked him with the penguins and felt he was a solid two way center man. Dubas told the media that a team finally met their asking price for Eller.
Sad to see Eller go. As many noted he seemed to provide leadership that was/is missing from this team in recent years. Perhaps this is what Eller wants, another shot to play with a playoff contender.
One of the pieces i said 2 days ago that was tradeable to begin rebuild on the fly. Pretty much return you could expect for a 35 year old. HopeulLynette, KD can package them picks to unload a high salary for a useful piece of the puzzle.
That said, Eller was a constant leader unafraid to say what needed to be said.
So now Poulin will get a chance…….Sully will put him at 4th line center, give him about 7-8 minutes of ice time, and ruin another young player!
Decent trade… Got a few lottery tickets and made some cap space for a 35 yr old on an expiring contract.