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.