One month into the season, the Washington Capitals were still looking for that third line center. They would then make a deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins to trade for Lars Eller.
Prior to the trade Eller recorded seven points in 17 games with the Penguins with four goals and three assists. After the trade he appeared in 63 games with the Capitals and had six goals and nine assists for 15 points.
Eller would also have a plus/minus of -1 with the Capitals as well as average 12:27 minutes of ice time per game. Obviously it was also his age 35 season.
It turned out to be Eller's second go around with the Capitals. His first stint inluded clutch goals in the Stanley Cup run in 2018.
But Eller's second time with the Capitals saw him record just one assist in nine playoff games. He obviously was an aging veteran.
Eller would finish with a team leading corsi for percentage of 54.12 percent at five on five in the regular season. He also had a 54.21 percent expected goals for perentage and a 56.33 perent high danger chances for percentage per Natural Stat Trick.
In the playoffs those advanced stats dipped to a 38.89 corsi for percentage, a 45.96 percent expected goals for percentage and a 45.83 percent high danger chanes for percentage.
His playoff production was so bad that when the Caps approached Game 5 of the second round Eller would be scratched from the lineup.
In the end it wasn't quite the reunion the Capitals hoped for but he still was a veteran leader. The Penguins in exchange would get the 2027 third round pick and the Chicago Blackhawks 2025 fifth rounder.
Grade D: It was cool and weird at the same time having Lars Eller back. He wasn't the same as he was in 2018.