The Penguins traded Lars Eller back to the Capitals in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft and Chicago's fifth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
That 2025 fifth-rounder has been on a journey. It was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs back in 2023 in the Sam Lafferty and Jake McCabe trade. It was then sent to Washington in March. The pick then found its way in Pittsburgh, and now back in Washington. It seems as if nobody wants this draft pick, as it's like a hot potato.
Lars Eller, on the other hand, is making a return to Washington after two and a half seasons. Eller played on the Capitals for six and a half years and was traded to the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline in 2022. Eller, even though he is 35, is still producing as he has seven points through 17 games so far this season. Last year, Lars played a full 82-game campaign and finished with 31 points in 82 games.
Following Pittsburgh's 7-1 loss to the Dallas Stars, letting up six goals on 12 shots at the end of the first period, no one should be shocked that Kyle Dubas is making a change.
Perhaps with the Penguins easing themselves into full rebuild mode, Davidson should check in and see what's available to buy off them. Chicago has a lot of picks and a prospect surplus, so it wouldn't be a bad idea to purchase an unfinished piece or something along those lines that you can try to build throughout the rest of the rebuild, like a mini project. Either way, Davidson should stay away from anything outrageous, as the team is nowhere there yet.
It'll be interesting to see how the Penguins dig themselves out of the hole they made for themselves. Dubas has a lot more work to do.
POLL | ||
Who won this trade in the NHL? | ||
Washington capitals | 45 | 65.2 % |
Pittsburgh penguins | 24 | 34.8 % |
List of polls |