Penguins Trade Stanley Cup Champion Lars Eller to Rival Washington Capitals
Moments ago, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced that they've traded veteran centreman Lars Eller to their biggest rivals, the Washington Capitals.
In exchange, the Penguins will receive a third round draft pick in 2027, and a fifth round draft pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in 2025.
The trade comes just one day after Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas declared a total fire sale on trades. The Penguins lost 7-1 to the Dallas Stars last night on home ice, an effort so embarrassing that some change needed to happen right after.
Getting two draft picks back for a 35 year old centreman like Lars Eller is a decent trade for the Penguins, but it will only make them even worse. Eller is in the final year of his contract that pays him $2.45M, a manageable salary.
It's interesting that the Capitals are ending the Crosby and Ovechkin era as the more competitive team year in year out, and still a possibility to make the playoffs this year. Lars Eller won the cup with the Capitals back in 2017-18, and while they surely won't go all the way again this year, having him around for veteran leadership will be an asset.
As for the rest of the Penguins, more trades are expected to be coming - including some that could involve the Edmonton Oilers. Penguins defenceman Marcus Pettersson has been connected to the Oilers in trade talks, and with the first move being made today, perhaps the floodgates begin to open.
What's becoming more and more clear is that Sidney Crosby and the Penguins are finally at the end of the road. Soon, the process of a total rebuild will begin, and this quick trade may be the first domino to fall.
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