The Washington Capitals traded forward Lars Eller to the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, according to Frank Seravalli of the Daily Faceoff.
The 33-year-old is currently in the final year of a contract worth $3.5 million per season. Drafted 13th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2007, Eller was a highly rated prospect and had an immediate impact in the AHL once he arrived.
But after just seven games with the Blues in 2009-10, Eller was sent to Montreal as part of the deal that sent Jaroslav Halak to St. Louis. Eller was a consistent 25-30 point scorer in his six years with the club, with his best production coming in 2012-13 when he tallied 30 points in just 46 games.
Eller moved to Washington in 2016-17 and played his best hockey in the 2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs. The Danish center finished with 18 points in 24 games, helping round out the team’s top-flight offense . He has spent the rest of his career so far in the United States capital, scoring a career-high 39 points in 2019-20.
Eller has struggled this season with just 16 points in 60 games played. Still, his experience will come in handy and he’s the type of player who won’t usually hurt you in your own zone. Eller gives the Avalanche extra playoff depth, with the team’s last six helping to win the Stanley Cup last year.
The Avalanche currently sit third in the Central Division with 73 points, just two behind the No. 1 Dallas Stars. Washington has struggled lately and is in seventh place in the wildcard race, with the team opting to start selling before Friday’s deadline.
