Yahoo Sports What Eller's Return To The Capitals Means For Lapierre; Carbery's Message To Capitals Rising Forward: 'Not An Easy Thing'
ARLINGTON, V.A. — Washington Capitals head coach Spencer Carbery knows that the team's acquisition of Lars Eller isn't the news that Hendrix Lapierre necessarily wanted to see.
Washington acquired Eller from the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday in a move that bolsters the team's center depth and solves one of the team's only issues amid struggles and limited playing time for the third line this season.
For Lapierre, Eller's return to the Capitals adds more competition and could ultimately push him out of the lineup if the Dane replaces the 22-year-old as the full-time third-line center.
"Sometimes it's hard because as an organization and as a team, and what upstairs is trying to do is they're always trying to look for ways to improve our team, whether that's with more young players and draft picks or whether that's with someone that they believe can help us win more hockey games right now," head coach Spencer Carbery said. "And so if that affects Lappy's playing time or opportunity, certainly that's not an easy thing he wants to see or hear."
Through 11 games this season, Lapierre has just two assists and a plus/minus rating of minus-4 as his play has taken a step back from last year.
Lapierre will be in the lineup on Wednesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs as Eller makes his way back to the District, and will certainly have extra motivation to show Carbery that he can be an impact player on a consistent basis.
For Carbery, though, the message to Lapierre is that, despite the circumstances, Eller's return shouldn't change Lapierre's path.
"At the end of the day for Lappy, he's focused on his development to become a great NHL player. Whether that's him getting a little less playing time, changing his role, it doesn't change my plan or our plan for him," Carbery said. "Once he comes to grips with another centerman being in the organization, maybe there's an injury and it doesn't affect his playing time, but it shouldn't change his focus and what he's trying to do on a daily basis."
Carbery said that he prefers to keep Lapierre at center and would prefer not to play him on the wing, though anything is possible and he woulnd't completely rule it out.
With Sonny Milano out for the next bit, Lapierre could simply just be a healthy scratch, though a return to the AHL's Hershey Bears to help him rediscover his game also wouldn't be out of the question.
Regardless, Carbery knows what Lapierre needs to succeed, and is ready to help him do what he can to grow. It's the same plan as always, regardless of Eller.
"Whether he's playing 18 minutes a night or how he looks in his third year or if it takes him a little bit longer — Everybody's development plan is different and everybody's development curb is different. We're just trying to help Lappy become the absolute best NHL player he can possibly be," Carbery said. "We know he is a big part of our future and our organization."
