The Washington Capitals loaned center Hendrix Lapierre to the AHL’s Hershey Bears ahead of Sunday evening’s game against the Detroit Red Wings.
Lapierre has been up with the Capitals since making the team out of training camp. He will join the Bears for the first time since powering Hershey to their second consecutive Calder Cup as the AHL playoff MVP last spring.
In 27 games for Washington this season, Lapierre has recorded eight assists but scored zero goals. He tallied an assist in 9:59 of ice time against the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday night.
NEWS | The Capitals have loaned forward Hendrix Lapierre to the Hershey Bears.#ALLCAPS | @Shift4 https://t.co/11IMljM4wb
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) December 29, 2024
The 22-year-old pivot has struggled at five-on-five this year, with Washington seeing just 42.9 percent of the expected goals during his minutes. The Capitals have also been outscored 11-7 with their former first-round pick on the ice, marking the third-worst five-on-five goals-for percentage (38.9%) on the team.
Head coach Spencer Carbery has made Lapierre a healthy scratch multiple times this season. Most recently, he opted to go with 11 forwards and 7 defensemen instead of dressing Lapierre against the Boston Bruins on December 23.
“He’s a young player that has a bright future in this league, and sometimes it takes a little bit longer to develop and grow into an effective NHL player,” Carbery said last month.
Lapierre’s demotion comes as the Capitals need a roster spot for Lars Eller, who has been activated from injured reserve. Eller had been on IR retroactive to December 17 due to illness.
Here’s the press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Loan Hendrix Lapierre to Hershey
Forward Lars Eller activated from IR
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have loaned forward Hendrix Lapierre to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), senior vice president and general manager Chris Patrick announced today.
Lapierre, 22, has recorded eight points (0g, 8a) in 27 games with the Capitals this season.
During the 2023-24 season, Lapierre established NHL career highs in games played (51), goals (8), assists (14) and points (22). The 6’0”, 191-pound forward made his Stanley Cup Playoff debut in Game 1 of the First Round against the New York Rangers on April 21 and finished the series with two points (1g, 1a) in four games. Lapierre also appeared in 21 regular-season games with Hershey, registering 17 points (5g, 12a). The Gatineau, Quebec native was awarded the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as the Calder Cup Playoffs MVP after leading all AHL skaters with 22 points (7g, 15a) in 20 playoff games. Lapierre, a two-time Calder Cup champion, recorded a team-high seven points (3g, 4a) in six games during the Calder Cup Finals against Coachella Valley.
Lapierre appeared in 60 games during his first professional season with Hershey in 2022-23, recording 30 points (15g, 15a). Lapierre ranked second among Hershey rookies in goals, points, power-play points (10) and shots (114). In addition, Lapierre ranked third on the Bears in power-play goals (5). Lapierre added six points (3g, 3a) in 20 playoff games, including the game-tying goal in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Final.
The Capitals selected Lapierre with the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft. In 84 career games with Washington, Lapierre has recorded 31 points (9g, 22a). Lapierre has registered 47 points (20, 27a) in 81 career AHL games with Hershey.
