Penguins Trade for Hendrix Lapierre from Capitals Ahead of NHL Draft

Pittsburgh Penguins fans may be eager for General Manager and President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas to make a splash as the 2026 NHL Draft approaches, and a recent move suggests the Penguins are starting to make their mark.

On Thursday, the Penguins secured the rights to restricted free agent forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals, parting with a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick in the process. The 24-year-old Lapierre, who spent the last season under a one-year, $850,000 contract with the Capitals, has navigated through parts of four seasons in the NHL.

Chosen 22nd overall in the 2020 NHL Draft, Lapierre has yet to establish himself fully at the NHL level, recording 13 goals and 47 points across 158 games with Washington. Despite his challenges, the 6-foot, 195-pound center showcased his potential during the 2020 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, where he tallied three goals and 11 points in just five games, highlighting his puck skills and creativity.

As the Penguins look to bolster their roster, they now have the opportunity to extend a qualifying offer to Lapierre by June 30. This move places him alongside other restricted free agents the team is evaluating, including Egor Chinakhov, Ville Koivunen, Arturs Silovs, Alexander Alexeyev, and Joel Blomqvist.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.