Hendrix Lapierre makes instant impact in fresh start with Penguins

Hendrix Lapierre has wasted little time turning his change of scenery into an opportunity. Dealt by the Washington Capitals over the summer for two draft picks, the Gatineau native parlayed a strong training camp into a roster spot with the Pittsburgh Penguins and stood out in Wednesday’s opener in Philadelphia, collecting two points, including a goal, in a 7–0 win.

First-round pick finds traction in new market

Drafted 22nd overall by Washington in 2020, Lapierre never fully cemented himself in the Capitals’ core. Even after appearing in 74 games last season, his first full NHL campaign, he remained in a depth role on a veteran-heavy roster that was difficult to crack higher up the lineup.

A summer overhaul of Washington’s forward group ultimately led to his move. In Pittsburgh, where management also reshaped the roster, competition for jobs was expected to be intense. Lapierre responded with an eye-catching camp that earned him the job as the Penguins’ third-line centre to start the year, a clear sign of trust from the coaching staff.

His arrival has made an impression in a room filled with accomplished names. Erik Karlsson, who trains in the Ottawa area during the off-season and has skated with Lapierre for several summers, believes his new teammate is finally in a situation where he can become the player he was projected to be. The Swedish defenceman has long admired Lapierre’s speed and hockey sense and now gets to benefit from those tools on his own blue-and-gold side.

Learning beside Crosby, guided by veterans

Kris Letang, who first met Lapierre when the forward was a teenager through their shared agency, was equally struck by his camp. The veteran defenceman sees a versatile centre who can move up and down the lineup, trusted defensively yet capable of producing offensively, as his performance in Philadelphia underlined.

Sidney Crosby has also taken note. The Penguins captain praised Lapierre’s talent and offensive instincts, calling him a player who came in determined to prove himself and did so. For Lapierre, joining the short list of skaters who have played with both Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin is a unique milestone, as he points to both superstars as era-defining captains with very different leadership styles.

Teammates describe the 22-year-old as endlessly curious, asking questions and closely watching how established stars approach their craft, with Crosby a particular point of reference. Lapierre embraces that role of sponge, convinced that studying the habits of all-time greats can accelerate his development.

Opportunity born of injuries, and a race to stick

Lapierre is under no illusions about how his current chance materialized. Pittsburgh’s forward group is thinned by injuries to Bryan Rust, Benjamin Kindel and Justin Brazeau, while Andrei Kuzmenko has returned to Russia on a family matter. Without those absences, the young centre admits he is unsure where he would have slotted in.

He is nonetheless determined to make the most of the situation, even if he dislikes benefiting from teammates’ misfortune. His aim is to make himself indispensable before the lineup returns to full strength. On the heels of a standout camp and a statement showing on opening night, Hendrix Lapierre has already taken a significant step toward that goal in his new home with the Penguins.