Capitals Might Look To Trade Young Forward

The Washington Capitals are off to a strong start with a 3-1-0 record, and while some of their young players have gotten into games, others haven't had the best opportunities.

Hendrix Lapierre is a young player who had eight goals and 22 points in 51 games in 2023-24, then that dropped to just 27 games last season, with him recording only eight assists. The 23-year-old doesn't find himself as an everyday player this season either, already being a healthy scratch for one of the four games.

Frank Seravalli noted that, "One name I have been keying in on the last few days to start the season is Hendrix Lapierre from the Capitals. Healthy scratched to start the season. What do the Caps do? Is he a guy that they could maybe flip?"

Lapierre has had the least amount of ice time per game on the Capitals this season in the three games he's played. He has averaged just 9:27 and has gotten no time on the power play or penalty kill. Only two other forwards are in the same boat in regards to special teams: Justin Sourdif and Anthony Beauvillier, but they have both played four games and played more in each game.

Lapierre still has potential as he's young and the opportunity just has never been there. The Capitals are looking to build off of last season to compete for the Stanley Cup this season, and if Lapierre isn't a regular piece and could be dealt for an upgrade, that may be the best course of action.

Lapierre has no problem producing in the AHL when he's played there over the past few seasons, but there also isn't room to give him a fair shot in the Capitals' lineup. Washington has other forward prospects they could turn to in the future, whether Lapierre stays, goes, turns out, or doesn't. The former 22nd overall pick from the 2020 draft could help fetch the Capitals the right piece to go on a deeper run as they look just as dangerous a regular season team as they did last season.