DENVER — The Avalanche traded for depth center Lars Eller from the Capitals, the team announced Wednesday before the Friday NHL trade deadline.
The Avs sent Washington their 2025 second-round pick in return, while the Capitals retain 31% of Eller’s $3.5 million cap hit, a team spokesperson confirmed to The Denver Post. Eller, 33, is in the final season of a five-year contract.
Eller has seven goals and nine assists for the Caps (0.27 points per game). He’s a penalty killer who will likely fit into the Avalanche lineup as a bottom-six center. If he is the team’s only center acquisition at the 2023 NHL trade deadline, J.T. Compher is likely to remain at second-line center for the stretch run.
“Solid, big, strong third-line center,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Eller. “Good on draws. Lots of experience.”
The Avalanche are now without their 2023, 2024 and 2025 second-round picks with this trade. The organization also doesn’t have third-round picks this year or next.
