The 22-year-old is expected to play a big role for the Capitals next season.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — For Washington Capitals center Hendrix Lapierre, hockey and baseball somewhat intertwine. At least, in a way.
After long practices at MedStar Capitals Iceplex, he lingers on the ice and heads over to the front of the net, eyes fixed on the puck as defensemen take shots in his direction. Then, it's just batting practice.
Lapierre will work relentlessly on deflections and tips as he screens the goalie and tries to redirect shots into the back of the net, a skill and scoring method that's become more and more prominent in the everchanging game. And for the 22-year-old, it's a vital skill to have as he graduates to the NHL full-time.
"It's super important. I think it's one more thing that you can add to your game," Lapierre said. "It's good to have good shot or good playmaking abilities or whatever, but you can score — whether it's just four or five goals a year — on tips or just deflections or finding a way to get a puck through."
It's a skill he started honing in one of his first training camps with D.C., as he picked T.J. Oshie's brain on the matter as No. 77 took him under his wing.
Since then, Lapierre's gotten better and better, even scoring a clutch game-tying goal on a redirect in Game 7 of the 2023 Calder Cup Finals that led Hershey to a championship.
"The best players in the league that can tip pucks are super dangerous all the time," Lapierre pointed out. "Wherever they are on the ice, they can get a shot on that or do something (with it)."
But just how difficult of a skill is it to master?
Think of it this way. The depth of a hockey stick shaft is anywhere between .88 and 1.13 inches, and the height of the blade is anywhere between 2-3 inches. While blades can be 15.75 inches long, some are just 12.6 inches.
All the while, players are on skates with 3mm blades battling for positioning in front of the net and being pushed by defensemen — and even goalies — and trying to tip a puck with a diameter of three inches and depth of one inch that's going between 80-100 miles per hour.
That said, it takes perfect timing, excellent hand-eye coordination and most important, lots and lots of practice.
