The Washington Capitals completed their last internal urgent matter of the summer, re-signing prospect Hendrix Lapierre to a one-year, $850K contract on Saturday night.
Lapierre split the 2024-25 season between the Capitals and the AHL’s Hershey Bears. The 2024 AHL Playoff MVP was a restricted free agent after being tendered a qualifying offer earlier this week.
PuckPedia was the first to report the news and the details of the contract.
Lapierre’s one-year deal will allow the prospect centerman to try and re-establish his top value next summer again as an RFA. The new contract comes after winning the Capitals’ third-line center spot out of training camp last fall, but scuffling during the first three months of the NHL season. He scored no goals and tallied eight assists in 27 NHL games, sometimes filling in as a winger.
The Capitals acquired veteran pivot Lars Eller to fill his spot for the rest of the season. General manager Chris Patrick believes head coach Spencer Carbery will give the role to Connor McMichael at the start of next year.
Patrick was asked about Lapierre’s status within the organization after the 2025 NHL Draft and indicated that the 2020 first-round pick was likely due for a short-term extension to try and cement his place on the team. “Yeah, I’d agree with that, yeah,” Patrick said.
Lapierre went the first 38 games of the 2024-25 campaign goalless before he lit the lamp in February. The 23-year-old pivot rebounded and re-found his confidence late in the year with the Bears, posting 32 points (7g, 25a) in 32 games.
“Coming down here, I think I cared,” Lapierre said during his Bears Breakdown Day interview. “I tried my best. I worked hard – there’s always room for growth and improvement. But I feel like, in the most part, I had a good mindset. I’ll keep working at it this summer. I’ll probably rewatch all my games from this year and work hard. I know good things will happen. I’m confident. I know I can do those things that [the Capitals are] asking me to do. I’m looking forward to next season.”
Patrick mentioned Lapierre Saturday in a group of five prospects that he believes could challenge for roster spots with the Capitals at training camp in the fall. In 84 career NHL games, Lapierre has recorded 31 points (9g, 22a).
“I think [his play after being demoted] put him in a good position here to say, ‘Hey, I’m deserving of this opportunity,'” Patrick said in May. “I hope he comes in and has a great training camp and really makes some tough decisions for the coaching staff.”
The 2025 summer will be Lapierre’s first full offseason since he turned pro during the 2022-23 season, as the Quebec native was part of back-to-back Calder Cup-winning teams in Hershey.
