Last month, the Pittsburgh Penguins acquired forward Hendrix Lapierre from the Washington Capitals in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2028 fifth-round pick. With this move, the Penguins brought in a former first-round pick who had been in need of a fresh start. 

The Penguins signed Lapierre to a two-year, $2.6 million ($1.3 million AAV) contract earlier this month. After landing this multi-year deal with the Penguins, the Gatineau, Quebec native will be looking to make an impact in Pittsburgh. 

Lapierre had a quiet 2025-26 season with the Capitals, as he posted four goals and 16 points in 74 games. While he did not have the strongest of seasons offensively with Washington, the possibility of him breaking out with the Penguins should not be ruled out. 

At just 24 years old, Lapierre still has time to hit a new level as he continues to gain experience. He has also already shown some offensive promise in the past, as he posted career highs with eight goals, 14 assists, and 22 points in 51 games during the 2023-24 season. With this, the possibility of him emerging as a solid part of the Penguins' top nine should not be ruled out.

The Penguins have done a good job of helping young players reach their full potential, and Lapierre could very well be the next player to do so in Pittsburgh. It will be interesting to see how much of an impact he can make with the Penguins next season, but Pittsburgh trading for him is a solid low-risk move.