The 21-year-old has high hopes as he looks to take another step forward with the Capitals.
ARLINGTON, V.A. — It was a short summer following a Calder Cup run in his first-ever pro season for Hendrix Lapierre, but the Washington Capitals prospect is surprised — yet unsurprised — to find that he feels the best he's felt and is ready to go with training camp less than a week away.
Ultimately, his goal is to take the next step forward in his development, and he believes that those short seven weeks of summer set him up to do just that — and then some.
“I mean, I know I put in the work this summer, so I knew I was going to feel good. I think when you work and you put yourself in those situations, you’re gonna have success," Lapierre explained. "So I did my work this summer, I worked really, really hard. I was happy with the way it ended. And I was excited to be on the ice and stuff like that... I feel refreshed, I feel fantastic on the ice. Really excited for camp."
After hoisting the Cup in Coachella Valley and taking a small break to catch up with family and friends, Lapierre returned home to Quebec and changed up his training regimen. Instead of just focusing on muscles and building strength, he and his trainers put more emphasis on his skating, speed and on-ice scenarios.
Though he was reluctant to switch things up at first, it paid off, and Lapierre said that it's made a major difference going into a new year.
"I was more focused on just moving properly and speed and stuff like that. We knew that if I was only training for seven weeks, weightlifting, stuff, we didn’t have much time to kind of go through the phases. So it was about moving properly, feeling good on the ice, whether it’s hand-eye coordination or just my face-offs," Lapierre explained. "I think at the start, I was a little surprised of what we were doing. But as the summer kind of went on, I was like, ‘Okay, I’m suddenly feeling really, really good.’ And then, I guess this is just like a continuation of what I’ve been doing, I try to do the same exercise in the gym too. So I guess maybe a little less like weightlifting and stuff like that, more moving. It's been good."
The 21-year-old is fresh off of his rookie year with the AHL's Hershey Bears, one filled with growing pains, the basics of "adulting," life lessons and, ultimately, sweet victory.
In 60 regular-season games with Hershey, Lapierre had 15 goals and 15 assists, and he came in clutch in the playoffs with the game-tying goal in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Finals en route to the title.
Still, the road to the Calder Cup wasn't straightforward. He navigated his own struggles, and in December and January, he dealt with a handful of healthy scratches as his production took a hit. Though it wasn't a positive experience, it was significant for Lapierre, as it helped him hit reset and reach an epiphany about the importance of mental health in the game.
"I think I started off really strong... I don’t know what happened. I was just maybe a little in my head. But I think it’s when I had a couple of talks with the coaches of what they really expected of me, and then I started, I think, practicing harder, which made the games kind of easier in a way. And then I got scratched too and as a player that was really tough for me, on my ego and stuff, and I want to help the team win. So that was really, you know, it can happen to me, too," Lapierre explained. "And I think after that, I hate saying this because it’s really cliche, but I just played my game. I’m a guy who makes plays; I’m a guy who passes the puck, uses his speed, and that’s what I was trying to do.
"I had success and I want to keep on having success. I’m kind of riding a wave right now that last year we won, I had a really good summer, I’m feeling extremely good. So I’m excited to see what camp brings, but I don’t know what clicked, it was just maybe a little mental switch. I’m also working on my mental game a little bit, so I feel confident.”
Lapierre is back working with a sports psychologist he had back in juniors, but the main difference is that this time, he's keeping more in touch and not just going back when the going gets tough.
"We were kind of on and off a little bit. And we’re going to try to talk to each other as much as we can this year. I think it’s helpful," Lapierre explained. "I used to talk to those guys only when it was going bad, but I think even when it goes well, you can learn a lot you can kind of grow the confidence even more so. I think it’s helpful. I think it can’t be negative, right? Just myself, maturing and living those experiences, I kind of understand stuff a little bit more.”
Not only that, but he's also been leaning on teammates and Hershey housemates Vincent Iorio and Henrik Rybinski, as the three have helped push each other to play their best hockey.
"We had a full year together. We had one of the best years of our life together, so really good relationship [with Iorio and Rybinski].... I really enjoyed those guys; we’re kind of all learning at the same time, and it makes it great to have someone to kind of rely on," Lapierre said.
He also took a lot away from watching how veterans like Dylan McIlrath and Aaron Ness carried themselves last season. It not only helped Lapierre grow, but it also helped him turn into a leader, and that's what he's trying to bring to rookie camp.
"[I took away] plenty of things," Lapierre said of his first year in Hershey. "I think winning itself is a form of experience. You don't realize it, but just going through the motions, the ups and downs... as a young guy seeing like, let’s say McIlrath and Nesser and those guys, [say] ‘You know what? We’re not stressed. We’re just gonna keep pounding the stone and eventually good things will happen,' I think it was kind of like eye-opening."
As he prepares for camp to open on Thursday, Lapierre has his sights set on a roster spot and returning to the NHL after a six-game stint in 2021. At the end of the day, he believes he has everything he needs to earn a Capitals jersey on opening night, and he thanks Hershey for that.
"I know that if I have to play 82 games this season, I’m ready for it, you know?" Lapierre said. "And if I play 72 games, I’m ready for it. I think our run helped a lot, and I’m extremely grateful to obviously have been a part of that team last year."