It's a testament to the hard work Lapierre has put in following a six-game NHL stint back in 2021.
WASHINGTON — Hendrix Lapierre had been waiting almost two years to make his return to the NHL after a six-game stint in 2021, and on Sunday, he got that opportunity as he made his way up from the Hershey Bears to join the Washington Capitals as their first forward call-up this season.
With Sonny Milano missing Sunday's game against the San Jose Sharks due to illness and Nic Dowd on the injured reserve, Lapierre got to draw into the mix over the likes of Ivan Miroshnichenko, Ethen Frank and more.
And for head coach Spencer Carbery, there's a good reason why.
"All the reports that we've gotten from [Todd Nelson] and Chris Patrick are he's off to a good start down there, so deserving of an opportunity," Carbery said.
Lapierre has three assists through six games to open the season with Hershey, where he's been centering Miroshnichenko and Pierrick Dube. He also showcased his skill with a strong rookie season in 2022-23 that saw him put up 30 points in 60 games and score the game-tying goal in Game 7 of the Calder Cup Final.
Another big key for Carbery was the 21-year-old's versatility, which helped him move up the depth chart.
"He's played in every situation down there, power play, penalty kill, his 200-foot game. So we feel like give him the first sort of call-up look coming up from Hershey," Carbery said.
Miroshnichenko is still adjusting to the North American game, and when it comes down to it, Lapierre had raised the bar and did enough to be that first man up for D..C
The Quebec native skated 7:28 minutes against the San Jose Sharks, primarily centering former Bears Protas and Beck Malenstyn. It's a big step forward for Lapierre, as he is coming off a strong but short summer that saw him increase confidence in his game while fine-tuning details.
He is still up with the Capitals to kick off the week with Dowd still on the injured reserve. No matter how long his stint, though, the plan is to make the most of every chance.