PensBurgh’s 2026 Top 25 Under 25 countdown keeps moving, and Hendrix Lapierre lands at No. 11 as a 24-year-old forward getting a new shot with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Penguins went into the offseason by bringing Lapierre in from the Washington Capitals in a trade for third- and fifth-round draft picks. For a player who was once taken in the first round, No. 22 overall in 2020, it marks a fresh start after six years in Washington that produced a mixed track record.
Lapierre’s path to this point included a late NHL debut in 2021-22, when he appeared in six games, followed by several seasons split between the Capitals and the American Hockey League. His first full NHL season came in 2025-26, and the numbers were modest: 74 games, four goals and 12 assists. He did not score until Jan. 23, finally ending a 90-game regular-season goal drought that dated all the way back to March 18, 2024.
That kind of dry spell is hard to ignore, but Lapierre still found ways to matter. His calling card in Washington was his defensive work, and that showed up again last season. Among the 12 Capitals forwards who logged at least 500 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, Lapierre was one of the stronger defensive performers on the roster.
His usage also tells part of the story. Lapierre had an offensive-zone start rate of 51 percent, fourth-highest on the team, but he was not riding shotgun with Washington’s top scorers.
His most common linemates were Brandon Duhaime, Ethan Frank and Sonny Milano, which put him firmly in a depth role. Even so, the Capitals out-chanced, out-shot and out-scored opponents with him on the ice.
That profile makes him an interesting fit in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are crowded up front, with players like Justin Brazeau facing an uphill battle for a lineup spot and young forwards Ville Koivunen and Rutger McGroarty also in the mix.
At the same time, Pittsburgh is trying to tighten up defensively, and that has to happen through the forwards as well as the blue line. Half of the defense has already been changed this offseason with Kaedan Korczak, Declan Carlile and Trevor van Riemsdyk coming in, but the forward group still has to do its part.
Lapierre’s arrival also fits the kind of move the Penguins have been making over the last year-plus: early-to-mid-20s players, once highly regarded, with some NHL success already on the resume and the need for a reset. The departure of Noel Accairi, who signed with the Philadelphia Flyers, only adds to the opening he could potentially fill.
Now it comes down to whether Lapierre can carve out a roster spot in a crowded camp and whether there’s more offense waiting to come. At minimum, he looks capable of being a useful bottom-six forward and defensive presence. If the scoring follows, Pittsburgh may have another worthwhile piece on its hands.
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Penguins Suddenly Have A New Question Behind Their Veteran Core
The Penguins have spent the offseason with the same familiar veterans at the center of everything, but the real intrigue now sits around the edges of that core. Nick Robertson, Declan Carlile, Ville Koivunen and Andrey Kuzmenko are among the players drawing the most attention as Pittsburgh looks ahead, each bringing a different mix of past performance, current standing and possible fit as the roster takes shape.
For a team built around stability up top, the questions are shifting to the supporting cast, where roster spots are not yet clearly settled and development still matters. Koivunens trajectory, Kuzmenkos role, Carliles push and Robertsons place in the mix all speak to a Penguins lineup that may look familiar in some areas while changing in others, and the uncertainty there could end up shaping more than just the final spots on the bench. [Read more 🡒]