Lars Eller

Lars Fosgaard Eller (born 8 May 1989) is a Danish professional ice hockey player for the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League (NHL). Nicknamed "the Tiger", he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. He later joined the Montreal Canadiens, where he played six seasons before being traded to the Capitals in 2016. He became the first person born in Denmark to win the Stanley Cup when the Capitals won in 2018, notably scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal.[1][2]

Lars Eller
Eller with the Washington Capitals in 2018
Born (1989-05-08) 8 May 1989
Rødovre, Denmark
Height 6 ft 2 in (188 cm)
Weight 198 lb (90 kg; 14 st 2 lb)
Position Centre
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams
Washington Capitals
Frölunda HC
St. Louis Blues
Montreal Canadiens
JYP
National team  Denmark
NHL Draft 13th overall, 2007
St. Louis Blues
Playing career 2007present

Playing career

St. Louis Blues

During the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Eller was selected thirteenth overall by the St. Louis Blues,[3] the highest ranking for a Danish born and trained player in NHL history until friend and former teammate Mikkel Bødker was selected number eight overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. (Danish-born Jan Popiel was drafted tenth overall in the 1964 NHL Amateur Draft but grew up in and became a citizen of Canada before making his pro debut.)

Eller spent part of the 2007–08 season with Borås in the HockeyAllsvenskan, on loan from Frölunda.[4]

Eller moved to North America for the 2009–10 season. His preseason was spoiled by mononucleosis and, as a result, he started the season playing for the Peoria Rivermen in the American Hockey League (AHL). He was called up by the St. Louis and made his NHL debut on 5 November 2009 in a game against the Calgary Flames in which the Blues lost 2–1. He scored the Blues' lone goal, beating Miikka Kiprusoff off of a deflection and had three shots on goal in 9:42 minutes of ice time. Eller appeared in five NHL games before returning to Peoria, finishing the season with seven games for the Blues.[5]

With the Rivermen, Eller was named AHL Rookie of the Month for March 2010 and was also selected for the 2009–10 AHL All-Rookie Team.[6][7]

Montreal Canadiens

On 17 June 2010, Eller was traded by the Blues to the Montreal Canadiens, along with Ian Schultz, in exchange for goaltender Jaroslav Halák.[8][9] On 24 November 2010, Eller scored his first goal with the Canadiens, wristing one past Los Angeles Kings goaltender Jonathan Bernier.[10]

On 4 January 2012, Eller scored 4 goals and an assist in a 7–3 victory against the Winnipeg Jets, his first career hat trick. He was the first Montreal Canadien to score 4 goals in one game since Jan Bulis in 2006.[11] During the 2012–13 NHL lockout, Eller signed a temporary contract with Finnish top-flight club, JYP Jyväskylä.[12] He recorded 5 goals and 10 assists in 15 games.

Eller with the Montreal Canadiens in January 2015

On 2 May 2013, an open ice check from Ottawa Senators' defenseman Eric Gryba knocked Eller unconscious during a playoff game at the Bell Centre. He was later diagnosed with a concussion, along with dental and facial fractures.[13] On 24 July 2014, Eller signed a four-year, $13 million contract extension with the Canadiens.[3]

Washington Capitals

After six seasons, Eller's tenure with the Canadiens came to an end at the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, as he was traded to the Washington Capitals in exchange for two second-round picks in 2017 and 2018 on 24 June 2016.[14] On 10 February 2018, Eller signed a five-year, $17.5 million contract extension with the Capitals.[15]

On 7 June 2018 Eller won his first Stanley Cup when the Capitals defeated the first-year Vegas Golden Knights in five games. Eller scored the Cup-clinching goal, and finished the playoffs with seven goals and 18 points in 24 games.[16] He became the first NHL player born in Denmark to win a Stanley Cup.[1]

Personal life

Lars Eller grew up in Rødovre, Denmark. His father, Olaf Eller, is a former Danish international ice hockey player and former coach of several teams in the Superisligaen, as well as Troja/Ljungby in Sweden. Olaf Eller is also a color commentator for Danish TV 2 Sport for the IIHF World Championships and occasionally for games in the AL-Bank Ligaen. He is also head coach of Esbjerg IK.[17] His younger brother Mads (born 25 June 1995) played one season for the Adirondack Thunder of the ECHL, and had also played junior hockey for Frölunda HC and represented Denmark at the 2012 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[18] Their half brother Michael Smidt has also represented the Danish national team and played all his career in Denmark - including 17 seasons for the Rødovre Mighty Bulls where he also was captain for six seasons before he retired in 2014.[19] Eller and his wife, Julie, have two children.[20]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

    Regular season   Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2004–05 Rødovre SIK DNK U20 2821264720
2004–05 Rødovre SIK DNK.2 13140
2005–06 Frölunda HC J18 Allsv 824610 20000
2005–06 Frölunda HC J20 3677146 20000
2006–07 Frölunda HC J18 Allsv 21346 63258
2006–07 Frölunda HC J20 3918375558 841524
2007–08 Frölunda HC J20 944810 7561114
2007–08 Borås HC Allsv 192688
2007–08 Frölunda HC SEL 140224 70112
2008–09 Frölunda HC SEL 4812172928 1031412
2009–10 Peoria Rivermen AHL 7018395784
2009–10 St. Louis Blues NHL 72024
2010–11 Montreal Canadiens NHL 777101748 70224
2011–12 Montreal Canadiens NHL 7916122866
2012–13 JYP SM-l 155101518
2012–13 Montreal Canadiens NHL 468223045 10000
2013–14 Montreal Canadiens NHL 7712142668 17581318
2014–15 Montreal Canadiens NHL 7715122742 121234
2015–16 Montreal Canadiens NHL 7913132628
2016–17 Washington Capitals NHL 8112132536 1305510
2017–18 Washington Capitals NHL 8118203838 247111818
2018–19 Washington Capitals NHL 8113233637 71232
2019–20 Washington Capitals NHL 6916233948 50112
NHL totals 754 132 162 294 460 86 14 31 45 58

Eller at the 2010 World Championships
Medal record
Representing  Denmark
Ice hockey
IIHF World U18 Championship
2006 LatviaDivision I Group B
2007 PolandDivision I Group B
World Junior Ice Hockey Championships
2007 SwedenDivision I Group A
2009 CanadaDivision I Group B

International

Year Team Event   GP G A Pts PIM
2006 Denmark WJC18 D1 555108
2007 Denmark WJC D1 525716
2007 Denmark WJC18 D1 537106
2008 Denmark WJC 633637
2008 Denmark WC 60220
2009 Denmark WJC D1 533620
2009 Denmark OGQ 3 1 1 2 8
2010 Denmark WC 72358
2012 Denmark WC 732514
2016 Denmark WC 815612
2019 Denmark WC 32356
Junior totals 26 16 23 39 87
Senior totals 34 9 16 25 48

Awards and honours

Award Year
NHL
Stanley Cup (Washington Capitals) 2018 [21]

References

  1. "Facts and Figures: Capitals end historic Stanley Cup drought". NHL.com. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  2. @NHLJensen (7 June 2018). "Lars Eller scores tie-breaking, series-clinching goal in Game 5 to become 1st #Denmark native to win #StanleyCup. Played integral role in this title, especially when Kuznetsov & Backstrom were injured. More proof that the fastest sport in the world continues to grow! 🇩🇰🏆" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  3. "Eller, Canadiens agree to terms on four-year contract". NHL.com. 24 July 2014. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  4. Meltzer, Bill (25 December 2007). "Upstart Denmark determined to build on foundation". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 23 November 2014. Retrieved 22 November 2014.
  5. Meltzer, Bill (14 May 2008). "Eller Aims to Reward Blues' Faith". nhl.com. National Hockey League. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  6. "Eller grabs top rookie honor for march". American Hockey League. 1 April 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2010.
  7. "2009-10 All-Rookie Team announced". American Hockey League. 7 April 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  8. "Canadiens deal goaltender Halak to Blues". TSN. June 2010. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  9. "Habs trade Halak to Blues for two prospects". sportsnet.ca. Montreal. 17 June 2010. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  10. "Price, Eller lead the way in Canadiens' win over Kings". The Sports Network. 24 November 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2010.
  11. Hickey, Pat (4 January 2012). "Canadiens' Lars Eller scores four goals in win over Jets". Montreal: The National Post. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  12. @ellerofficial (29 October 2012). "JYP Jyväskylä it is. Looking forward to get going again!" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  13. The Canadian Press (2 May 2013). "Habs' Lars Eller injury overshadows Senators' win". CBC Sports.
  14. "Capitals acquire Eller from Montreal". Washington Capitals. 24 June 2016. Retrieved 24 June 2016.
  15. Vogel, Mike (10 February 2018). "Caps and Eller Agree on Five-Year Extension". NHL.com. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  16. "Eller buries puck into open net". NHL.com. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  17. Merk, Martin (2 November 2010). "Danish help for Iceland". IIHF. Archived from the original on 16 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  18. "Mads Eller profile". EuroHockey.com. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  19. "Eliteprospects.com - Michael Smidt". Elite Prospects. Retrieved 2 April 2015.
  20. Pell, Samantha (15 July 2020). "With babies due, Lars Eller and Carl Hagelin prepare to enter — and leave — NHL bubble". Washington Post. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
  21. "The Washington Capitals, after years of frustration, win the Stanley Cup". The New York Times. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 7 June 2018.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Patrik Berglund
St. Louis Blues first round draft pick
2007
Succeeded by
Ian Cole
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