Hendrix Lapierre, the Washington Capitals' 23-year-old center, is aiming to secure a permanent position with the NHL club this season after making the opening night roster out of training camp. The Gatineau, Quebec native, drafted 22nd overall by the Capitals in 2020, is looking to solidify his role in the capital city.
Lapierre's journey to the NHL hasn't been without its challenges. Last year, he earned a spot on the Capitals' opening night roster, but his performance in the first half of the season was underwhelming. After 27 games, where he recorded eight assists and was a healthy scratch on multiple occasions, he was sent to the Hershey Bears, the Capitals' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. The Capitals then brought back Lars Eller to try and strengthen the third line, but the team's third line struggled to find consistency throughout the season.
This year, however, Lapierre has demonstrated significant improvement. During the preseason, he tied for the most points in the NHL with seven in five games. This performance solidified his place on the Capitals' roster based on merit. According to a report from October 7, 2025, Lapierre stated, "We know what happened last year: I made the team, then it wasn't that great. Now I've made the team, but I want to really, truly have an impact. I want our line to be impactful every night and to help the team win. I'm happy but not satisfied".
Lapierre's current linemates are Anthony Beauvillier and rookie Ryan Leonard. Capitals' coach Carbery noted Beauvillier's experience and versatility as key assets to the line.
Prior to the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, Lapierre was considered a top-ten talent, but concerns about concussions caused him to slip in the rankings. He suffered three concussions in a span of ten months and was diagnosed with a craniocervical traumatic injury, which caused him to miss a significant portion of the 2019-20 season. Despite these concerns, the Capitals traded their 24th and 80th overall picks to the Calgary Flames to acquire Lapierre. Former Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan acknowledged the risk but stated that the team's doctors and trainers had thoroughly examined Lapierre.
In July 2025, the Capitals re-signed Lapierre to a one-year, one-way contract for $850,000. During the 2024-25 AHL season with Hershey, Lapierre recorded a career-high 25 assists and 32 points in 32 games. He also ranked first on the team in points-per-game (1.00) and was named AHL Player of the Week in February.
Lapierre has won two Calder Cups with the Hershey Bears. In 2024, he was named the MVP of the Calder Cup playoffs. In 84 career NHL games with Washington, Lapierre has recorded 31 points (9 goals, 22 assists). He made his NHL debut on October 13, 2021, against the New York Rangers, scoring his first NHL goal with an assist from T.J. Oshie.
