Lars Eller
First Dane to win the Stanley Cup and reach 1,000 NHL games.
Lars Fosgaard Eller (born 8 May 1989) is a Danish professional ice hockey centre for the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Known by the nickname "the Tiger," he was selected 13th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the first round of the 2007 NHL entry draft. Eller made his NHL debut with the Blues in 2009, then was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2010, where he spent six seasons. In 2016, he was dealt to the Washington Capitals, and in 2018 he became the first Danish-born player to win the Stanley Cup, scoring the game-winning goal in the final. After a short stint with the Colorado Avalanche, Eller joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023, where he became the first Dane to reach 1,000 NHL games. He was traded back to the Capitals in 2024. Internationally, Eller has represented Denmark at both junior and senior levels, including five World Championships.
Eller was the highest-drafted Danish-born and trained player in NHL history until his former teammate Mikkel Bødker was taken eighth overall in 2008. (Danish-born Jan Popiel was drafted tenth in 1964 but grew up in Canada and became a citizen before turning pro.) During the 2007–08 season, Eller played on loan from Frölunda with Borås in the HockeyAllsvenskan. He moved to North America for 2009–10 but missed preseason due to mononucleosis, starting the season with the AHL’s Peoria Rivermen. He made his NHL debut on 5 November 2009 against the Calgary Flames, scoring the Blues’ only goal on a deflection past Miikka Kiprusoff in a 2–1 loss. He played seven NHL games that season, spending most of his time in Peoria, where he was named AHL Rookie of the Month for March 2010 and selected to the AHL All-Rookie Team.
On 17 June 2010, the Blues traded Eller and Ian Schultz to Montreal for goaltender Jaroslav Halák. In preseason, Eller played both centre and wing, and he started the 2010–11 season on the top line with Tomáš Plekanec and Michael Cammalleri. He went pointless in his first five games and did not score until his 20th game, on 24 November against the Los Angeles Kings. After being a healthy scratch for three games in mid-January, he returned on 18 January alongside Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn, setting a new career high in ice time (16:53) against the Buffalo Sabres.
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 1989-05-08
- Birth Place
- Rødovre, Denmark
- Height Ft
- 6
- Height In
- 2
- Weight Lb
- 198
- Position
- Centre
- Shoots
- Left
- League
- NHL
- Team
- Florida Panthers
- Former Teams
- Frölunda HC / St. Louis Blues / Montreal Canadiens / JYP / Washington Capitals / Colorado Avalanche / Pittsburgh Penguins / Ottawa Senators
- Ntl Team
- Denmark
- Draft
- 13th overall
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Eller began his professional career in Sweden with Borås on loan from Frölunda during the 2007–08 season. He moved to North America for the 2009–10 season, but his preseason was spoiled by mononucleosis, leading him to start with the Peoria Rivermen in the AHL. He made his NHL debut on 5 November 2009 against the Calgary Flames, scoring the Blues' lone goal on a deflection. He was named AHL Rookie of the Month for March 2010 and selected for the 2009–10 AHL All-Rookie Team.
Traded to the Montreal Canadiens in June 2010, Eller played six seasons there, often shifting between center and wing. He scored his first career hat-trick on 4 January 2012, tallying four goals and an assist against the Winnipeg Jets, becoming the first Canadien to score four goals at home in a single game since 1993. During the 2013 Stanley Cup playoffs, he was knocked unconscious by an open-ice check from Ottawa's Eric Gryba, suffering a concussion and facial fractures. He later signed a four-year, $13 million contract extension with Montreal in July 2014.
Eller was traded to the Washington Capitals in 2016 and won the Stanley Cup in 2018, scoring the Cup-winning goal. After a brief stint with the Colorado Avalanche, he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023, becoming the first Danish player to reach 1,000 NHL games, before being traded back to the Capitals in 2024.
Reader's Guide
Lars Eller's career is notable for several milestones in Danish hockey history. He was the highest-drafted Danish-born and trained player in NHL history until Mikkel Bødker was selected eighth overall in 2008. Eller became the first Dane to win the Stanley Cup, scoring the decisive goal for the Washington Capitals in 2018. He later became the first Danish player to appear in 1,000 NHL games, a feat achieved while with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023. Internationally, Eller has represented Denmark at five World Championships. His playing style has been characterized by versatility, having played both center and wing, and he has been used in defensive roles, including penalty killing. His tenure with the Montreal Canadiens included a four-goal game and a stint centering the 'Kid Line' with Alex Galchenyuk and Brendan Gallagher. Eller's resilience was demonstrated after a severe concussion and facial fractures suffered in the 2013 playoffs, from which he recovered to return the following season. His career has spanned multiple teams, including the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, Washington Capitals, Colorado Avalanche, Pittsburgh Penguins, and a return to the Capitals.
Did You Know?
- Eller scored the Stanley Cup-winning goal for the Washington Capitals in 2018, becoming the first Dane to win the Cup.
- He was the first Danish player to reach 1,000 NHL games, doing so with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023.
- Eller scored four goals and an assist in a 7–3 win over the Winnipeg Jets on 4 January 2012, the first Canadien to score four goals at home since 1993.
- He was knocked unconscious by an open-ice check from Eric Gryba during the 2013 playoffs, suffering a concussion and facial fractures.
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