Avalanche acquire Eller from Capitals
The Colorado Avalanche acquired forward Lars Eller from the Washington Capitals on Wednesday for a 2025 second-round pick.
Eller has seven goals and 16 points in 60 games this season. The 33-year-old has a $3.5-million cap hit and is a pending unrestricted free agent.
Washington is reportedly retaining 31% of Eller's salary, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. He will cost $2.415 million against the Avalanche's salary cap.
"Solid, big, strong third-line center. ... This is a good pickup," Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar said of Eller, according to The Athletic's Peter Baugh. "We need help in the middle of the ice."
Eller's 54.6% faceoff percentage would be the best on Colorado. No Avalanche forward currently on the roster has a faceoff percentage above 50%.
Bednar said there's a chance Eller plays against the New Jersey Devils on Wednesday, according to MSG Network's Bill Spaulding.
Eller has 96 games of postseason experience. He's recorded 15 goals and 49 playoff points, including 18 points in Washington's Stanley Cup run in 2018.
The Avalanche have $4.5 million of LTIR cap space remaining after the trade, according to CapFriendly.