Lars Eller Unsung Hero for Pittburgh's 2023-24 NHL Season

The Pittsburgh Penguins might be in full swing in their 2024 offseason after missing the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, but the work Lars Eller put into the 2023-24 season makes him the unsung hero of the team.

Whether it is Jordan Staal, Brandon Sutter, Nick Bonino, or Jeff Carter, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had a storied history of an unsung hero playing the role of their third-line centre.

Eller's work with the rival Washington Capitals made him a perfect addition to the veteran Penguins team.




The workhorse forward is entering year two of his two-year contract worth $2.45 million annually. He will become a pending unrestricted free agent in 2025.

The 34-year-old Eller posted a respectable 15 goals and 16 assists for 31 points in 82 total games. He also averaged 15:57 of total ice time per game.



Eller spent the majority of his 2023-24 season on both special team units, a dark horse option, but a good one at that. He spent time on both the top power play and penalty kill units for the Penguins, a role they desperately needed to fill with their aging talent.

While it's likely the Penguins will overhaul their bottom-six forward group yet again, Lars Eller must stay and lead the charge in the 2024-25 season. Trading him would be a mistake that would haunt the Pittsburgh Penguins and their hopes of returning to a playoff team.



The dependability and reliability of Eller remain unmatched, the soon-to-be 35-year-old forward has to work hard to sustain his level of play. The veteran presence and experience in the playoffs will be an asset to any team should the Penguins move their unsung hero.

As read on Triblive:
Triblive Lars Eller Did His Job