Just because the trade deadline is still months away, doesn’t mean trades don’t happen early in the season!
On Tuesday evening, two Metropolitan Division teams linked up on a deal, with the Pittsburgh Penguins sending Lars Eller to the Washington Capitals for a 2027 third-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.
Eller was drafted by the St. Louis Blues and started his career with them in 2009-10, but made his mark with the Montréal Canadiens from the 2010-11 season until the 2015-16 season. Afterward, he was traded to the Capitals for picks. In his first stint with the Capitals which lasted seven seasons, the Danish forward scored 87 goals and 208 points in 488 games.
For the third time in his career, Eller was traded, this time to the Colorado Avalanche before the 2023 trade deadline. They were bounced in the first round to the Seattle Kraken, with Eller returning to the Eastern Conference, signing with the Penguins. In 99 games with the Pens, Eller had 19 goals and 38 points before Tuesday’s trade.

Mike Reilly placed on Long-Term Injured Reserve

On Wednesday morning, the New York Islanders placed defenceman Mike Reilly on Long-Term Injured Reserve.
The 31-year-old was selected in the fourth round by the Columbus Blue Jackets back in 2011. Throughout his career, he’s played for the likes of the Minnesota Wild, Montréal Canadiens, Ottawa Senators, Boston Bruins, and Florida Panthers. Last season, he scored a career-high six goals and 24 points in 61 games split between the Panthers and Islanders.
So far in 2024-25, Reilly has played 11 games and has been held pointless, with a +1 and two penalty minutes.

Hampus Lindholm considered week-to-week

Sticking with defencemen in the Eastern Conference, Boston Bruins head coach Jim Montgomery announced that Hampus Lindholm is week-to-week with a lower-body injury.
The left-shot defenceman was selected sixth overall in the 2012 draft by the Anaheim Ducks, and spent his first nine seasons with the team before a trade at the 2022 trade deadline. He had a career-high season with the Bruins in 2022-23, scoring 10 goals and 53 points in 80 games.
Through 17 games with the Bruins this season, the 30-year-old has three goals, which matched his tally from last season, as well as seven points.
The Bruins don’t look like the juggernaut they’ve been in the past few seasons, as they’re off to an 8-7-2 start and currently occupy the third spot in the Atlantic Division.
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