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Hendrix Lapierre, Washington Capitals (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Hendrix Lapierre Is Capitals Forward Prospect to Watch

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By Mike Fink | Last updated Mar 27, 2025 3:10 PM ET

The Washington Capitals have the best record in the Eastern Conference and have a lot working in their favor. In case their great season wasn’t enough, their American Hockey League (AHL) team, the Hershey Bears, is set up to win their third Calder Cup in a row. They are the best team in the Atlantic Division and possibly the AHL with talent across the board. Even as the rest of the league’s closed the gap on the back-to-back Calder Cup champions, they remain the team to beat.

One of the skaters who doesn’t immediately come to mind but is a rising youngster nonetheless is Hendrix Lapierre. At 23 years old, he’s a forward who has 27 points this season, making him a key part of the offense. This season has shown how he will help the Bears make a run at the Calder Cup and why eventually, he can be a part of the Capitals roster that already has plenty of young talent on it but can use more in the future.

Lapierre’s Passing & Playmaking

Lapierre only has five goals this season and only 25 in three seasons with the Bears. However, he has 22 assists and stands out as a passer from the center position. He finds open skaters in the offensive zone and when moving the puck up the ice to help generate offense.

As a top-six center, Lapierre is responsible for finding open looks for Ivan Miroshnichenko and Mike Vecchione, wingers who have 37 goals combined. It’s a credit to Lapierre and his ability to find them on the rush but also with quick puck movement near the goal. His recent performance was just another day at the office: Lapierre registered three assists in the 4-1 March 26 win over the Bridgeport Islanders with some great passes, notably a centering feed to set up Vecchione for a power-play goal.

Every team wants a great scorer, and the Bears have a few of them, two of whom are on the same line. However, there are few teams that have great playmakers. Lapierre is one of them, and it makes him stand out in the Capitals’ farm system. However, it’s not just his passing but rather his overall game that makes him a player to watch.

Lapierre’s Rounded Out His Game

One thing the Bears preach to all their players is to step up in all three zones and play two-way hockey. The skaters must score, defend, play with structure, forecheck, and backcheck, not just in the defensive zone but in the offensive zone as well. It’s one of the many reasons Todd Nelson is one of the great coaches in the AHL and is poised for an NHL job someday.

Lapierre does it all and as a top-six center, plays all situations. His passing stands out but he uses his speed to close in on skaters and force turnovers. While he’s not a big guy, he steps up on the forecheck and plays the physical game when needed. He embodies the type of player Nelson wants in his lineup as he takes advantage of mistakes from the opponent and turns them into goals for the Bears. It’s made Lapierre someone who can easily transition to the NHL game when the Capitals inevitably give him the call.

His scoring ability, or lack thereof, will be held against him. Teams at the NHL level will dare him to shoot the puck on net and win with his shot, but it’s something he can’t do. That makes it the one thing he must work on before joining the NHL. Otherwise, he’s ready to join the Capitals and to be a valuable part of the forward unit.

Capitals Will Have a Reliable Forward

The Capitals aren’t a team that needs a lot of help, this season especially. They have the best record in the Eastern Conference and have already clinched a playoff spot, with Alexander Ovechkin closing in on the all-time goal-scoring record. However, by the start of next season, they will be a different team and notably an older one. It’s why having young forwards like Ethen Frank, who was called up earlier in the season, Miroshnichenko, and Lapierre goes a long way.

Lapierre is someone who can create scoring chances for Dylan Strome and Pierre-Luc Dubois. More importantly, he’s a great skater who will generate offense both on the rush and in the offensive zone. Lapierre isn’t a top-line center and won’t be at the NHL level but he’s a young center who can eventually play the second or third line and make everyone around him better.