PuckSleuth
Lars Eller20

Florida Panthers · Center · Shoots L

Lars Eller

Age 37 · 6'2" · 207 lb · Born in Rodovre, DNK

Cap hit

$850K

0.8% of $104M cap

Term

1 yr

Through 2026-27, then UFA

Clause

None

Surplus value

+$1.66M

vs. $2.51M market estimate

Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched

2026-27 regular season

GP

2

Goals

0

0.0% shooting

Assists

1

1 primary

Points

1

0.50 per game

TOI/GP

13:16

PP 0:08 · PK 2:00

xGF%

49.5

5v5, -0.6 vs. last yr

Game Score

+0.71

per game

Faceoff %

—

10 W · 14 L

Plus/minus

0

Blocks 2 · Hits 2

Game log

Last 5 games · NHL API

GameGASOGHITBLKTOIPPPKFOOZS%GVTK+/-GS
Oct 1
@ SJS · OTL 4-3
0121114:570:151:538-7—200+1.10
Sep 29
@ CAR · W 1-0
0011111:340:002:062-7—100+0.33
Apr 25
vs CAR · L 4-2
000128:320:063:177-50000+0.09
Apr 23
vs CAR · L 2-1
002007:320:001:090-733010+0.15
Apr 20
@ CAR · OTL 3-2
0023112:240:000:0012-618110+0.37

GS = our Game Score (credit for everything he did; goals and assists count most). FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.

Advanced metrics

5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 673 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards

xGF%50.1%

58th percentile

Relative xGF%-7.3

10th percentile

HDCF%52.0%

66th percentile

CF%47.3%

31st percentile

Relative CF%-6.6

6th percentile

FF%47.4%

32nd percentile

GF%55.8%

79th percentile

CF/6051.9

25th percentile

CA/6057.8

49th percentile

ixG/600.71

25th percentile

Goals above expected-3.0

20th percentile

IPP48.3%

10th percentile

PDO102.4

81st percentile

OZS%42.5%

22nd percentile

xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.

Play styleDefensive depth center

Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26

Eller is a low-event player who prioritizes defensive responsibility over offensive creation. He rarely generates scoring chances himself and contributes minimally at even strength, making him best suited for limited, sheltered minutes.

Defensive-mindedLow-volume shooterGrinding center
Shooting volume
17
Playmaking
46
Zone entries(est.)
45
Forechecking
51
Physicality
49
Defensive impact
37
Puck management
50
Speed
45

Where he shoots from

Slot 54% · Mid-range 28% · Perimeter 18%(89 unblocked shots)

Strengths

  • Balanced puck management at 50th percentile keeps play simple and reliable
  • Slot-focused shooting (54%) maximizes efficiency on limited attempts
  • Forechecking instincts at 51st percentile maintain reasonable work ethic

Watch-outs

  • Shooting volume at 17th percentile reflects minimal offensive threat creation
  • Defensive impact at 37th percentile suggests inconsistent ability to limit opponent chances
  • Speed at 45th percentile limits transition effectiveness on offense or defense

Similar style: Sam Steel (DAL), Mason Appleton (DET)

Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.

Where his Game Score comes from

2025-26 · 68 GP

Season total +20.8, or +0.31 per game.

Scoring
+11.4
Shooting
+5.0
5-on-5 goals
+0.9
Defense
+0.9
Penalty kill
+0.2
Physical play
+2.6
Puck battles
-1.1
Penalties
+0.4
Faceoffs
+0.5

Game Score gives credit for everything a player does in a game. Goals (1.0) and assists (0.7 primary, 0.5 secondary) count most; shots, blocks, hits, takeaways, penalties drawn, faceoff wins, killing penalties, and holding down the other team's chances add to it. Only mistakes subtract: goals against at 5-on-5, giveaways, penalties taken, faceoff losses, and allowing more chances than an average player would. A player who is there to defend or kill penalties is not marked down for not scoring. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.

Career stats

From the NHL's player records

SeasonTeamGPGAP+/-PIMPPGPPPSHGGWGSOGS%TOIFO%
2010-11Montréal Canadiens7022+140000110.013:0543.1
2012-13Montréal Canadiens100000000000.08:4342.9
2013-14Montréal Canadiens175813+61800112321.716:2743.2
2014-15Montréal Canadiens12123040010263.915:5957.4
2016-17Washington Capitals13055-2100000220.014:1845.0
2017-18Washington Capitals2471118+61814035213.517:0050.6
2018-19Washington Capitals7123-120100119.119:0048.3
2019-20Washington Capitals5011-520000100.018:1751.3
2020-21Washington Capitals401100000080.015:2352.2
2021-22Washington Capitals6123-400000156.715:4853.8
2022-23Colorado Avalanche7000-10000090.014:0465.3
2024-25Washington Capitals9011-12000030.010:4550.7
2025-26Ottawa Senators400000000040.08:5456.5
Career13 seasons116153550-16015241947.715:19—

Seasons traded mid-year show one row per team.

Usage

Last game: @ SJS, Oct 1

Line 3 with Sam Reinhart and Brady Tkachuk (5:58 together at 5-on-5)

From the NHL's shift chart.

Latest news

Headlines from news outlets and team blogs

Sentiment & chatter

Fans

—

Beat writers

—

Media

—

Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.

Recent Game Scores

Last 10 games · goals above average

Average +0.28 per game over these 10.

Skating · NHL EDGE

2026-27, as of Oct 2

Top speed
20.6 mph
45th pct
20+ mph bursts
2
Hardest shot
52.9 mph
24th pct
Distance
1.9 mi
OZ time
39.4%
33rd pct
DZ time
43.5%

Age curve

NHL forwards · production index

202937

At 37, forwards typically produce 41% of their peak (age 24).

From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.

Contract by season

1 season left

SeasonTeamCap hit% of cap
2026-27FLA$850K0.8%

UFA after 2026-27. $850K in cap hits left. % of cap uses each season's ceiling where the league has set one ($104M this season, $113.5M in 2027-28).