Hendrix Lapierre Scratched Twice In A Row For Hershey; Here’s Why

As the Hershey Bears look to secure their second consecutive win on Sunday, they will do so without the services of Washington Capitals prospect Hendrix Lapierre, who is a healthy scratch for the second straight game.

With the NHL Trade Deadline approaching, there were questions as to why the 20-year-old was sitting for back-to-back games. However, Hershey head coach Todd Nelson told reporters on Saturday that it was to allow Lapierre the opportunity to "reset" as the Bears rookie has been frustrated with his play of late.

Lapierre hasn't scored in 10 straight games and has just three assists over that span. His first pro season has been decent so far, as he has 10 goals and 14 assists through 47 games, along with a +/- rating of plus-4 and 91 shots on goal. Lapierre has been able to thrive as a center and continue to develop while adapting to the speed of the pro level.

The 2020 22nd overall selection made the Capitals opening night roster last season but returned to juniors after a six-game stint that saw him score his first NHL goal in his debut. Going forward, the organization will look to see if Lapierre can live out his top-6 potential and be a key part of the franchise's future as they get younger and look to rebuild when the veteran core's time in D.C. comes to an end.