WHN’s Top Capitals Prospects: Hendrix Lapierre, Slick Playmaker, Earns No. 5 Spot

In preparation for the 2023-24 season, Washington Hockey Now staff have compiled a list of the top 10 Washington Capitals prospects. The final rankings are based on the research and discussions of WHN staff.

No. 5: Hendrix Lapierre, C

Age: 21; Ht-Wt: 6-0, 180; Shoots: Left; Drafted: 1st round, 2020.

It’s not often that the Capitals land draft prospects from Quebec, but they may have found a gem in Hendrix Lapierre.

The team made the left-handed center the 22nd overall pick in the 2020 draft, landing a prospect who has long been seen as a skilled playmaker. In only his first pro season in the QMJHL, Lapierre’s 32 assists with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens were tied for the team lead.

Despite concussion trouble — as well as the COVID-19 pandemic — limiting his production over the following two seasons, he quickly regained form after being traded to the Acadie-Bathurst Titan. Lapierre’s 51 points — 21 goals, 30 assists — was the highest scoring output of his juniors career.

After joining the professional ranks last season, Lapierre solidified himself as a key piece of the Hershey Bears’ run to the Calder Cup. He ranked sixth on the team with 30 points during the regular season before adding six more in the playoffs.

With Nicklas Backstrom (35) and Nic Dowd (33) approaching retirement age, Lapierre’s opportunity to stick in the NHL may come sooner rather than later. He’ll still have to contend for ice time with Connor McMichael, the team’s first-round pick in 2019, as well as current NHL regulars Evgeny Kuznetsov and Dylan Strome.

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Where Is He Playing This Year?

Lapierre is expected to be in the mix for a full-time shot in the NHL, but such opportunities appear hard to come by. Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan said earlier in the offseason that he expected Connor McMichael, Beck Malenstyn and Aliaksei Protas to crack the roster, limiting Lapierre’s immediate chances of joining the Capitals.