Lars Eller

(Danish-born Jan Popiel was drafted tenth overall in the 1964 NHL Amateur Draft but grew up in and became a citizen of Canada before making his pro debut.)

Lars Fosgaard Eller (born 8 May 1989) is a Danish professional ice hockey player for the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL).

He subsequently became the first Montreal Canadien to score four goals at home in a single game since February 27, 1993.

Nicknamed "the Tiger", he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall, in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

During the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Eller was selected 13th overall by the St. Louis Blues, the highest ranking for a Danish born and trained player in NHL history until friend and former teammate Mikkel Bødker was selected number eight overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Eller spent part of the 2007–08 season with Borås in the HockeyAllsvenskan, on loan from Frölunda.

Eller made his NHL debut in 2009 with the Blues and was traded to the Montreal Canadiens in 2010, where he played six seasons before being traded to the Washington Capitals in 2016.

Eller moved to North America for the 2009–10 season.

His preseason was spoiled by mononucleosis and, as a result, he started the season playing for the Peoria Rivermen in the American Hockey League (AHL).

He was called up by the St. Louis and made his NHL debut on 5 November 2009 in a game against the Calgary Flames in which the Blues lost 2–1.

He scored the Blues' lone goal, beating Miikka Kiprusoff off of a deflection and had three shots on goal in 9:42 minutes of ice time.

Eller appeared in five NHL games before returning to Peoria, finishing the season with seven games for the Blues.

With the Rivermen, Eller was named AHL Rookie of the Month for March 2010 and was also selected for the 2009–10 AHL All-Rookie Team.

On 17 June 2010, Eller was traded by the Blues to the Montreal Canadiens, along with Ian Schultz, in exchange for goaltender Jaroslav Halák.

He participated in the Canadiens pre-season games where he played both a center and winger role.

As the 2010–11 season approached, Eller was assigned to the Canadiens top line alongside Tomáš Plekanec and Michael Cammalleri.

Once the season began, Eller was assigned to a winger position but was held pointless through the first five games of the season.

His drought continued as he remained goalless through his first 20 games before scoring his first as a Canadien against the Los Angeles Kings on 24 November.

Eller was a healthy scratch for three games in mid-January before rejoining the lineup on 18 January to play alongside Plekanec and Andrei Kostitsyn.

Upon re-joining the lineup, Eller surpassed his previous career-high of ice time by playing 16:53 minutes in a game against the Buffalo Sabres.

In late February, Eller found chemistry alongside Travis Moen and Kostitsyn and the three carried a five-game, seven-point streak by 4 March.

He continued to improve from his rookie season with the Canadiens and surpassed his 2010–11 season total in only 43 games.

He finished his second season with the Canadiens with career-highs in games played, goals, assists, and points.

As the Canadiens faced off against the Boston Bruins in the first round of the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs, Eller was given the responsibility of shutting down the Bruins’ top line.

He finished third on the team with 18 hits during the post-season while also playing through a dislocated shoulder.

During the off-season, Eller underwent shoulder surgery but rejoined the team for their 2011–12 home opener.

He joined the team for their home opener on 13 October 2011 against the Calgary Flames where he played 10:57 minutes of ice time.

He was reunited with his former linemates Andrei Kostitsyn and Travis Moen and the three combined for 10 points in the first five games.

On 23 November, Eller tallied his first shorthanded NHL goal in a win over the Carolina Hurricanes.

In December, he sat as a healthy scratch for one game before returning to the lineup centering Erik Cole and Max Pacioretty.

He also received a $2,500 fine for boarding Los Angeles Kings defenceman Drew Doughty during a game.

Once the Canadiens 2011–12 season ended, Eller returned to his home country to conduct his off-season training.

On 4 January 2012, Eller scored four goals and an assist in a 7–3 victory against the Winnipeg Jets, his first career hat-trick.

As such, he signed a two-year contract to remain with the Canadiens through the 2012–13 and 2013–14 seasons.

During the 2012–13 2012–13 NHL lockout, Eller signed a temporary contract with JYP Jyväskylä in the Finnish elite hockey league Liiga.

While with JYP, Eller played alongside Boston Bruins forward Rich Peverley and a ex-NHLers Éric Perrin and Ramzi Abid.

He recorded five goals and 10 assists through 15 games before returning to the Canadiens in January 2013.

Upon re-joining the team, Eller bounced between different lines before centering Colby Armstrong and Moen.

He became the first person from Denmark to win the Stanley Cup when the Capitals won in 2018, scoring the Stanley Cup-winning goal, and is also the first Danish player to play in 1,000 NHL games.

Internationally Eller has played for the Danish national team at both the junior and senior level, including at five World Championships.