Eller’s all business with day job, but a tennis acionado away from it
Lars Eller has quickly ingrained himself with the Penguins, evidenced in multiple ways. The 34-year-old center has served as an extension of the coaching staff at times this season, reviewing game film with younger players on iPads in between periods or coming to the team facility to talk through penalty-kill strategies. He’s won over teammates for his selfless, defensive-minded style in a bottom-six role while also embracing duties on both special teams.
Eller has chipped in more offense than expected, too, given that he’s in line for his most goals in a season since the 2019-20 campaign. In the first season of a twoyear deal, Eller has arguably been the Penguins’ most impactful addition from the 2023 offseason, both on the ice and away from it.
“He’s a terrific person. He’s a real good teammate,” coach Mike Sullivan said. “I think he’s done a great job in mentoring some of the young guys who we put around him and he’s helped us in so many capacities.”
With all the benefits Eller has brought to the table for the Penguins, it’s not entirely surprising his 1,000th career NHL game was
accompanied by fanfare somewhat resemblant of that from Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang’s milestone contests. When the Penguins took the ice for the pregame warmup on Jan. 27, all players were wearing Eller’s No. 20 sweater.
One of the gifts Eller received from his teammates prior to that game brought a particularly wide smile to his face that night — a trip for four people to the 2024 U.S. Open tennis championships in New York, tickets and hotel accommodations included.
“It’s going to be a cool experience,” Eller said. “I usually always try to watch the grand slams on TV and I’ve never been to one. I’ve been to some tournaments, but I haven’t ever been to a grand slam, so that’ll be really cool.”
When Eller, a 15-year NHL veteran, played for the Montreal Canadiens and Washington Capitals, he attended marquee
tournaments in those cities put on by the Association of Tennis Professionals. But his appreciation for tennis started many years before while growing up in Rodovre, Denmark, a suburb of Copenhagen.
“Since I was a kid, I liked it,” Eller said. “Me and my friends, we’d always watch Wimbledon in the summertime. [Tennis] was one of the hobbies I had in the summers when there wasn’t hockey.
“I would play tennis with my friends and soccer and golf. So [I] started pretty early.”
Hockey is far from the only or most popular sport Danish children play. Eller is the first player from his country to skate in 1,000 career NHL games and only one of six to play in 500 or more.
He naturally gravitated toward hockey, however. Eller’s father, Olaf, played for the Danish international team and coached several squads at the highest level in Denmark. Hockey was the sport Eller took most seriously, even while he didn’t believe making it to the NHL was a very realistic dream early in his childhood.
Tennis, meanwhile, was a fun activity for the summer months. And through Eller’s adult life, it has remained an interest. The usually serious Eller brightened when asked which player on the tour he’s currently pulling for the most.
“Holger Rune’s a fellow Dane, so, obviously, I hope he does well,” Eller said.
“It’d be fun to see if he could do well and go far. I think he has the potential to. He’s been in a few quarterfinals in the slams.”
On the women’s side, another native of Denmark in Caroline Wozniacki is a player Eller makes a point of rooting for. His all-time favorite player is Roger Federer, and Eller especially enjoyed viewing his many encounters with Rafael Nadal over the years.
It’s usually worked out well for Eller to be in the same time zone for either Wimbledon once the NHL’s season ends or the U.S. Open ahead of training camp. Now, he’ll be able to finally attend the U.S. Open.
Eller’s wife, Julie, is already guaranteed one of the two tickets. Perhaps the remaining pair will go to their two kids or some friends.
One of Eller’s teammates has even made a case to join him in the Big Apple.
“Might just go two, I don’t know,” Eller said. “Geno wanted me to invite him.”
Before Eller starts finalizing those Labor Day weekend plans, the Penguins have some work to do to reinsert themselves into the Eastern Conference playoff picture, especially with a lackluster start after the AllStar break.
It certainly won’t be easy during the next 31 games, but having as effective a third-line center as the Penguins have had in recent memory certainly won’t hurt their cause. Sullivan is grateful to have Eller aboard for the Penguins’ current push, both for his personality and play.
“He’s a real good person and, obviously, he played his 1,000th game most recently, [which] just speaks to his experience level,” Sullivan said. “He’s a Stanley Cup champion.
“I think he has the opportunity to share those experiences and help some of the guys that are younger than he is and he can help as part of the leadership group that we have already here. He’s done that for us.”