The Washington Capitals have re-signed center Lars Eller to a five-year, $17.5 million contract extension, with an average annual value of $3.5 million, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today. 

The $3.5 million average annual value (AAV) is the same value of Eller’s current contract with the Capitals. “The Great Dane” has 11 goals and 17 assists in 53 games so far this season, Eller is on pace for a career-high 43 points this season. Eller, 28, was set to become an Unrestricted Free Agent at the end of the season.

FROM CAPITALS MEDIA RELEASE

Eller, 28, has registered 28 points (11g, 17a) in 53 games this season, which ranks sixth on the Capitals. The 6’2”, 207-pound center is three points shy of setting a new single-season high, set in the 2012-13 season with the Montreal Canadiens. Eller set a career high four-game goal streak (1/7-1/12) and scored five goals in six games (1-7-1/19) during the stretch. In addition, Eller ranks fourth on the team this season with 99 shots and his 102:33 time on the penalty kill ranks second among Capitals forwards this season.

The Capitals acquired Eller from Montreal on June 24, 2016, in exchange for the Capitals’ second round NHL draft picks in 2017 and 2018. The Rodovre, Denmark, native has earned 53 points (23g, 30a) in 133 games with Washington. The Capitals are 32-8-3 all-time when Eller records a point. Drafted by St. Louis in the first round, 13th-overall, in the 2007 draft, Eller has recorded 209 points (96g, 113a) in 576 games with St. Louis, Montreal and Washington. Eller has recorded at least 25 points in each of his last five seasons.