PITTSBURGH – The Washington Capitals have reunited with veteran center Lars Eller.

Washington sent a 2025 fifth-round pick and a 2027 third-round pick to the Penguins on Tuesday for Eller, who spent seven seasons with the Capitals and helped the team win its first Stanley Cup in 2018.

Eller, 35, had four goals and three assists in 17 games with Pittsburgh. He was in the second season of a two-year contract he signed with the Penguins in the summer of 2023.

Eller has 182 goals and 227 assists in 1,053 games with Montreal, Washington, Colorado and Pittsburgh. He remains a reliable two-way player and penalty killer and rejoins a Washington team that is off to a good start in the competitive Metropolitan Division. The Capitals enter Wednesday’s action at 10-4-0, good enough for third place in the division behind Carolina and New Jersey.

“We are pleased to welcome Lars back to our organization,” said Capitals General Manager Chris Patrick. “This move increases our depth in the crucial center position. Lars is a versatile player who we are confident will strengthen the depth and competitiveness of our team.”

The move could be the first of several for Pittsburgh, which sits just two points clear at the bottom of the Eastern Conference on Wednesday. The Penguins fell 7-1 to Dallas on Monday night, a game in which the Stars scored six goals in the first period.

Evgeni Malkin apologized for the team’s performance on Tuesday.

“I want to apologize to the fans,” Malkin said. “They saw a very bad match. I hope we find a good way together, win tomorrow and build the team better.”

Pittsburgh general manager Kyle Dubas has tried to cross a line that will keep the team competitive in the twilight of the careers of franchise icons Sidney Crosby, Malkin and Kris Letang.

The team’s shaky start, highlighted by goalkeeper Tristan Jarry’s problems and a porous defense (the Penguins are tied with Montreal for a minus 21 goal differential, the worst in the league) could lead to more substantial changes to lead. Dubas has been intent on strengthening the team’s prospect pool, and sending Eller for two picks down the stretch is another step in that direction.