It’s a process that Lars Eller repeats with stern dedication. After practices or morning skates, the sturdy defensive center will shed his gear and depart the dressing room for several minutes then return with a few of his sticks. And as other teammates will scurry out of the room (sometimes to avoid media), Eller will tape his sticks meticulously (and even field queries from media).
He twists up white tape and wraps it around the butt end with precision and detail to create a “knob” that makes it easier to grip. This process unfolds a handful of times on different sticks with a blend of concentration and craftsmanship worthy of an engraver with Tiffany. “I like to have my sticks ready in the morning and when I come back in the next day,” Eller said.
“I don’t like to spend time doing that in the morning. I want to prioritize doing other stuff the next day. So I’ve got to do it right away when I get in after practice.
” That level of professionalism is what has allowed Eller, 35, to carve out a lasting existence in the NHL over 15 seasons and 1,036 career games. His 16th season will be his second as a member of the Penguins. A free agent signing during the 2023 offseason, he appeared in all 82 games in 2023-24 and provided a solid 31 points (16 goals, 15 assists) while averaging 15 minutes, 58 seconds of ice time per contest.
“It felt like home,” Eller said of his first season in Pittsburgh. “I felt like, even when I had been there for a week or two, I f.