Lars Eller

Lars Fosgaard Eller (born May 8, 1989) is a Danish professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens organization of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the first round, 13th overall in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

In the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, he was drafted 13th overall by the St. Louis Blues. He was the highest ever drafted Danish born and trained player in NHL history until friend and former teammate Mikkel Bødker was selected as number eight overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. (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.)

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

Eller moved to North America for the 2009–10 season. His preseason was spoiled by mononucleosis and, as a result, he started the season in Peoria. He was called up by St. Louis and made his NHL debut on November 5, 2009 in a game against the Calgary Flames in which the Blues lost 2–1. He scored the only Blues 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 the Peoria Rivermen, finishing the season with seven games for the St. Louis Blues.