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Carl Hagelin

Carl Hagelin Announces Retirement

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Two-time Stanley Cup champion winger Carl Hagelin announced his retirement today via an Instagram post. Now 35 years old, Hagelin missed the 2022-23 season due to severe eye and hip injuries.

“It’s been an amazing ride, but it ends here,” Hagelin said. “Unfortunately, my eye injury is too severe to keep playing the game I love.” He told reporters at the beginning of the offseason that he hoped to return to NHL play for the 2023-24 campaign, but unfortunately, that won’t be the case. His four-year, $11MM extension he’d signed with Washington in 2019 expired on July 1.

Picked in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers out of Södertälje SK’s junior program in Sweden, Hagelin took a somewhat unconventional path for European prospects and immediately came over to North America, embarking on a four-year collegiate career with the University of Michigan. It was undoubtedly the right choice, however – by his senior year, he was named team captain and produced over a point per game over his last two seasons.

Aside from a few games in the minors in 2011-12, Hagelin made the jump to the NHL immediately from college, recording 38 points in 64 games during his rookie season with the Rangers, along with a +24 rating. That placed him fifth in Calder Trophy voting and even earned him a few votes for the Selke Trophy.

He would continue consistently producing in the 30-40 point range over his four-year tenure with the Rangers but never really built on that rookie campaign. That’s not a knock on Hagelin at all, however. He was a quintessential two-way middle-six secondary scoring forward with a good amount of speed to his game. That’s even more impressive in relation to his sixth-round selection, given he went on to play over 700 NHL games.

His tenure in New York ended somewhat unceremoniously. A restricted free agent at the end of 2014-15, he couldn’t agree to a new deal with the Rangers and his signing rights were dealt to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for depth forward Emerson Etem (along with some draft picks changing hands, but nothing of significance). Anaheim compensated him nicely by signing him to the richest contract of his career (four years, $16MM), but Hagelin couldn’t really find his game in Southern California. He recorded just 12 points in 43 games to begin 2015-16 before Anaheim moved him to the Pittsburgh Penguins for David Perron, who was similarly underperforming in Pittsburgh.

It would turn out to be one of the most underrated transactions in Penguins history. Down the stretch, Hagelin would complete the famed third line with Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel that played such a crucial role in Pittsburgh winning their first of back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016. Hagelin exploded for 27 points in 37 games after the trade and added 16 points in 24 playoff games en route to the championship.

Again, he couldn’t quite recapture that performance the following season. While he would win another championship in 2017, he scored just two goals in 15 games during that playoff run. Fast forward to 2018-19, and Hagelin had scored only one goal and two assists through the first 16 games of the season. A move to the Los Angeles Kings in November didn’t do much for him, either – he recorded just five points in 22 games there. It was near the 2018-19 deadline that the Kings moved him to Washington, where he notched 11 points in the final 20 games of the season, appearing rejuvenated and earning himself the final four-year extension.

Hagelin would wrap up his career by scoring 20 goals and 66 points throughout 187 games in a Capitals uniform, posting solid numbers for a bottom-six scoring winger. Unfortunately, it was a freak eye injury in a practice in March of 2022 that would end his career.

PHR extends our best wishes to Hagelin in his continued recovery from both injuries and congratulates him on a championship-caliber career.

Carl Hagelin Hopes To Play Next Season

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It has been more than a year since Capitals winger Carl Hagelin has played due to an eye injury.  As a result, he spent all of this season on LTIR.  However, while his current contract is set to come to an end, the veteran told reporters including NHL.com’s Tom Gulitti (Twitter link) that he’s hopeful that he’ll be able to play next season.

Hagelin, when fully healthy, has been an effective two-way player whose speed was a significant asset.  However, his production had tapered off over his last few seasons to the point where he managed just three goals in 53 games last season before being shut down.

While the 34-year-old hasn’t yet been cleared to return from the injury, he indicated that he’s hoping to be cleared later this summer.  For now, the plan is for him to skate for a couple of months this summer and then look to make a final decision on his future sometime in August.

Between his decline in production and the uncertainty surrounding his future, Hagelin can certainly afford to be patient in trying to see if he’ll be able to play in 2023-24 as he’s quite likely to be a PTO candidate in training camp if he does get the green light to suit up.  Otherwise, he’ll probably be hanging up his skates after a successful 11-year career that saw him collect 296 points in 713 games with five different organizations.

Carl Hagelin Undergoes Hip Surgery

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It doesn’t seem like the Washington Capitals will be getting Carl Hagelin back this season. The veteran forward underwent hip resurfacing surgery on Monday and is now listed out indefinitely.

Hagelin, 34, has gone through a number of injuries over the last year and has not played yet this season. He underwent a hip procedure a few months ago, and had dealt with an eye injury that was affecting his vision.

In January, the speedy forward had been skating, and appeared to be on the road to recovery. But this latest surgery throws the rest of his career in doubt, given his age and the severity of the injury. Teammate Nicklas Backstrom underwent a similar procedure last year and has recovered well, but there are some other factors that could lead to a different outcome for Hagelin.

First and foremost, his contract with the Capitals expires at the end of the season. The four-year, $11MM deal signed in 2019 resulted in just 167 games played, as Hagelin spent more time on injured reserve than on the ice.

There’s also the question of effectiveness, even when healthy. Hagelin had scored just 17 goals in those three seasons with Washington, including three in 53 games during the 2021-22 campaign. While his speed still left him a capable penalty killer, most teams have younger options to fill that role – ones that aren’t coming off multiple hip surgeries.

Turning 35 in August, this could be the end for Hagelin in the NHL. If it is, he finishes with 713 games played, and two Stanley Cup championships. His versatility and work ethic made him a fan favorite anywhere he went, and that speed even landed him some down-ballot Selke love in his prime.

Snapshots: Provorov, Pelech, Hagelin

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There’s always something going on in Philadelphia. Last night, Flyers defenseman Tony DeAngelo found himself stapled to the bench for the second half of the game after a brutal giveaway, finishing with just seven minutes of ice time. Today, things have shifted to Ivan Provorov, who was the subject of a long discussion between Elliotte Friedman and Jeff Marek on Sportsnet’s 32 Thoughts podcast.

This kind of came to my attention early Sunday morning. I was kind of working on it and it’s a difficult thing to pin down. But to say that there is something going on here. I think you’re going to hear Provorov’s name out there [in the trade market]. 

It just “hasn’t worked” for Provorov in Philadelphia since his early-career breakout, when he scored 17 goals and 41 points as a sophomore. That early success led to a six-year, $40.5MM second contract, one that will keep the 25-year-old defenseman signed through the 2024-25 season at a $6.75MM cap hit. One thing to note when discussing any Provorov trade speculation is that the back-loaded deal will pay him $8.5MM in 2023-24 and $8.625MM in 2024-25, meaning any acquiring team would be investing quite a bit of money in the defenseman. Through 40 games this year, Provorov has two goals and 14 points.

  • While one Metropolitan Division team struggles to find consistency on the back end, another might be getting an important defender back in the near future. Adam Pelech has resumed skating and has been on the ice the last three days, according to New York Islanders head coach Lane Lambert who spoke with reporters including Kevin Kurz of The Athletic. The 28-year-old Pelech has been out for more than a month, last appearing on December 6 against the St. Louis Blues. He was off to another strong start this year with 11 points in 27 games and despite his absence, still sits second on the team with a +12 rating.
  • Carl Hagelin was on the ice again this morning ahead of practice for the Washington Capitals, though he didn’t stay on when the main group arrived, according to Tom Gulitti of NHL.com. Washington recently got Nicklas Backstrom and Tom Wilson back and now might have another veteran forward to add to the group in the coming weeks. The question now will be where exactly Hagelin fits into the lineup, given how long he’s been out. He last appeared in an NHL game in February of last year, scored just three goals last season, and is now 34.

Nicklas Backstrom Exits COVID Protocol

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Jan 2: Backstrom has tested out of the protocol and re-joined his teammates, according to El-Bashir. The veteran forward is back on the ice in a top-six jersey.

Dec 28: It had been a promising scene at Washington Capitals practice recently, with Nicklas Backstrom taking part and appearing to be close to a return. Unfortunately, that recovery will have to be put on pause for the moment, as the veteran center has been put in the COVID protocol, according to Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic.

With Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie, and Carl Hagelin all taking part in the optional practice today, the Capitals are well on their way to getting the band back together. Backstrom’s absence will hopefully be rather short, and he will be able to get back on the ice in a few days.

The 35-year-old hasn’t played this season as he recovers from hip surgery in June. After the procedure, he explained to reporters that he was pain-free for the first time in years but didn’t know when or if he would be able to play again. The mystery appears to be solved, and a return for Backstrom is on the horizon.

After hitting the 1,000-point mark last season, there are a few Hall of Fame players within striking distance of the Capitals legend, and a place in the NHL’s top 75 is even possible. He would need 35 points to pass Henri Richard’s 1,046 for that honor, though Eric Staal (currently at 1,042) might do it first. It has been an incredible career for the fourth overall pick from 2006, and as Alex Ovechkin continues his chase of the all-time goals record, getting his long-time setup man would only help.

Because Backstrom is already on long-term injured reserve, his status in the protocol will not change anything for the Capitals. The team will need to clear a good amount of cap space to activate him though, meaning this will likely give them a little extra time to figure things out.

Carl Hagelin, Kody Clark Undergo Surgery

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It’s tough news for veteran forward Carl Hagelin, as the Washington Capitals announced today that he underwent arthroscopic surgery to address a chronic left hip injury. Hagelin is out indefinitely, after missing a chunk of last season with an eye injury.

That’s not all, though, as the Capitals also announced surgery for Kody Clark to address a chronic condition with his left quad tendon. The prospect will miss six to eight months following the procedure.

Hagelin, 34, has made a career out of his skating ability, bursting up and down the ice with ease to put pressure on opposing players. That speed, defensive awareness, and versatility has made him an outstanding role player for great teams, and helped take the Pittsburgh Penguins to two Stanley Cup championships.

While some players struggle to reach the postseason at all, Hagelin has played 141 playoff games in his career and was rewarded nicely for that experience with a four-year, $11MM contract in 2019. That deal will expire after this season, meaning a serious hip issue might be spelling the end for the Swedish speedster.

Clark, meanwhile, is just starting on his professional journey. The 22-year-old winger was the 47th overall pick in 2018 and played his first full season for the Hershey Bears last year. In 63 games he managed to score eight goals and 19 points while racking up 53 penalty minutes. Losing key development time like this is never a good sign for a prospect’s long-term outlook.

Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, Carl Hagelin To Start Season On LTIR

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According to NHL.com regional writer Tom Gulitti, Washington Capitals regular forwards Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, and Carl Hagelin, alongside defenseman Alexander Alexeyev, will start the season on either long-term injured reserve or the injured non-roster list.

The news comes as little surprise for all four of the players. Most notably, Backstrom, who remains one of the most successful and important players in franchise history, had hip resurfacing surgery in June that could very well cost him the entire season. Importantly, though, reporting since the surgery indicates that Backstrom is pain-free for the first time in a long time and is recovering well from the procedure, which has significantly improved his quality of life. Backstrom still has an unclear timeline and has yet to resume skating, but he feels optimistic and the slim possibility remains that Backstrom suits up in 2022-23, whether it be for the end of the regular season or just the playoffs.

Alexeyev is recovering from a shoulder procedure that was announced at the same time as Backstrom’s surgery. The expected recovery time was four to five months, putting him on track to return sometime around November 1. Placement on either LTIR or injured non-roster suggests he may be a bit behind schedule in his recovery, but there doesn’t appear to have been a significant setback. Alexeyev could very well find a way to stay on the NHL roster once healthy if Matt Irwin struggles in his depth/seventh defenseman role.

Wilson underwent a procedure to repair a torn ACL in late May, carrying a six-to-eight-month recovery time that would have seen him return to the lineup in late November at the earliest. Over the offseason, however, reports have indicated that Wilson is ahead of schedule in his recovery, meaning it could just be roughly the first month of the season he misses. After scoring a career-high 24 goals and 52 points last year, he’s expected to slot back into the top-line right-wing spot once healthy.

Hagelin’s career-threatening eye injury last season appears to not be as bad as originally feared, as he skated with a non-contact designation prior to camp. Yet Hagelin’s bad injury luck hasn’t subsided, and he’s been dealing with unrelated issues that have kept him out of participating in much of camp. There’s no timeline for his return.

 

Metropolitan Notes: Zucker, Bailey, Hagelin

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Jason Zucker’s tenure with the Penguins has been a tough one with the veteran struggling to stay healthy and not being as productive as expected when he has played.  With that in mind, some wondered if they’d try to find a home for him this summer.  As Dave Molinari of Pittsburgh Hockey Now reports, they did have the opportunity to do so but elected to not pay the high premium it would have cost to do so.  The proposal, which is believed to come from a division rival, would have seen the Penguins part with a first-round pick to clear the final year and $5.5MM of his deal off the books while not receiving anything in return.  We’ve seen that happen recently with the Sean Monahan trade but it would have been a steep price to pay for Pittsburgh.  Interestingly, no team in the division has the money to take on Zucker’s deal outright so this opportunity likely would have come early in the summer before other moves were made.

More from the Metropolitan:

  • While some expected the Islanders to move Josh Bailey in order to free up cap space this summer, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports (subscription link) that the winger was told at the draft that he wouldn’t be getting moved. The 32-year-old managed to record 44 points in 74 games last season but has seen his production taper off over the last few seasons compared to a three-year stretch where he had at least 56 points per season.  Bailey has two years left on a contract that carries a $5MM AAV and in this trade market, New York would have been hard-pressed to get top value for his services if they did move him.
  • Capitals winger Carl Hagelin took part in informal team skates without needing a no-contact designation, relays Tarik El-Bashir of The Athletic (Twitter link). The veteran has been dealing with an eye injury that has his availability for the upcoming season in question but the fact he’s skating without restriction bodes well for him.  The 34-year-old had 14 points in 53 games last season.

Carl Hagelin’s Eye Injury Could Threaten Career

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Veteran forward Carl Hagelin was enjoying another solid season this year when suddenly it came to a screeching halt. The Washington Capitals winger suffered a mysterious eye injury at some point in early March, which was only disclosed once he underwent surgery on March 6. He was deemed out “indefinitely” and did not return this season. Speaking at the Capitals’ end of the year media availability today, Hagelin filled some of the gaps in his injury story and provided a glimpse into the future.

According to Hagelin, his eye injury was a “freak accident” that occurred in practice. A high stick caught him under the visor and hit him “right in the eyeball”. The incident ruptured the choroid in the back of his left eye, a collection of blood vessels responsible for the health of the eye. It has taken not one, but two surgeries to repair the injury. However, the repair is not complete. In fact, Hagelin states that he will never get full vision back in his eye and does not know how it will impact his attempt at a return next season.

Hagelin is signed through the 2022-23 season and hopes to honor that contract. He is optimistic that he can overcome his damaged vision and has been receiving support from Detroit Red Wings defenseman Marc Staal in his recovery. Staal, who was teammates with Hagelin with the New York Rangers, suffered a serious eye injury early in his career, but was able to return. Carl Soderberg is perhaps the greatest beacon of hope. The former NHLer suffered an even more serious injury to his left eye while still playing in Sweden early in his career. The injury required numerous surgeries over a months-long hospital stay and left Soderberg legally blind in that eye. Despite all that, Soderberg went on to have a full NHL career. Hagelin noted that he will learn from Staal and Soderberg, including copying their oversized visors if he does return, and hopes to find the same success in his recovery.

Capitals Issue Injury Updates On Carl Hagelin, Joe Snively

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The Washington Capitals have announced updates to the injury situations of two of their wingers. Per the team, Carl Hagelin had surgery on his left eye, and will be out “indefinitely.” Additionally, rookie Joe Snively underwent a procedure to address an issue in his left wrist and, according to the team, will be out “four to six weeks.”

This news comes as the Capitals jockey for position in the Eastern Conference’s playoff picture. The team has a middling 5-5-0 record in their last ten games and with 69 points is set as the clear second wild-card team at the moment, meaning they are pencilled in for a potential playoff matchup against juggernaut teams like the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning, or Carolina Hurricanes.

With the losses of Hagelin and Snively, the Capitals lose two wingers with clear roles on their NHL roster. Hagelin, 33, has been an important veteran bottom-sixer for the team since the 2018-19 season and has three goals and 14 points in 53 games so far this year. Hagelin is a veteran of 713 NHL games and coach Peter Laviolette is sure to miss his mature two-way play as the team battles for a higher seed down the stretch.

Joe Snively, on the other hand, has only 12 NHL games to his name, but is potentially a more disappointing loss for the Capitals. The former Yale Bulldog is a 26-year-old undrafted rookie who has had an impressive seven points in those 12 games at the NHL level, building off of his productive 35 game run this season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears, where he has 15 goals and 38 points.

The Capitals have a deep team and have won their past two games in impressive fashion without either Snively or Hagelin. But despite that recent success, this is clearly a team that would prefer to have those two in the fold, and this update to their injury situations will come as a disappointment to the Capitals faithful.

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