Capitals Acquire Carl Hagelin

After yesterday’s waiver-wire confusion, it seemed clear to all that the Caps were planning some sort of move in the near future - and that move was to trade for LA Kings’ forward Carl Hagelin.

Drafted by the Rangers back in 2007, the 30-year-old Hagelin has spent parts of the last eight seasons with New York, Anaheim, Pittsburgh, and most recently LA, where he was traded earlier this season and appeared in just 22 games for the Kings before being shipped to DC.

As part of the trade, the Kings will be retaining 50% of what remains of Hagelin’s salary this season, and get a third-round pick in 2019 plus a conditional sixth-round pick in 2020 from the Caps in return.

From the team:

The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Carl Hagelin from the Los Angeles Kings for a third round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a conditional sixth round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, senior vice president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.

”We are pleased to welcome Carl to our organization,” said MacLellan. “We felt this trade enables us to add depth up front and provides us with a veteran player with a tremendous amount of speed to help us on the penalty kill.”

Hagelin, 30, a native of Sodertalje, Sweden, recorded five points (1g, 4a) in 22 games with the Kings this season. Prior to being acquired by Los Angeles on Nov. 14, 2018, Hagelin recorded three points (1g, 2a) in 16 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The 5’11”, 186-pound forward’s 53.38 shot attempt percentage (245 shot attempts for, 214 against) ranked second on Los Angeles at five-on-five. Additionally, Hagelin’s 1:13 minutes per game on the penalty kill are the fourth most among Kings forwards with at least 22 games played.

In 526 career games between the New York Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Pittsburgh and Los Angeles, Hagelin has collected 230 points (90g, 140a). Selected with the Rangers’ sixth round pick (168th overall) in the 2007 NHL Draft, Hagelin’s 230 points rank 16th among forwards selected from that class.

A two-time Stanley Cup winner (2016 and 2017), Hagelin has 47 points (22g, 25a) in 121 career playoff games, which is tied with Alex Ovechkinfor the second-most playoff games among the Capitals (Orpik: 149) and tied for the 12th most among active NHL forwards. Additionally, Hagelin’s 216:42 minutes of penalty kill time in the playoffs is the sixth most among active forwards. Hagelin recorded 16 points (6g, 10a) en route to Pittsburgh’s 2016 Stanley Cup, the fifth-most points on the team.