The inevitable has come for Washington Capitals forward Carl Hagelin. Late Wednesday afternoon, he took to Instagram to officially call it a career.
Hagelin did not play at all last season as he underwent arthroscopic surgery in October 2022, and hip resurfacing surgery in February 2023.
However, it was not his hip that led to his retirement, it was his eye injury he sustained in practice after taking an errant stick to the face in March 2022, forcing him to miss the rest of the 2021-22 season.
Last year he was cleared to do light skating, but that was the only ice time he saw. His left eye was so bad that doctors almost removed it completely.
Hagelin was drafted in the sixth round by the New York Rangers in the 2007 NHL draft, and eventually made his professional debut in the 2011-12 season, where he racked up 38 points (14 goals, 24 assists) in 64 games. Two seasons later he won a Silver Medal in the 2013-14 Sochi Olympics for Team Sweden.
In 2015, he had a series-clinching, overtime goal in Game 5 of the first round against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
After four seasons with the blue shirts, Hagelin had a brief stint with the Anaheim Ducks and was traded to the Penguins in the 2015-16 season.
Hagelin was an integral part of the Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, he had 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 24 playoff games as Pittsburgh’s third line winger. He was part of the famous “HBK” line with Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel.
Early in the 2018-19 season, the former Michigan Wolverine. was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, and eventually was traded to Washington at the 2019 trade deadline. He spent five seasons in the nation’s capital, putting up 66 points (20 goals, 46 assists) in 187 games.
Thank you for your contributions to the club and best of luck in retirement, Hags!#ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/uQ8hQVcH0T
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) August 30, 2023
The 35-year-old finishes his 11-year NHL career with 296 points (110 goals, 186 assists) in 713 NHL games.
By Jacob Cheris
Thanks for the time and enjoyed watching you skate. good luck in future endeavors!
A great NHL warrior is lost! Well Done Carl H. Another sad retirement in a summer full of sad retirements
Always thought Carl was just a tad underrated. Worked his ass off on the 4th line, shutting down the league’s top lines, pk, etc.. Folks wanted him to score more, but that wasn’t his job.
Best to you, Carl in your retirement.
Always loved how Hags played the game. Best wishes to him and his family.
So glad he finished as a Cap as he was a great addition and just always brought the energy and that speed!!
All the best to Carl going forward into retirement. Loved his contribution and hustle on the 4th line. It’s a shame that this eye is going to permanently damaged, but maybe some new tech advances may help improve it in the future?