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Capitals acquire Carl Hagelin from Los Angeles Kings

By Ian Oland

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February 21, 2019 12:31 pm

The Washington Capitals have made their first deal ahead of the trade deadline.

GM Brian MacLellan has acquired 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.

According to The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun, the Kings will retain 50 percent of Hagelin’s $4 million salary and $3.75 million cap hit. Hagelin’s cap hit is $3.75 million because Pittsburgh retained $250k of his salary after trading him to the Kings.

Mike Vogel reports that the Capitals will only have to send a sixth-round pick to LA if they win two playoff rounds and Hagelin plays in half or more of the Caps’ total number of playoff games in the first two rounds.

“We are pleased to welcome Carl to our organization,” MacLellan said in a release. “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.”

Before the Kings morning skate ahead of their game against Nashville, Jon Rosen of Fox Sports West reported Hagelin wasn’t on the ice.

The Hagelin-to-Capitals deal was rumored Wednesday by both Bob McKenzie and Elliotte Friedman.

Hagelin should immediately help the Capitals’ problematic fourth line, which has featured a revolving door of players all season long.

The 30-year-old left wing has averaged 13 goals a year for the last seven seasons.

Despite only tallying eight points in 38 games during the 2018-19 campaign, Hagelin was likely targeted by the Capitals due to his speed, tenaciousness, and experience. Hagelin won two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins (2016, 2017). Not only that, he’s a noted Caps killer, scoring six goals in 35 career playoff games against Washington.

The undersized Swede is in the final year of a four-year, $16 million deal.

According to the Washington Post, Hagelin will practice with the Capitals in Buffalo Friday and play Saturday against the Sabres.

Photo: @Capitals

More from the Capitals:

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.

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 Ovechkin for 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.

Graphs via Bill Comeau @billius27

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