Home / News / Carl Hagelin joins Capitals fourth line for practice, Todd Reirden comments on Nick Jensen trade

Carl Hagelin joins Capitals fourth line for practice, Todd Reirden comments on Nick Jensen trade

By Donya Abramo

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February 22, 2019 4:48 pm

Recently-acquired forward Carl Hagelin hit the ice at KeyBank Center for his first practice as a Washington Capital on Friday.

Hagelin joined Nic Dowd and Chandler Stephenson on the fourth line.

Starting Hagelin on the fourth line was something that Capitals head coach Todd Reirden alluded to on Thursday when he met with the media, citing the similar circumstances in how they introduced defenseman Michal Kempny.

“I think it’s important to put the player in a position to have success initially. Kind of ease them into things,” Reirden said. “We started Kempny in the third pairing, and moved him up. When we got him, we were always hoping that he would be a top four guy. But it’s in the player’s best interest to put them in situations, initially, to ease them in to how we want to play.”

According to the Washington Post’s Samantha Pell, Hagelin wasted no time in showing off his speed on the ice.

The Capitals also looked stoked to welcome Hagelin to the team.

Hagelin hitting the ice for practice wasn’t the first time that the forward was joining the Capitals, however. NBC Sports Washington producer Steve Farrell caught the moment that Hagelin met the Capitals Thursday night, as they all coincidentally arrived at the team hotel at the same time.

Though he’s yet to receive a matching bag for his equipment.

Following Capitals practice, Reirden also commented on the team’s recent trade for defenseman Nick Jensen.

“This is an area that we’ve been working through this year and he’s a guy that being a right-hand shot with that experience and skating ability and ability to play in the penalty kill, it seemed like the perfect fit for us,” Reirden said to Pell.

“He’s a little bit of a late bloomer we feel and just think that his best hockey is ahead of him,” he added. “The way he competes, he defends, skates. Kind of the way the NHL is going now, we think he is a really good fit for our team…there is a lot to like about the player.”

As for when Jensen might join the team, or even play in his first game. However, Reirden mentioned that the Capitals are “looking to get him here as soon as possible and go from there.”

Headline photo: NBC Sports Capitals.

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