Former Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich has undergone elbow surgery and his career might be over.
The Washington Capitals have had a lot of great players over the years. Very few of them are as close to the fanbase’s hearts as Brooks Laich. Not only was he a solid player, he was an even better person. Laich’s optimism despite suffering a variety of injuries made him a fan favorite despite his less than ideal stats.
When he got traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Caps fans were heartbroken. Recently, Laich has been playing for the Toronto Marlies. He recently had elbow surgery and will rehab in California.
Brooks Laich has had elbow surgery and will rehab in California. #marlies
— Todd Crocker (@ToddCrocker) April 12, 2017
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Since Laich is at the end of his deal, it’s likely he’s gone to move on from the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. He is set to get married to his beloved Julianne Hough this summer. Laich has been active on Instagram since departing the Caps. He often posts adorable pictures and videos of himself with Hough and/or their dogs.
For Laich, this could be the end of his NHL career. It’s hard to see many teams being interested in him considering his health and his lack of production. In 27 games with the Marlies this season, Laich only put up nine points. It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Hershey Bears bring him in to see what he can do. Laich’s a terrific mentor to young players, but it remains to be seen if he’s interested in filling the role.
Must Read: Top 5 Laich moments from 2014-15
If he decides to retire from playing, he could be a good coach. Of course, Laich might want to take some time off to relax and hang out with his gorgeous family. Hough makes a lot of money herself, so finding a job might not be high on his priority list. Hopefully Laich has a quick recovery and this isn’t the last Capitals fans will hear of him.