Breaking down latest on Carl Hagelin’s injury

Just hours before the Washington Capitals take on the Florida Panthers, the team’s public relations provided an update on Carl Hagelin, who has yet to play this season. It turns out he will probably not play at all this season.

“Caps Carl Hagelin underwent left hip resurfacing surgery on Monday. The surgery was performed at the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC. Hagelin will begin his rehabilitation and lengthy recovery process immediately. Hagelin is expected to be out indefinitely.”

The good news is not all is lost on Hagelin. Nicklas Backstrom had hip resurfacing surgery over the summer and is now back in the lineup. In fact he has been since the beginning of January.

So far this season in 13 games, Backstrom has two goals and four assists for six points. Not bad after managing just six goals in 47 games the season before. Hagelin has been on long term injured reserve which has helped the Caps not put themselves in salary cap hell.

Hagelin makes $2.75 million per season and this summer he enters the offseason as an unrestricted free agent. He was traded to the Capitals in 2019 at the trade deadline from the Los Angeles Kings where he had three goals and eight assists for 11 points in his first 20 Caps games.

Known as a villain during his time with the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins, Hagelin has done well with the Caps especially defensively on the penalty kill when he’s healthy.

In 2019-20, Hagelin had eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points. In 2021 he had six goals and 10 assists for 16 points. Last season he had three goals and 11 assists for 14 points.

Hagelin has 20 goals and 46 assists for 66 points in 187 career games with the Capitals. Other than that there hasn’t been much Caps news other than recalling defenseman Dylan McIlrath from the Hershey Bears who will be play in tonight’s game.