After two Stanley Cup Championships, 713 career games, and five different NHL teams, Carl Hagelin is retiring. The speedy Swedish winger had a nice career but unfortunately has to call it quits due to injury.
Unfortunately, another injury-related retirement, as Carl Hagelin announces the end of his career: 713 games and a two-time Stanley Cup champion pic.twitter.com/gQ5w8BjzfQ
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) August 30, 2023
Carl Hagelin Retires After a Decade in the NHL
Carl Hagelin was always known for his speed. And speed is the first word that comes to mind when thinking about Hagelin’s play. In 2012, he was named to the Rookie Showcase of the All-Star Game and won the fastest skater competition. At 6′ 0″ and 183 pounds, Hagelin relied on his speed and tenacity over his size to always play at a high pace and contribute a very strong two-way game.
After the New York Rangers drafted him in the sixth round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Hagelin’s first NHL season came in 2011. That year he scored 14 goals and 24 assists in 64 games. While he was known for his two-way play, he was able to provide some offence as well when healthy. His best goals totals came in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons with 17 each season. Over his career, he scored 110 goals and 186 assists.
Unfortunately for Hagelin, he suffered from some injury trouble throughout his career. Additionally, he moved around a fair amount from team to team. After starting in New York, he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, to be followed with a few years with the Pittsburgh Penguins, a short stint with the Los Angeles Kings, and finally with the Washington Capitals.
Ending Injury and Lasting Impressions
In March of 2022, Hagelin received a stick to the eye during a practice with the Capitals. This led to a ruptured choroid. He had multiple surgeries but ultimately it led to permanent damage to his vision and perception. Pretty important for playing in the NHL. He also missed this past season due to hip issues. Following these issues, specifically the eye injury, Hagelin decided to call it quits with a heavy heart. The NHL takes a physical toll on players and after a decade of play, Hagelin proved to be a very effective player.
While Carl Hagelin may not be a “superstar” player, he did provide a lot to the teams he played for. Notably, the Rangers, Penguins and Capitals. He was part of Pittsburgh’s back-to-back Cup wins in 2016 and 2017. Notably, he was a member of the effective “HBK” line with Phil Kessel and Nick Bonino in those Cup runs. Winning the Cup is immensely hard so accomplishing that feat twice is nothing to ignore. Additionally, Hagelin was a member of Sweden’s 2014 silver medal-winning Olympic team and 2016 World Cup of Hockey team. Hagelin was an exciting player to watch and had much success throughout his career in the NHL and on the international stage. This led to a memorable career that unfortunately ended at the hands of injury.
Main Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
