Capitals Forward Out Indefinitely

Washington Capitals forward Carl Hagelin has had surgery on his left eye. It's been deemed as a serious eye injury, and he will be out indefinitely.

Hagelin has become a mainstay in Washington's bottom six, so his absence is very notable. With that, he of course has become well-known for his solid penalty killing ability, so the Capitals' special team unit will be impacted by him having to miss time.

In 53 games this season, Hagelin has three goals, 11 assists, and a plus-10 rating. Although the 33-year-old's best offensive days are behind him, he is still an effective player because of his defensive ability.

Because there is no estimated recovery time for Hagelin, there's a good chance that he will end up on LTIR. If this does indeed occur, his $2.75 million cap will be off the books until he returns. With the deadline being so soon, this could create more wiggle room for the Capitals to make a trade.

Nevertheless, with eye injuries being so frightening, here's to hoping Hagelin recovers quickly and can be back on the ice soon.