Carl Hagelin, a speedy winger who was one-third of the fabled HBK Line during the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Stanley Cup runs of 2016-17, announced his retirement from the NHL on Wednesday due to an eye injury.
Hagelin, 35, has not played since taking an errant stick to his left eye during Washington Capitals practice on March 1, 2022. He underwent surgery, and the team immediately deemed it a serious injury with concern about Hagelin’s quality of life outside hockey.
The Penguins’ acquisition of Hagelin for winger David Perron and defenseman Adam Clendening in a January 2016 deal with Anaheim improved the team’s speed dramatically and helped usher in a championship era.
When paired with center Nick Bonino and right wing Phil Kessel in the 2016 playoffs, the HBK Line took off both in production and in popularity with the fanbase. He had six goals and 16 points in 24 games in the 2016 playoffs and scored the final goal of the 2017 playoffs, scoring an empty netter in a 2-0 Game 6 win over Nashville in the Stanley Cup final.
Hagelin announced his decision in an Instagram post Wednesday, calling his career an amazing ride that ends here.
“Unfortunately my eye injury is too severe to keep playing the game I love,” he posted. “I want to thank all my amazing teammates, doctors and other staff members that I’ve met and played with throughout the years.”
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A sixth-round pick of the New York Rangers in 2007, Hagelin impressed during four years at the University of Michigan to earn a roster spot in the minors. He played only 17 games in the AHL before getting called up to the NHL and lasted there for more than a decade.
Since making his debut in 2011, Hagelin played 854 regular-season and playoff games over 11 seasons with the Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, Penguins and Capitals.