Breaking: Hagelin has been traded again!

In case you missed it, the Washington Capitals placed fan favorite Devante Smith-Pelly on waivers earlier on Wednesday, but just minutes prior to the announcement, a team official confirmed that they would place Smith-Pelly’s teammate Dmitrij Jaskin on waivers instead.

And that was the beginning of the waivers saga that was expected to end in a trade.

And it has: The Capitals have acquired Carl Hagelin from the Los Angeles Kings in return for a third round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a conditional sixth round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The Capitals had made it clear that they would like to add up front for yet another long successful playoff run.

NEWS | Capitals have acquired forward @CarlHagelin from the Los Angeles Kings for a third round pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and a conditional sixth round pick in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. #ALLCAPS https://t.co/RnSYsSWYjE
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) February 21, 2019

Condition on the 6th Rd pick in Hagelin deal: Caps must win two rounds and Hagelin plays in 50 percent or more of any two rounds combined. So could be rd 1 and 2. Or 2 and 3. Or 1 and 3, etc. If those things don’t happen, there’s no 6th RD pick going to LA
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 21, 2019

Pierre LeBrun had hinted at this trade earlier this morning, while awaiting confirmation.

Nothing confirmed, so this is speculation on my part, but I'm guessing if Carl Hagelin does end up in Washington today, the Kings likely get a third-round pick in return as part of it. But we shall see what happens once DSP either clears or gets claimed at noon ET on waivers
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 21, 2019

It is the second time this season Hagelin has been on the move. He ended up in Los Angeles earlier this season after being moved for Tanner Pearson to the Pittsburgh Penguins back on Nov. 14. He is a pending unrestricted free agent and could be moved.

However, he carries a $3.5M cap hit, so it remains to be seen if the Kings will have to retain some of his money.

UPDATE: As LeBrun mentions the Kings are retaining 50 percent of his salary.

Kings retain 50 percent of Hagelin salary and cap hit https://t.co/hLOrfQrEiw
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 21, 2019

The trade has been discussed yesterday after the waivers fiasco in Washington. TSN's Bob McKenzie had explained that a trade was in the works in Washington with the Kings, but would take place after noon on Thursday seeing that until Smith-Pelly clears or gets claimed at noon tomorrow, said trade can’t be completed...

DSP cleared waivers on Thursday.

DSP clears waivers
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 21, 2019

With the waiver maneuver WSH did today — first saying Jaskin would be on waivers and then switching up by putting Smith-Pelly on — it’s pretty clear they have something in the works, but until Smith-Pelly clears or gets claimed at noon tomorrow, said trade can’t be completed...
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) February 20, 2019

It might be weird for Hagelin to take part in a long playoff run with former rivals Capitals. As a member of the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, Hagelin won two Stanley Cups and could be on the winning end once again this spring... in Washington.

More details to come...