Pens almost broke the rules to get Hagelin from rival Caps!

Carl Hagelin knew he would be on the move again prior to the trade deadline. 

He ended up in Los Angeles earlier this season after being moved for Tanner Pearson to the Pittsburgh Penguins back on Nov. 14. The move to the Kings wasn't a great fit for the veteran forward, and they placed him back on the trade market. He was acquired by the Washington Capitals a few days before the deadline, but it could have been a very different story. 

According to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Pens wanted to do everything they could to bring Hagelin back to Pittsburgh. However, there is one thing the NHL would not allow them to do: break the rules. Here is how Friedman puts it in his latest 31 Thoughts column on Sportsnet: 

"In the days leading up to Carl Hagelin s trade to Washington, Pittsburgh tried to re-acquire the winger. Before the trade was submitted for Central Registry approval, someone noticed that the Penguins were ineligible to do it. They traded him to Los Angeles on Nov. 28 and retained salary. A team can not bring back any such player for one year after the initial move."

The rules are the rules, and the Penguins had to move on. And yes, the Penguins are now paying for Hagelin to play for their rivals... 

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.