The Washington Capitals have acquired forward Carl Hagelin from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2019 third-round draft pick and a 2020 conditional sixth round draft pick.

The deal marks the second time Hagelin has been moved this season after he was traded to the Kings from the Pittsburgh Penguins in November for Tanner Pearson.

The Kings will retain 50 per cent of Hagelin's salary and cap hit with the Penguins having already retained $250,000 of Hagelin's salary in the Pearson trade, Hagelin with a $1.875 million cap hit on the Capitals.

The condition on the sixth-round pick is the Caps must win two rounds of the playoffs and Hagelin must play in 50 per cent or more of any two rounds combined. If that doesn't happen, the Kings won't get the sixth-round pick.

The 30-year-old has two goals and eight points while playing 38 games between the two teams this season.

"We are pleased to welcome Carl to our organization," Capitals general manager Brian MacLellan. "We felt this trade enables us to add depth up front and provides us with a veteran player with a tremendous amount of speed to help us on the penalty kill." 

Hagelin is currently set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

He was originally drafted by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (168th overall) of the 2007 NHL Draft. In 526 games with the Rangers, Anaheim Ducks, Penguins and Kings, he has 90 goals and 230 points.

Hagelin earned a silver medal at the 2014 Olympics with Sweden. He won two Stanley Cups with the Penguins in 2016 and 2017, defeating the Capitals in the second round both years.

In 121 career playoff games, he has 22 goals and 47 points while reaching the Stanley Cup Final three times.

Hagelin said last week he was well aware he could be dealt at the deadline.

“I  think I’ve been in the league long enough to know what’s going on this time of year,” Hagelin told the Los Angeles Times. “I’ve never been traded, myself, at the deadline. But I think if you’re a UFA without a contract for next year, there’s always a chance or risk of getting traded. But right now I’m just focused on playing my best hockey here and trying to climb back with this team.”

Hagelin had one goal and five points in 19 games with the Kings, though he believes he plays his best in high-pressure situations.

“I’ve played a lot of playoff hockey in my career,” he said at the time. “I usually play my best hockey in the second half of the year. That’s just how it is.

"[But] I like it a lot here. Great guys on the team and we just need to get some wins.”

With the Capitals, Hagelin is now poised to reach the playoffs for the eighth time in his nine-year career.