A bold truth: the Capitals will miss a rising 2025 first-round pick for an entire season due to a serious upper-body injury demanding surgery. Lynden Lakovic, Washington’s top selection in the 2025 NHL Draft, is sidelined for the 2025-26 campaign as he undergoes surgery and embarks on the road to recovery.
The update came from Lakovic’s junior club, the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL, on Friday morning. The 19-year-old winger — who also serves as Moose Jaw’s captain — hasn’t played since November 22. The Warriors released a statement: “Lynden Lakovic will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season due to an upper-body injury that requires surgery. The Moose Jaw Warriors thank Lynden for everything he has done for our organization and our community. Lynden, Moose Jaw, will be following your career as you move on to the pro level.”
Lakovic began the year on a fiery note, tallying 29 points (18 goals, 11 assists) in 22 games and still ranking among the WHL’s leaders in goals even after a several-week absence. The British Columbia native impressed during his first Capitals NHL training camp before being returned to the WHL, and he signed a three-year entry-level deal with Washington last July.
Details about the injury and how it happened remain undisclosed. In his last game of the season against the Swift Current Broncos, Lakovic was assessed a two-minute boarding minor and registered three shots on goal in a 3-2 Warriors victory.
Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger expressed support: “This is an unfortunate circumstance, and we are here to support Lynden throughout his recovery.”
Lakovic previously fractured his collarbone last year, causing him to miss two months of his draft year. Moose Jaw went 3-14-2 in the 19 games he sat out without him, underscoring his impact on the team.
Looking ahead, Lakovic will be eligible to turn pro once he’s cleared to play, which could be as soon as next season, given he turns 20 before the end of December 2026. He posted a heartfelt goodbye to Moose Jaw on Instagram after the injury news, thanking the city, the organization, his billet family, teammates, and the community for four transformative years.
“Thank you Moose Jaw,” he wrote. “The last 4 years in this city have been truly special and it’s a place I can always call home. Thank you to the organization for believing in me and supporting me through thick and thin. Thank you to my billets Kevin and Michelle for welcoming me into their home and making me feel welcome. Thank you to my teammates for building lifelong friendships and memories. And thank you to the community for supporting us no matter what and showing up every night regardless of the record or outcome. Thank you Moose Jaw. Once A Warrior, Always a Warrior.”
As for the next steps, Lakovic may attend a second Capitals training camp next fall, depending on the injury’s extent. Either way, he’s likely to begin the 2026-27 season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears as he continues his journey toward the pro ranks.
