The Washington Capitals\u2019 first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Lynden Lakovic, will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season after suffering an upper-body injury that requires surgery.<\/p>\n
Lakovic\u2019s junior team, the WHL\u2019s Moose Jaw Warriors, announced the news on Friday morning. The 19-year-old winger, Moose Jaw\u2019s captain, has not played in a game since November 22.<\/p>\n
\u201cLynden Lakovic will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season due to an upper-body injury that requires surgery,\u201d the Warriors tweeted<\/a>. \u201cThe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Lakovic had a hot start to the year, recording 29 points (18g, 11a) in 22 games, and still ranks fourth in goals in the WHL despite not playing for a few weeks. The British Columbia native impressed at his first NHL training camp with the Capitals before being sent back to the WHL<\/a>, and signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Caps last July<\/a>.<\/p>\n The nature of Lakovic\u2019s injury and how it occurred is not yet known. In his final game of the season against the Swift Current Broncos, he took a two-minute minor penalty for boarding and recorded three shots on goal in a 3-2 win.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an unfortunate circumstance, and we are here to support Lynden throughout his recovery,\u201d said Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger<\/a>.<\/p>\n After breaking his collarbone last year, Lakovic missed two months of his draft-year campaign. Moose Jaw won just three of the 19 games (3-14-2) that they played without him in the lineup.<\/p>\n Lakovic will be eligible to turn pro next season, as soon as he is healthy, as he will turn 20 before the end of December 2026. He posted a goodbye message to Moose Jaw on his Instagram account after the team announced his injury.<\/p>\n