The Washington Capitals’ 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.

Lakovic’s junior team, the WHL’s Moose Jaw Warriors, announced the news on Friday morning. The 19-year-old winger, Moose Jaw’s captain, has not played in a game since November 22.

“Lynden Lakovic will miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season due to an upper-body injury that requires surgery,” the Warriors tweeted. “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 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, and signed his three-year, entry-level contract with the Caps last July.

The nature of Lakovic’s 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.

“This is an unfortunate circumstance, and we are here to support Lynden throughout his recovery,” said Warriors general manager Jason Ripplinger.

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.

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.

“Thank you Moose Jaw,” Lakovic 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 there home and making me feel welcome. Thank you to my teammates for building lifelong friendships and memories, stories I can talk about forever. And thank you to the community for supporting us no matter what and showing up every night no matter the record or outcome. Thank you Moose Jaw. Once A Warrior, Always a Warrior.”

Depending on the extent of his injury, Lakovic will attend his second training camp with the Capitals next fall. He’ll likely start the 2026-27 season with the AHL’s Hershey Bears.