Robert Hägg Explained

Robert Hägg
Birth Date:8 February 1995
Birth Place:Uppsala, Sweden
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:201
Position:Defence
Shoots:Left
League:NHL
Team:Vegas Golden Knights
Prospect League:AHL
Former Teams:Modo Hockey
Philadelphia Flyers
Buffalo Sabres
Florida Panthers
Detroit Red Wings
Anaheim Ducks
Ntl Team:SWE
Draft:41st overall
Draft Year:2013
Draft Team:Philadelphia Flyers
Career Start:2012

Robert Hägg (born 8 February 1995) is a Swedish professional ice hockey player for the Vegas Golden Knights of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted in the second round, 41st overall, by the Philadelphia Flyers in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft.

Playing career

Junior

Hägg started his hockey career at age 13 playing for Gimo IF in Gimo, Uppland.[1] In his second season, at age 14, Hägg recorded 16 points in 32 games played for Gimo. In the 2010–11 season, now on MODO U16, Hägg had a breakout year leading the U16 SM league in assists and points by a defenseman. Additionally, he won the U16 SM defenseman of the year award.[2]

Professional

Hägg was selected by the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League (NHL) in the second round, 41st overall, in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. On 21 March 2014, the Philadelphia Flyers signed Hägg to a three-year entry-level contract.[3] [4] Following the end of the 2013–14 season in the SHL, Hägg played the final ten games of the Flyers' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Adirondack Phantoms, season.[5] For the 2014–15 season, he was assigned to the Flyers' new AHL affiliate, the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, to develop.[6] Hägg made his NHL debut on 9 April 2017 against the Carolina Hurricanes in the last game of the Flyers regular season.[7]

During the 2017–18 season Hägg recorded his first NHL goal in a 4–3 win over the Detroit Red Wings on 21 December 2017.[8] Hägg led the NHL in hits with 232 and rookies in blocked shots before being pulled out of the lineup with a lower body injury on 10 March 2018.[9] In the following 2018–19 season, Hägg played in all 82 games. However, in the 2019–20 season Hägg was a healthy scratch in 20 of Philadelphia's first 69 games.[10] He finished the season appearing in 49 games, scoring three goals and 13 points. On 28 September 2020, Hägg signed a two-year $3.2 million contract extension with the Flyers.[11] He appeared in 34 games during the 2020–21 season scoring two goals and five points.[12] On 18 March 2021, Hägg suffered a shoulder injury in a 9–0 loss to the New York Rangers that kept him out of the lineup for two weeks.[13]

On 23 July 2021, Hägg was traded by the Flyers to the Buffalo Sabres, along with a 2021 first-round pick and a 2023 second-round pick, in exchange for Rasmus Ristolainen.[12] In the season, Hägg continued his role as a physical third-pairing defensemen for the Sabres. He was leading the team in hits and short-handed time on ice while collecting 8 points through 48 regular season games. Hägg was dealt by the Sabres approaching the NHL trade deadline to the Florida Panthers in exchange for a 2022 sixth-round pick on 20 March 2022.[14] After joining the Panthers, Hägg was slotted into the third pairing alongside Brandon Montour.[15] He made his Panthers debut against the Montreal Canadiens on 24 March 2022 alongside fellow debutants Claude Giroux and Ben Chiarot and assisted on Aleksander Barkov's game tying goal in a 4–3 win.[16]

On 25 July 2022, Hägg signed to a one-year, $800,000 contract with the Detroit Red Wings.[17] He was signed by Detroit after it was announced fellow new signing Mark Pysyk would miss the first half of the season due to an injury. Hägg missed part of training camp after being struck in the head by a puck.[18] He made his Red Wings debut in 3–0 shutout of the Montreal Canadiens on opening night, taking a minor penalty for slashing.[19] Hägg was placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury on 13 December after registering two points in 13 games with Detroit.[20] He returned to action on 16 January 2023.[21] Hägg scored his first goal for Detroit on 22 February against Darcy Kuemper in a 3–1 win over the Washington Capitals.[22] He appeared in 38 games with Detroit, scoring two goals and seven points.[23]

As an unrestricted free agent from the Red Wings, Hägg joined his fifth NHL team in signing a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Anaheim Ducks for the season on 4 July 2023.[23] Hägg was assigned to Anaheim's AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls to start the season. He was recalled in October, but was scratched for all five games he was with the team for before being returned to the AHL on 5 November.[24] He was recalled again on 9 January 2024.[25] He made his season and team debut with Anaheim on 11 January versus the Carolina Hurricanes.[26] Hägg was returned to San Diego on 28 January after appearing in five games, registering no points.[27]

Following the 2023–24 season, Hägg signed a one-year contract with the Vegas Golden Knights on 2 July 2024.[28]

International play

Hägg played throughout his junior career at the International stage for Sweden. He played for Sweden at the 2012 U-17 junior tournament, leading all defensemen in scoring during the event with six points. He won a bronze medal at the 2012 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament and a silver medal at the 2013 World Junior Championships in Ufa, Russia.[29] Hägg won a second silver medal at the 2014 World Junior Championship in Malmö, Sweden.[30] Hägg appeared at a third World Junior Championship in 2015 but Sweden was defeated in the bronze medal game and finished fourth.[31] [32]

On 9 May 2019, Hägg was named to make his senior international debut with Sweden at the 2019 World Championships held in Bratislava, Slovakia.[33] Sweden was defeated in the semifinals by Finland.[34]

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

  Regular season Playoffs
SeasonTeamLeagueGPGAPtsPIMGPGAPtsPIM
2008–09Gimo IFSWE.4230006
2009–10Gimo IFSWE.432791628
2010–11Tierps HKSWE.330291130
2010–11Modo HockeyJ18 Allsv20002
2011–12Modo HockeyJ1830448
2011–12Modo HockeyJ18 Allsv2101210000
2011–12Modo HockeyJ2044413174681122
2012–13Modo HockeyJ20281113242471124
2012–13Modo HockeySEL27011210000
2012–13Modo HockeyJ18 Allsv21120
2013–14Modo HockeyJ208167621012
2013–14Modo HockeySHL501564720004
2013–14Adirondack PhantomsAHL1013410
2014–15Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL693172042
2015–16Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL65561142
2016–17Lehigh Valley PhantomsAHL5878154850110
2016–17Philadelphia FlyersNHL10000
2017–18Philadelphia FlyersNHL703693220000
2018–19Philadelphia FlyersNHL825152063
2019–20Philadelphia FlyersNHL493101330120336
2020–21Philadelphia FlyersNHL3423518
2021–22Buffalo SabresNHL4817825
2021–22Florida PanthersNHL1601110
2022–23Detroit Red WingsNHL3825726
2023–24San Diego GullsAHL47391238
2023–24Anaheim DucksNHL50004
SHL totals771674930004
NHL totals343164763208140336

International

YearTeamEventResult GPGAPtsPIM
2012SwedenU174th624616
2012SwedenIH18432535
2013SwedenWJC51120
2013SwedenU185th513412
2014SwedenWJC710112
2015SwedenWJC4th70222
2019SwedenWC5th80004
Junior totals348122077
Senior totals80004

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Kommuner Z-Ö. IdrottOnline. 5 January 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090907012438/http://www1.idrottonline.se/templates/PageWide.aspx?id=420164. 7 September 2009 . sv.
  2. Web site: Robert Hägg. Elite Prospects. 5 January 2015.
  3. Web site: Flyers agree to terms with prospect Robert Hagg. Philadelphia Flyers. 21 March 2014. 21 March 2014.
  4. Web site: Flyers ink prospect Robert Hagg to entry-level deal . Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia . 27 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140528164559/http://www.csnphilly.com/hockey-philadelphia-flyers/flyers-ink-prospect-robert-hagg-entry-level-deal. 28 May 2014.
  5. Web site: Flyers prospects: Robert Hagg played with men in Sweden, then didn't miss beat in AHL . NJ.com . Miller . Robert . 26 May 2014 . 1 February 2024.
  6. Web site: Transaction: Robert Hagg Returned to Phantoms . Lehigh Valley Phantoms . 6 January 2015 . 1 February 2024.
  7. Web site: Isaac. Dave. Robert Hagg the latest to get rewarded with NHL debut. Courier-Post. 14 March 2018. 9 April 2017.
  8. Web site: Postgame 5: Bounce Backers. NHL.com. 14 March 2018. 21 December 2017.
  9. Web site: OTF: Hagg, Oduya injured; out vs. Jets. NHL.com. 14 March 2018. 10 March 2018.
  10. Web site: Flyers’ Robert Hagg shows typical patience in journey back to ice . The Morning Call . Fish . Wayne . 26 June 2020 . 1 February 2024.
  11. Web site: Flyers sign D Hagg to two-year, 3.2M deal . TSN . 28 September 2020 . 1 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Sabres acquire draft picks, defenseman Hagg from Flyers . . LaBarber . Jourdon . 23 July 2021 . 23 July 2021.
  13. Web site: Flyers’ Robert Hagg to miss 2-4 weeks with injury; Alain Vigneault seeks more consistency from team . The Philadelphia Inquirer . Carchidi . Sam . 18 March 2021 . 1 February 2024.
  14. Web site: Panthers acquire Robert Hagg from the Sabres . . 20 March 2022 . 20 March 2022.
  15. Web site: The Panthers’ new-look defense with Ben Chiarot, Robert Hagg is still a work in progress . Miami Herald . Wilson . David . 30 March 2022 . 1 February 2024.
  16. Web site: Two assists for Giroux, one each for new defensemen: New-look Panthers win in Montreal . Miami Herald . Wilson . David . 24 March 2022 . 1 February 2024.
  17. Web site: Detroit signs Robert Hagg to one-year deal . . 25 July 2022 . 25 July 2022.
  18. Web site: How Robert Hagg being cleared affects Detroit Red Wings' defense spots . Detroit Free Press . St. James . Helene . 7 October 2022 . 1 January 2024.
  19. Web site: Montreal 0 – 3 Detroit . Sportsnet . 1 February 2024.
  20. Web site: Red Wings' Robert Hagg: Lands on IR . CBS Sports . 13 December 2022 . 1 February 2024.
  21. Web site: Red Wings 2022-23 Wrap-Up: Robert Hagg . Detroit Red Wings . 15 May 2023 . 1 February 2024.
  22. Web site: Red Wings' Robert Hagg: Scores first of season . CBS Sports . 22 February 2023 . 1 February 2024.
  23. Web site: Ducks sign defenseman Hagg to one-year contract . . 4 July 2023 . 4 July 2023.
  24. Web site: Anaheim Reassign Robert Hagg to San Diego . San Diego Gulls . 5 November 2023 . 1 February 2024.
  25. Web site: Anaheim Ducks Recall Robert Hagg from San Diego . San Diego Gulls . 9 January 2024 . 1 February 2024.
  26. Web site: Ducks' Zegras expected to be sidelined 6-8 weeks with broken ankle . CBC Sports . Associated Press . 11 January 2024 . 1 February 2024.
  27. Web site: Ducks' Robert Hagg: Sent down Sunday . CBS Sports . 28 January 2024 . 1 February 2024.
  28. Web site: Gaudio . Julian . Golden Knights Sign Two Players To League-Minimum Deals . The Hockey News . 3 July 2024 . 3 July 2024.
  29. Web site: NHL Draft prospects: No. 24 Robert Hagg . Sportsnet . King . Patrick . 6 June 2013 . 1 February 2024.
  30. Web site: Finland surprises Sweden in OT to take gold . Sportsnet . Associated Press . 5 January 2014 . 1 February 2024.
  31. Web site: Robert Hagg to Join Sweden for 2015 World Junior Championship . Lehigh Valley Phantoms . 1 February 2024.
  32. Web site: Slovakia upsets Sweden 4-2 to win bronze medal at 2015 world juniors . Global News . The Canadian Press . 5 January 2015 . 1 February 2024.
  33. Web site: Sweden announces roster for 2019 World Championships . swehockey.se . Swedish . 9 May 2019 . 9 May 2019.
  34. Web site: Canada Escapes While US, Sweden Fall in World Hockey . Sports Illustrated . Associated Press . 23 May 2019 . 1 February 2024.