Hagelin Unlikely to Sign with New York

Submitted by Clarence Beeks on

I posted this as "OT (sort of)" because while it deals with a current Michigan athlete, it's not about his playing at Michigan.  The rumor mill about some sort of disconnect between Hagelin and the Rangers is apparently gearing up again.  I happened to come across this today and, well, it speaks for itself:

There's speculation in NHL circles that Michigan senior co-captain Carl Hagelin, who notched a pair of goals Saturday as the Wolverines blanked the Michigan State Spartans 5-0 in the Big Chill outdoor NCAA hockey game at Michigan Stadium, could be headed for the Detroit Red Wings.

Currently the property of the New York Rangers, who selected the 5-11, 176-pound left-winger from Sodertalje, Sweden with the 168th pick of the 2007 National Hockey League entry draft, word around the NHL is that the Rangers won't be signing Hagelin, who would then become a free agent Aug. 15, 2011. “I wouldn't be surprised to see Detroit sign him,” said one NHL scout at Saturday's game.

http://communities.canada.com/windsorstar/blogs/duffersdabbles/archive/2010/12/14/could-michigan-s-swedish-star-be-headed-to-wings.aspx

A Hagelin to Detroit scenario was talked about here a while back (http://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/carl-hagelin-article ), but that was an unlikely trade scenario, so I thought this would be OK content since it's not really duplicative.  This would be an absolute steal for the Red Wings, or for any team for that matter.  There's just too much smoke for there not to be some problem between Hagelin and the Rangers.  Comments I've seen from within the Rangers organization don't indicate that it's a situation where they don't want him, so this almost has to be a situation where he doesn't want to go there.

MGoBoard

octal9

December 17th, 2010 at 5:13 PM ^

 This would be an absolute steal for the Red Wings, or for any team for that matter.

No question. Hagelin's a tremendous player. It'd be great to see him in a Wings jersey.

bork bork bork 

Joined: 11/11/2008

MGoPoints: 5777

MGoAndy

December 17th, 2010 at 5:25 PM ^

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HAGELIN FOR RED WINGS PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Joined: 07/22/2008

MGoPoints: 1997

kevin holt

December 17th, 2010 at 6:32 PM ^

The question is, red shirt, or red retro shirt with white trim?

Oh, and this could possibly be the best news I have heard in a long time, so it is NOT OT in any way.

1) another Swede on the Wings and 2) a WOLVERINE on the Wings (arguably the best one) and 3) MORE SPEED on the Wings (Helm + Hagelin, my God) means 4) I would die with fucking glee. I am so excited, I hope this happens more than words can express

edit: I do actually want some feedback on the shirt color, btw

Joined: 03/16/2010

MGoPoints: 17447

Mr. Robot

December 17th, 2010 at 6:59 PM ^

I was like, "Aww, what a bummer that Hagelin is having problems with his perspective NHL team".

Then I read the post and couldn't contain myself. Guess I shouldn't be suprised the Wings want another Swede, but more importantly, it means for the first time in forever that the Red Wings will have a Michigan man on their roster! Go Blue! Go Wings!

Joined: 10/27/2009

MGoPoints: 3031

grsbmd

December 17th, 2010 at 7:36 PM ^

No way this happens.  Glen Sather would have to be an idiot to give up on Hagelin at this point.  He knew Hagelin would be a 3-4 year project when he drafted him.

Hate to burst your collective bubble, but everyone in the hockey world is calling shenanigans on this.

Joined: 01/27/2009

MGoPoints: 693

Clarence Beeks

December 17th, 2010 at 11:14 PM ^

Glen Sather would have to be an idiot to give up on Hagelin at this point.

No one said that Sather was giving up on Hagelin.  Sather has been very clear that he views Hagelin as someone with an opportunity to contribute for the Rangers in the future.  However, that said, as I'm sure you know, if Hagelin doesn't sign with the Rangers by August 15th he becomes a free agent.  In other words, Hagelin has to want to sign with the Rangers.  Given Sather's high praise, the fact that this has cropped up again indicates that it's more likely that it's Hagelin who doesn't want to go to New York than New York who doesn't want Hagelin.  It is possible, if not likely, that Hagelin just doesn't like the looks of the depth chart in New York.  As it stands now, he's behind about five or six other players at his current position alone in the Rangers' system, almost all of whom are his age or younger.  He's not a player that needs much seasoning in the AHL, so if he can see a team with a better roster situation, he should take it.  This is always the risk that you run by letting your draft picks play all four years.

Hate to burst your collective bubble, but everyone in the hockey world is calling shenanigans on this.

Oh yeah?  Want to point us in the direction of some sources saying that?

Joined: 09/06/2008

MGoPoints: 22732

seegoblu

December 18th, 2010 at 2:42 PM ^

Gordie Clark was an internission guest on the NYR broadcast for the Penguins game this week and confirmed that Carl is a big part of the NYR's plans. Ultimately, Carl has to want to sign but it's the NYR intention to sign him.

As for the poster who claimed depth at the wing position in the NYR system would be an impedament, it's actually the position of least depth. Zuccerello, Kreider (amazing BC prospect), C. Thomas and E. Grabchev are the only wing prospects of note in the entire system.

Joined: 08/10/2009

MGoPoints: 1725

Clarence Beeks

December 19th, 2010 at 1:13 AM ^

As for the poster who claimed depth at the wing position in the NYR system would be an impedament, it's actually the position of least depth. Zuccerello, Kreider (amazing BC prospect), C. Thomas and E. Grabchev are the only wing prospects of note in the entire system.

That'd be me.  If we are just talking about "prospects", I would more or less agree with you (but you forgot two who should have been on your list: Weise and Kolarik).  My comment, though, was about overall depth, which includes the "prospects" and "non-prospects", such as Stepan, Dubinsky, Avery, Gaborik, Callahan, Prust, and Frolov.  In the near term, those guys aren't going anywhere.  New York definitely has a depth problem for Hagelin, because he's certainly entering the picture behind Kreider and Z-A.  Couple that with the fact that Hagelin isn't going to be looking to play in the AHL for very long (nor should he need to) and New York's system depth definitely could provide an impediment for someone like Hagelin.  If Hagelin does sign with the Rangers he can almost certainly expect to spend significant time in the AHL and have to fight hard for the roster spot(s) when, and if, they become available.  Other teams have significantly better opportunities for someone in Hagelin's situation (i.e. experience and skill set) and he almost certainly has to know that.  As I said before, that's the danger that always exists when your draft picks go the NCAA route and you allow them to stay all four years.

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