If one follows the New York Rangers one should not be surprised when the team makes an awful personnel decision and yet if the following report is true this would be the second in the last month regarding a prospect that will have be disappointed all over again. Today’s news is regarding Michigan senior forward, 2007 6th round pick, Carl Hagelin and in the Windsor Star the report goes as follows:
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.
There is no reason that this makes any sense for the Rangers to make a move like this when Hagelin has turned himself into one of the best players in the country at one of the top hockey institutions in the nation. You do not play on the top line nor get named captain of the Michigan Wolverines without an immense level of skill and the Rangers, and any other team, could always use more of that. In today’s NHL more and more the game is becoming about speed, a trait which the Rangers lack and have been burned by in games this season. Hagelin for all his other qualities, speed would be the one at the top of the list. In addition to his speed, Hagelin, shows excellent finishing skill, very good vision, tremendous and dangerous penalty kill ability and toughness in battles. That to me is the way the Rangers have been moving in their young players and yet they may let this one walk away?
If you needed more proof than his standing on his club, his production as a point a game player, or the fact he is a Hobey Baker semi-finalist last season, just look at the team that is rumored to be interested in signing him because if there is a better run organization and one more known for spotting talent than the Detroit Red-Wings I am not aware of it.
I for one am hoping that unlike the mistake that was letting Brandon Manning sign on elsewhere this is just a rumor that will end up being incorrect and Hagelin not only signs but has a chance to make this roster next season. The reason I hold out this hope is the words of Glen Sather himself just six weeks ago when talking with Pierre LeBrun about our future talent Sather said:
"I think [Roman] Horak is going to be a good player, [Chris] Kreider for sure, [Carl] Hagelin has a good opportunity. We've got lots of good kids coming,"
So here is to hoping that what Glen said then will match his actions and he signs Hagelin, otherwise it will just be another poor personnel decision for a fan base that should be used to seeing them already.
Stick Salute to Canyon of Blueshirts for finding this story and check out his take on it here.
