Better Ranger - Fast or Hagelin

[NickyFotiu]

Fast is a good guy. I like him and want him to do well but all the never ending praise had a disconnect when it came to trade value and salary. I'm not bashing Fast by any means but if Fast is as good as some Rangers coaches imply wouldn't he be in much stronger demand by other teams GMs? There have been some strong value for defensive guys in NHL history. I think of Fast like I think of Jan Erixon. A guy that got huge praise from Rangers coaches every year but did not have strong demand from other GMs.

 

[Peltz]

I'm going with Fast. He was somehow able to keep up with Panarin and not look out of place on that line which lit the lamp on a nightly basis. That, in addition to all of the defensive attributes he brought to the table made him a lot more versatile than Hagelin.

Hagelin, did, however, give the team a speed identity and was fantastic for getting to loose pucks. He was great, especially in the playoffs.

Let's face it, both players punched above their weight and contributed far beyond what was advertised with pure effort and determination. They're the types of players you need to build a contender.

 

[romba]

If only Hags had better hands he would be an elite player.

And we'd have a cup. I recall at least 2 breakaways against Quick in the finals, both were shots and were stopped. Think CK was stopped as well.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Hagelin better player

Fast only shown how shallow the Rangers depth was that prospects could not replace a no offense PK player

 

[MarkMessyay11]

This is a tough one. Hags will probably win because he was the more popular/exciting player and had excellent wheels. But Fast, IMO, was the more important player in terms of their overall on-ice performance. He never made a mistake, played great defense, and never took a shift off. He got flack last year for being put in a position that was probably above his pay grade...but it also didn’t stop Artemi from having an MVP-type season. So...did he really do a bad job?

It’s close, but I’m voting Fast.

 

[Calad]

Close but i'll take the unique talent. Hags speed was hardly matched throughout the league

 

[cwede]

If there was a 3rd choice like equal i'd choose that

 

[NYSPORTS]

I’d say Hagelin yet Fast, ironically was slower. You need these type role players to win imo.

 

[Raspewtin]

Hagelin but they weren't similar players.

Hagelin was one of the most unique players in hockey at the time and was basically the marquee support player. Fast is much better defensively and had much better stick play (Hagelin was pretty overrated defensively at ES) but Hagelin had a massive edge on offense, PK, and of course speed and tempo.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

If only Hags had better hands he would be an elite player.

Not really. He didn't have great vision or offensive IQ, couldn't really slow the game down. He was all speed, his hands were average but nothing that held him back from being anything more than what he was. a really good role player

 

[MyLoveIsBlue]

I certainly agree with your points. But, maybe if he didn't have hands like feet the game would slow down for him, and improve his offensive IQ and vision. Seemed he always struggled with the puck.

 

[CupSeeker]

Fast is a better player. Hagelin had a bigger impact on the Rangers.

 

[Kakko Schmakko]

Fast and it isn't even close. Hagelin got worse and worse every season.

 

[bobbop]

Fast was pretty good for Carolina tonight.

 

[n8]

Hagelin's speed and PK abilities were really special. While Fast killed a lot of penalties, he was actually rather below average in PKGA/60

 

[huerter]

Just seeing this thread now. Both were among the most underrated players in the league, underappreciated by fans when they were here, and criminally discarded.

 

[pld459666]

Hagelin put up 130 points in 266 games as a NYR. Just under .50 points per game.

Fast put up 147 in 422 games.

Offensively its not close. As both were primarily 3rd/4th line tweeners.

Defensively I give the nod to Fast, but its not some cavernous gap. Hags was very good defensively in his own right

 

[Doriva]

Hags was my favourite Ranger when he was here, but I think Fast is the better all-round player and had the longevity.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

If there was a 3rd choice like equal i'd choose that

I don't ever provide equal to not give people a cop out, haha.