Prospect Info: Phantoms (AHL), Reading Royals (ECHL), NCAA, Jrs., Int'l, etc. (Dec.-Jan. edition)

[Bob Clarke Fan Club]

http://ontariohockeyleague.com/video/jan-1217-kit-2-wsr-3-so

There's the highlights. As you can imagine as a 6'3" 215 lbs. kid playing in juniors he does a lot of his damage around the net & slot.

No problem making room for himself in those areas for sure. There was some great goaltending on display in that shootout as well.

 

[BritainStix]

That Carter comparison I won't touch with a ten foot stick haha.

But Hagg's issues are with actually reading the plays and that often looking like passivity.

Hagg has a very laid back skating style. It does make him look slower than he actually is. It almost always brings about opinions of "lazy". I remember Carter having the exact same marks against him for it.

I disagree with the second point. When Hagg doesn't have time to think, he almost always makes the smart play. It's been shown a couple of times when the intensity of the game is high, he plays a much better game. A couple of times over the last 2 years, when the phantoms have been hit with call-ups and injuries, Hagg has played his best hockey. Usually because he's out there against the best lines. It's when the game slows down and he has time that he overthinks his play, usually ending up in backbreaking turnovers. It makes him look like he has very little hockey IQ. You take that time and space away from him and it forces him to use his instincts.

NHL forwards are relentless on the forcheck and pressure, so the intensity will always be there.

It's just an opinion, but I think he would be far more suited to the NHL than the AHL.

 

[Hiesenberg]

What's up with this Bunnaman kid? He's got 21 goals, granted well off Debrincat's 36 (I think), but looks like a shooter

 

[FLYguy3911]

More of a scorer than a natural shooter.

 

[whitstifier]

Is there anyone else here who isn't down on Hägg?

 

[Cyborg LeClair]

Is there anyone else here who isn't down on Hägg?

Ive always been a Hagg supporter. I think he would be solid on our bottom pairing. I think he needs to be more aggressive making sure the crease is clear, but he's pretty intelligent and has the physical tools for the NHL

 

[Striiker]

More of a scorer than a natural shooter.

So kinda like Simmonds?

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

So kinda like Simmonds?

More so like Simmonds in his early years here in that sense. I wouldn't compare him as a player to Simmonds as a whole though. He scores a lot around the net off rebounds & deflections.

 

[Hiesenberg]

Laberge is the shooter or another scorer?

 

[sobrien]

Is there anyone else here who isn't down on Hägg?

me.

The message you have entered is too short. Please lengthen your message to at least 4 characters.

 

[hrocks66]

so morning call has a little bit on Morin

http://www.mcall.com/sports/hockey/...phantoms-zone-flyers-0111-20170111-story.html

 

[deadhead]

Note this quote:

"In my first year [in the pros] I was still adapting so I was still doing my juniors stuff that I was running everywhere," Morin said. "But [positioning], it's really important because when your positioning is good you don't have to over-skate. You don't get tired. That's a huge part of the game."

I think this is a problem for most players out of junior and college (I suspect less so for players out of the SHL and KHL), especially those who are far more talented than their peers - if you can outskate your mistakes you tend not to focus on eliminating them.

 

[Les Averman]

Laberge is the shooter or another scorer?

Skillset seems more similar to Konecny from what I've seen. Not as skilled but more of a playmaker who has a wicked release on his shot and probably doesn't use it enough.

 

[Appleyard]

Allison is probably the biggest 'shooting scorer' amongst the prospects.

Has a unreal release and not shy to use it.

 

[TonyAndrock]

PREVIEW: The Lehigh Valley Phantoms (23-9-2) host the Hershey Bears (18-8-9) in the first of a home and home series this weekend.

The latest news, notes, expected lineups & goalies and more to get you ready for rivalry night in the Atlantic Division!

http://highlandparkhockey.blogspot.com/2017/01/game-35-preview-hershey-at-lehigh-valley.html

 

[TonyAndrock]

I see a lot here are down on Robert Hagg, and understandable with how last year went. But honestly, he's looking a lot better this year & appears to be getting back on track. We had this on Hagg during the holiday break in our 'Seven Days of Christmas' feature series: http://highlandparkhockey.blogspot.com/2016/12/hagg-heading-in-right-direction.html

 

[Jack Straw]

Is there anyone else here who isn't down on Hägg?

I've never been down on him. Haven't seen him this year but prior to this season I'd watched a lot of Phantoms games after he came over. He has all the physical tools, just needed to get things straight in his head. From what I've been reading that seems to be happening this year.

I also agree that he will benefit from the increased structure and skill of the NHL.

 

[Rebels57]

I see a lot here are down on Robert Hagg, and understandable with how last year went. But honestly, he's looking a lot better this year & appears to be getting back on track. We had this on Hagg during the holiday break in our 'Seven Days of Christmas' feature series: http://highlandparkhockey.blogspot.com/2016/12/hagg-heading-in-right-direction.html

Thank you for that.

I have noticed Haggs improvement this year and I think he is back on track to being an NHL defensemen.

 

[Cootsfanclub]

The only time I've seen Hagg on the Phantoms (I really haven't seen the Phantoms since they came to Lehigh) was when he briefly played in Glens Falls.
He looked very good next to Ghost actually, I didn't think he had an issue with that lackadaisical approach that people have dogged him about. Hextall, Pryor, and I believe Homer were in the arena watching because it was Ghosts' first game after winning with Union and signing his pro contract.

I thought Hagg looked very composed for a teenager playing in a foreign country for the first time. I was higher on Hagg when the only D prospects were he, Morin, and Ghost though.

 

[deadhead]

The problem for Hagg is he's been on a normal development pattern for a young defensemen (he's at the age where most players are in their 2nd AHL season) but they've added so much talent (Morin, Sanheim, Myers) that he keep sliding down the prospect ladder. Tough for him but good for the organization.

 

[Magua]

I think Hagg has looked better this year. No doubt about it. But I still don't like his game, which has always been my worry. I think his weaknesses and any causes for concern are a bit too easily brushed off with blaming AHL "systems." Jumping to the NHL, a path strewn with the carcasses of AHL guys who couldn't handle the rigors, is always significantly harder, not easier. If I worry how you think the game at the AHL level, if I see questionable decision making and at times looking lost and unsure of what to do, which will mask itself as that "passive" style he plays (because it's not laziness or an effort thing), then I'm less optimistic in my projections. A couple people described it well earlier when they said that they don't know what he actually does well. He'll make nice plays now and again, but often it just feels like he exists, and that's it.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Marody is playing on the Big Ten Network tonight at 9. Michigan takes on Minnesota.

 

[Magua]

Laczynski is on tomorrow at 2pm too

 

[Striiker]

NAK a healthy scratch... not sure why.

 

[LegionOfDoom91]

Myers is out of tonight's lineup for Rouyn-Noranda with a concussion.