Phase 2; Hagg's Head Start

Flyers defenseman Robert Hägg has been back in the United States for a few weeks. Last Thursday, he began working out in small group sessions with his Flyers teammates during Phase 2 of the NHL's return-to-play plan. He settled back in at his in-season residence in Philadelphia.

The Swedish defenseman had to complete mandatory self-quarantine upon his return to the United States from Sweden.

"It sucks but it's something you have to do. I've followed all the rules, all the guidelines. I've done all the testing and everything's come back negative. I'm happy to be back on the ice with the boys. It was nice to see everyone after, what is it, [three] months? It's nice that we can get a few more guys coming in and start to practice a little bit more normal," Hägg said on Friday to Flyers senior director of communications Zack Hill.

Before coming back to the United States, Hägg was able to get a head start compared to most of his Flyers teammates. Because Sweden did not have shelter-in-place orders and widespread closures of non-essential businesses, Hägg had access to a local rink and gym facilities.

"I was able to skate back home in Sweden and even work out, so I had it pretty good actually. But I followed all the [social distancing guidelines] when I was at home, and that's really all you can do," Hägg said.

In 2018-19, Hägg dressed in all 82 games. This season, Hägg has dressed in 49 of the 69 games the Flyers have played. He has chipped in 13 points (3g, 10a) and posted a +14 traditional plus-minus rating. Prior to the NHL schedule pause, he started 25 of the last 26 games played by Alain Vigneault's club.

Earlier in the season, for the first time in his NHL career, Hägg was relegated to a seventh defenseman's role for the first time in his NHL career. More recently, he has returned to being a regular starter, typically placed on the team's third pairing with Justin Braun. During junctures of the season when rookie Phil Myers was not in the Flyers' lineup, Hägg saw time paired with Shayne Gostisbehere (a frequent partner in the first half of Hägg's rookie NHL season of 2017-18).

Hägg was credited with 136 hits during the 2019-20 regular season, leading all Flyers players. With 79 blocked shots , Hägg tied for fourth on the team overall but leads the team in blocks relative to his ice time with 6.20 blocks per 60 minutes played. He averaged 1:06 of penalty killing ice time per game this season; fifth among Flyers' defensemen. Additionally, he averaged 14:26 of even strength time and 22.2 total shifts per game.

"We had something going. Hopefully, it won't take us too long to get going back to where we left off. Guys will come in, work out and then we'll have one [exhibition] game, or two games. I'm pretty sure we'll find a way," he said.

The player feels that the two hub-city, "living in a bubble" format of the round robin and Eastern Conference playoff series could have some benefits, although it's not ideally what anyone wants.

"Hopefully, it'll bring something good out of it. and bring the team close together," he said. "But the main thing is to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible."