Speed gets Hagelin noticed. His two-way abilities make him stand out even more.
A native of Sodertalje, Sweden, Hagelin was selected by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (No. 168) of the 2007 NHL Draft and quickly made his way to North America to begin his path to the NHL.
Speed gets Hagelin noticed. His two-way abilities make him stand out even more.
A native of Sodertalje, Sweden, Hagelin was selected by the New York Rangers in the sixth round (No. 168) of the 2007 NHL Draft and quickly made his way to North America to begin his path to the NHL.
But instead of joining the Rangers or heading to the junior ranks, Hagelin went to the University of Michigan and became the first Sweden-born player to play for the Wolverines.
Hagelin enjoyed a decorated collegiate career, reaching double-digits in goals all four seasons - including a career-high 19 as a junior - and, as a senior in 2010-11, being named the Central Collegiate Hockey Association's Best Defensive Forward and a finalist for CCHA Player of the Year. Twice the Wolverines advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four, including reaching the championship game in 2011.
Following the championship-game loss to University of Minnesota Duluth, Hagelin signed his entry-level contract and turned pro immediately, appearing in the American Hockey League's Calder Cup Playoffs with Connecticut. Though Hagelin started the next season in the AHL, after 17 games he earned his first call-up to the Rangers and never looked back.
Hagelin fit right in, picking up points in his first four NHL games, including his first career goal in his second game, against the Philadelphia Flyers. Hagelin's elite speed was on display from the start and at the 2012 NHL All-Star Weekend, after being named to the Rookie Showcase as an injury replacement, he won the Fastest Skater Competition.
In four seasons with New York, Hagelin was a key part of a Rangers team that reached three Eastern Conference Finals and the 2014 Stanley Cup Final. Hagelin had seven goals, two shorthanded, in the 2014 playoffs.
After 266 games and 130 points with the Rangers, Hagelin was traded to the Anaheim Ducks on June 27, 2015. His stay on the West Coast proved short; Hagelin was traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Jan. 16, 2016, after 43 games with the Ducks.
With the Penguins, Hagelin became part of the prominent "HBK Line" with Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel that helped propel Pittsburgh to the Stanley Cup.
