Saying Goodbye: Niklas Hagman
by PPP on Feb 8, 2010 10:15 AM EST
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PrintNiklas Hagman is exactly the kind of UFA signing that the Toronto Maple Leafs should be looking to sign this summer if they are going to fill any of the forward spots to keep the kids developing. He had had increasing success but he was still trending upwards. He signed for a good term but especially a good dollar figure and will likely go down as Cliff Fletcher's best signing.
Niklas Hagman was brought in to bring some speed and a rifle shot to the Leafs, just like Toronto expected from Jason Blake. I'd love to see Blake regain his form, and a line of Steen, Blake, and Hagman tearing it up.
Hagman played on the Stars' PP fairly successfully, and was also part of Dallas' PK, so we'll see him teamed up with Mayers on the Leafs quest to not have embarassing special teams.
Overall, this author thinks the Hagman signing was a steal. $3m for an almost 30 goal guy will be fantastic if he keeps playing like he has.
He quickly bedded in with a couple of other newcomers, Mikhail Gravovski and Nikolai Kulemin, to create a line so good they had their own name. He brought a measure of professionalism that hopefully provided an excellent example to the team's young forwards. While the results were not always present the effort was never lacking. It was nice to see his work get rewarded earlier this year when he was named the NHL 3rd star of the week.
After the jump, a look at a couple of his best goals and a tribute from his biggest fan:
You may not know this, but I’m a bit of a fan of Hagman’s. On occassion, I’ve felt the need to gently remind you all of his plethora of assets in the past. In fact, I may have made a comment or two outlining the qualities I like about the guy, but beyond that, I have a few favorite memories of Hagman I think got glossed over and forgotten:
- his shoot out goal on Brodeur. Vintage Hagman; skates in as he approaches top speed, slams on the breaks and softly pots the goal with a backhander between the pads. Quietly skates off the ice without any sign of emotion.
- this delicious play from the aforementioned “Man-Grabs-Lemon” line against the Habs.
- the time he single handedly took on the Blues D, and then in an almost Bobby Orr-ian fashion, scores a goal while falling down. (possible hyperbole with the Bobby Orr comparison, but I’d like to think I’m unbiased…)
- Remember when he made Boston look silly? Grabbo got the goal, but Hagman made it all happen.
- Puck won’t lay flat? No problem…
- Tampa Bay – embarrassed.
- Grabbo dangles, Hagman snipes. Capitals look silly.
I could go on. And on. But I won’t…
OK, I lied. One more. Hat trick in Anaheim, Leafs winless skid to open the season finally stopped. All thanks to St. Nik…
So, thank you Nik Hagman! I will miss you most of all for being, in a word, “Awesome”
The Yukon didn't hit Bredan Witt hard enough
His dad is the Finnish Gretzky. You can tell
Hagman Is Mad And Just Won't Take It Anymore!
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Definitely Cliff's best signing
Though I’m not sure there’s anyone like him on the market this summer. Looking at capgeek’s free agent list, there aren’t many who offer a clear upgrade on our projected top 6 for next year (minus Poni): Kessel, Bozak, Kulemin, Stalberg, Grabovski and Hanson. If you put aside Marleau, there’s almost noone I’d want to give a long-term contract to. I think the best value are guys coming off disappointing years who might agree to a short-term, discounted deal (one year, two max) in order to re-establish their value and hit the jackpot the following year: e.g. Frolov (on a downwards trend for 3 years now), Afinogenov, Tanguay, Jokinen. Best case is they have a huge year and are dealt for a first at the deadline. I don’t want to build around any of these guys.
I think the best value are guys coming off disappointing years who might agree to a short-term, discounted deal (one year, two max) in order to re-establish their value and hit the jackpot the following year: e.g. Frolov (on a downwards trend for 3 years now), Afinogenov, Tanguay, Jokinen.
As much as I hate to say it, Bertuzzi with the Wings has worked pretty well. A similar deal could help the Leafs. Afino I think might have done enough in ATL but Frolov is definitely at the age where he will be looking for more. Tanguay could want to put together a healthy season so he could help but he takes away time down the middle from Grabbo and Bozak
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
I thought Tanguay was a winger?
He’s been very disappointing in Tampa, where he’s been with Lecavalier, Stamkos, St. Louis…. I just don’t know if he has it anymore.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Feb 8, 2010 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
so we’ll see him teamed up with Mayers on the Leafs quest to not have embarassing special teams.
oops.
Yeah
File that under “Things that did not work out in any way whatsoever”
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
that’s a big file
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 11:06 AM EST up reply actions
Ferguson John Jr
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
Raycroft, Andrew; Toskala, Vesa; Lindros, Eric; Maurice, Paul
Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!
Lindros was fine that one year… he was a PPG when Sundin was out with his eye injury long-term…
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Feb 8, 2010 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
He only played about 30 games though before going to to injury.
Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!
those doctors got fired didnt they? Misdiagnosed Lindros’ wrist injury. We would have made the playopffs if Lindros had of played even 60 games, he really was decent when he was here.
There is no "I" in team, but there is an "M" and an "E"
We also would have made the playoffs last year if Vesa had played well, and Sundin had come back, and we won more games.
Phaneuf Phever, an upgrade in skill and alliteration!
yeah but the point is, Lindros actually performed well for the Leafs, while Vesa Sucks, and Sundin retired. Lumping Lindros in with Vesa and Raycroft etc. isn’t really fair.
"The only way out is in a body bag. Go Leafs Go." - Blinky
by Karina on Feb 8, 2010 4:48 PM EST up reply actions
Lindros stats with Toronto
33 gp
11g 4 ppg
11a 4 ppa
22pts
18.6 shooting percentage
-3
43 PIM
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/88/career
You may not know this, but I’m a bit of a fan of Hagman’s. On occassion, I’ve felt the need to gently remind you all of his plethora of assets in the past. In fact, I may have made a comment or two outlining the qualities I like about the guy, but beyond that, I have a few favorite memories of Hagman I think got glossed over and forgotten:
- his shoot out goal on Brodeur. Vintage Hagman; skates in as he approaches top speed, slams on the breaks and softly pots the goal with a backhander between the pads. Quietly skates off the ice without any sign of emotion.
- this delicious play from the aforementioned “Man-Grabs-Lemon” line against the Habs.
- the time he single handedly took on the Blues D, and then in an almost Bobby Orr-ian fashion, scores a goal while falling down. (possible hyperbole with the Bobby Orr comparison, but I’d like to think I’m unbiased…)
- Remember when he made Boston look silly? Grabbo got the goal, but Hagman made it all happen.
- Puck won’t lay flat? No problem…
- Tampa Bay – embarrassed.
- Grabbo dangles, Hagman snipes. Capitals look silly.
I could go on. And on. But I won’t…
OK, I lied. One more. Hat trick in Anaheim, Leafs winless skid to open the season finally stopped. All thanks to St. Nik…
So, thank you Nik Hagman! I will miss you most of all for being, in a word, “Awesome”
I have nothing interesting to say.
by blurr1974 on Feb 8, 2010 11:30 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
Shameful oversight by the overlords, at least those overlords not honeymooning away the early February blahs*, not to have you locked up as guest contributor for the Hagman goodbye post, blurr.
For me, the Nik Hagman memory will be that goal against Tampa. You can’t see it on the clip, but I was at that game and Hagman actually stepped on the puck – on purpose – to get it around the defenseman, and kind of booted it up to his stick all in one motion. My wife turned to me and asked me whether he just did what she thought he did. He did. Nik Hagman was awesome; he did everything the Leafs asked of him. I’m a supporter of the Phaneuf trade, but I’d take Hagman back in a heartbeat if the right opportunity arose.
- Oh, PPP, don’t get your panties in a twist. I’m just kidding.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Wow, formatting surprise! That bullet point is supposed to be a footnote for the asterisk after “blahs”.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
hehe
Yeah, I added it but I should have at least asked!
Pension Plan Puppets: A Toronto Maple Leafs blog and a group therapy session.
…see that it doesn’t happen again, good sir. There’s still a “Matt Stajan” Leaf eulogy to write and something tells me you won’t do his bedroom eyes justice the way LD would.
jrwendelman
The Artist Formerly Known as "Junior", who blogs at heroesinrehab.ca/blog
"But if someone so eager to engage into fist talk, we can always meet after season end in Minsk." (Mikhail Grabovski and a well-meaning but not particularly skillful translator)
Don’t forget we’ve also lost his superhot wife.
"We can categorically state that we have not released man-eating badgers into Iraq"
- Major Mike Shearer
and gained the Cuthbert!
Puns, Innuendo and Bad Spelling, Yes We Got That
by JaredFromLondon on Feb 8, 2010 2:11 PM EST up reply actions
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