Carl Hagelin or Michael Grabner?

[Kobe Armstrong]

Random poll - but these 2 always occupied the same space in my mind during their careers. 2 speedy wingers that played for a bunch of different teams but never my team.

Hagelin: 713 GP, 110 goals, 186 assists.
Best Season: Penguins 2015-16, 61 GP, 16 goals, 27 assists + SC win

Grabner: 640 GP, 175 goals, 101 assists.
Best season: Islanders 2010-11 76 GP, 34 goals, 18 assists

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[banks]

Hagelin was great as one third of that HBK line with Phil Kessel in PIT. Other than that run, I don't think I even remembered he existed.

I picked Grabner, because he was a thrill to watch. You could convince yourself that he'd score 2 goals a game based on his breakaway speed alone. And he was so good shorthanded, I believe there was a couple stretches where his team had more short-handed goals than goals against on the PK with him on the ice.

 

[Regal]

Grabner peaked higher with a couple big goal scoring years, but I think Hagelin was the better player in general. Grabner felt like more of a one trick breakaway pony both 5v5 and short handed. I think Hagelin was a better all around player who could mesh with various players better.

 

[kerrabria]

I watched a lot of both of them during their primes. I vote Hagelin.

Grabner was faster, bigger, and used a longer stick, which gave him more breakaways. But stick checking and straight line speed were really the only two things Grabner did well. He handled the puck like a grenade and couldn't find open passes. He looked the exact same way on the fourth line as he did on the first.

Hagelin was a bottom 6 winger who happened to be one of the fastest guys in the league. He could battle along the offensive boards, and he overall had a good hockey iq. Just didn't have a great offensive tool set. But he could be a very effective depth player and complimentary wing. Hence the success of HBK.

 

[Hisch13r]

I think they were pretty comparable overall impact wise and it’d depend on what kind of player you want. I’ll say I’d much rather have Hagelin than Grabner on my team. Grabner was the better finisher and while great on the PK at 5v5 he was pretty much all offense no defense. Hagelin was high end PK and 5v5 defensive winger while also consistently driving at least solid offensive impacts and can chip in 30-40 pts. Hagelin is literally like my blueprint perfect 3rd liner.

 

[Gurglesons]

The one with two cup rings.

 

[seafoam]

Grabner was a one trick pony who's one trick was an entertaining one, but he was realistically filler on non-playoff teams.

Other the other hand, Hagelin did not have the scoring prowess or excitement factor in his game that Grabner had, but he could actually be a role player in the playoffs which is why I voted him.

 

[jfhabs]

Hagelin more efficient, Grabner more exciting.

Hagelin wins it being a contender on 2 cup teams.

 

[dmac7719]

I look at as Grabner was a better player, but Hagelin was a better NHL'er

 

[TeeTee]

They both had the hands of Marvin Hagler.

 

[BLNY]

Hagelin was the best at wearing his visor so high all it did was protect the logo on his helmet.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Grabner had more ability, but Hagelin the better career.

 

[GoldenKnight]

Close, but Grabner for me.

Good poll.

 

[AD1066]

Grabner was faster, bigger, and used a longer stick, which gave him more breakaways. But stick checking and straight line speed were really the only two things Grabner did well. He handled the puck like a grenade and couldn't find open passes. He looked the exact same way on the fourth line as he did on the first.

He was the real-life version of dumping 99 points into speed during Create A Player and having none left over.

 

[biturbo19]

I should probably pick Hagelin, as he was really the better player all around. But Grabner definitely peaked higher as a scorer and was the vastly more entertaining player to watch. Hagelin had a lot more of a "complementary" skillset, versus Grabner being a little bit more individually "dynamic". But Grabner was also a bit of a one-man show.

So yeah, my head says Hagelin, heart says Grabner.

 

[Ignatius]

Hags had a great track record as a playoff performer for both the Rangers and the Penguins, Grabner was a better regular season performer and never got the same kind of opportunities to perform in the playoffs.

Hags could be counted on in every situation though not that much of a PP guy, he was very reliable on 5v5 and the PK. In a particular way his speed made him a top short-handed threat on the PK. He was also among the best skaters to have out in late game situations like say an empty net situation whether he's defending or going for an empty net goal.

Again Hagelin did not have the best offensive skill but he was an incredibly fast and reliable 200 ft utility winger.

 

[sr edler]

If you're building a serious team then it's Hagelin because he was a better role player than Grabner was a top 6 threat. Only way Grabner makes sense is in a fantasy scoring vacuum or if you have a perfectly built squad already and need some type of Ole-Gunnar Solskjær-ish flavour to sprinkle on top (and even that's a stretch).