Red Wings 2022-23 Wrap-Up: Robert Hagg

DETROIT -- Robert Hagg will take what he can from his injury-plagued 2022-23 season and focus on the road ahead.

Hagg, who signed a one-year free-agent contract with the Detroit Red Wings last summer, first sustained an upper-body injury in the club's 2022 Red & White Scrimmage in Traverse City on Sept. 25, sidelining him for most of the preseason.

The 28-year-old defenseman recovered to make his Red Wings debut on Opening Night and appeared in 13 regular-season games before being placed on injured reserve with an undisclosed injury on Dec. 13.

And after rejoining Detroit's active roster on Jan. 16, Hagg said he was happy to finally "start playing games again."

"Like everyone, it went up and down," Hagg said about his first season with the Red Wings, in which he tallied seven points (two goals, seven assists) in 38 games. "It went okay, but the whole year was injuries."

Hagg said despite missing extended time, the culture in Detroit's dressing room helped him feel like he never missed a beat.

"The group made it so much different," Hagg said. "It's a long season. But when you're having fun and have a good group of guys, the season really flies by. That's what it felt like this year."

Selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the second round (No. 41) of the 2013 NHL Entry Draft, Hagg has earned 63 points in 338 career NHL games with four different clubs across seven seasons.

"My job is to go out there, play consistent and good defensively," Hagg said. "I wanna do better, but I'm satisfied with what I was able to accomplish this year."

Hagg, who is slated for unrestricted free agency this summer, said he enjoyed acclimating to the Hockeytown culture.

"I like this organization," Hagg said. "You can tell it has been around for a long time. It's been an honor being here and just seeing how everything works."