Flyers call up defenseman Robert Hagg for Sunday's finale vs. Carolina

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The Flyers' season finale against the Hurricanes on Sunday evening just got a bit more interesting, as another of the Flyers' touted defensive prospects will make his NHL debut.

This time, it's Robert Hagg's turn.

Hagg on Sunday was recalled from AHL Lehigh Valley and will be available to play Sunday against the 'Canes.

The 22-year-old Swede was a second-round pick (41st overall) of the Flyers in the 2013 entry draft, the same draft the Flyers selected fellow defenseman Sam Morin in the first round at pick No. 11.

Hagg is near the end of his third full AHL season with the Phantoms. He has seven goals and eight assists for 15 points this season. He did miss some time in early March with an upper-body injury.

But scouts say the 6-foot-2, 201-pound Hagg has made tremendous strides over the last several months. Flyers developmental coach Kjell Samuelsson told NHL reporter Chuck Gormley in late March that Hagg was ready to make the leap to the NHL level. Turns out Samuelsson's premonition was true.

Flyers general manager Ron Hextall and assistant general manager Chris Pryor have made similar comments in recent months.

Over his three AHL seasons, Hagg has 16 goals and 34 assists for 50 points.

Hagg will be the third of the Flyers' heralded defensive prospects to debut this season. The first, of course, was Ivan Provorov, who on Saturday took home the Barry Ashbee Trophy as the team's top defenseman this season. Morin made his debut last Tuesday in the 1-0 OT loss to New Jersey and played well before he was sent back down the following day.

Prior to joining the Flyers' organization, Hagg played two years for MODO of the Swedish Hockey League.

Hagg will wear No. 48 for the Flyers. A good showing Sunday in front of Hextall and the Flyers' brass certainly won't hurt Hagg's chances of making big club come the fall.

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