Martin Has: 2022 Annual Review And Forecast

Posted on June 12, 2022 by Jon Sorensen


Next up in our annual prospect review and forecast series is Martin Hugo Has, defenseman for the Shawinigan Cataractes in the QMJHL. (You can access all of our Capitals Prospect Reports and player analysis on our “Prospects” page right here.)

VITALS

Has, a 6′-4″, right-handed defenseman from the Czech Republic, was selected 153rd overall in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL draft by the Washington Capitals (Capitals traded up to get Has). The 21 year-old is currently unsigned by the Capitals.

CAREER SUMMARY

A big two-way defenseman, Has spent 2014-2017 with the HC Sparta Praha program, appearing in 88 games, collecting 15 goals and 24 assists, all while often competing against players two and three years older than him. For the next two seasons, Has played with the Tappara U20 team in the Finnish Ice Hockey Association, playing in 84 games and registering 32 points.

After a strong 2018-2019 season with Tappara U20, Has headed to Vancouver for the 2019 NHL Draft. While travelling out west, he ran into a slight problem. “I was there for the draft in Vancouver, but I didn’t get my luggage, so I had to borrow a suit; it was small because I am a tall guy,” Has said, chuckling. Appropriately dressed for the occasion, he waited until the fifth round when finally, the Washington Capitals called his name and made him an NHL prospect with the 153rd selection.

The 2019-2020 season was a whirlwind for Has. After being selected 153rd overall in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL draft by the Capitals, Has was then selected by the OHL’s North Bay Battalion in the first round (23rd overall) of the 2019 CHL Import Draft. (Clubs in the OHL are permitted two imported players on their roster). Has was one of just 12 players selected by CHL teams, that were already drafted by NHL organizations.

Has began the 2019-2020 season with the Tappara U20 team, scoring a goal in two games, but was subsequently called up to Liiga with Tappara for five games. Has had a goal and an assist before being loaned to Koovee in the Finnish Mestis League where he played in 13 games, registered a goal, and was +4.

Has then left Koovee for the World Junior tournament where he played on Czech Republic’s top defensive pairing, recording a goal and three points in five games. Following the World Junior Championship, has was loaned by the Capitals to the North Bay Battalion, where he played one game before being traded to the Guelph Storm.

His time with the Storm lasted just twenty games before the league shut down, but it was valuable time for learning the differences between European and North American ice. “I had to get used to the smaller rink and the more physical game,” said Has. “The game is much more physical in North America; in Finland, there were a lot of tactics, here it is more about playing hockey.”

The 2020-21 season was relatively quiet for Has. Because of the pandemic, he would play in just nine games for the calendar year. He reported to the Team Czech Republic U20 training camp in late November and played in five games in the 2021 World Junior Championship. Prior to reporting to his national team he played four games for HC Benatky nad Jizerou in the second tier Czech league.

Has played a full season in 2021-22, including 57 regular season games and 16 postseason games for Shawinigan Cataractes in the QMJHL. Has played the entire season on the right side of Shawinigan’s top defensive pairing. Offensively, he recorded 8 goals and 12 assists in the 57 games played,

Has and Shawinigan would ultimately win the QMJHL title on June 11. He recorded two goals and four assists in 16 postseason games.

2021-2022 MONTH-BY-MONTH RECAP AND TREND ANALYSIS

The following is a compilation of our month-by-month prospect reports for Martin Has during the 2021-2022 season. You can find all of our monthly prospect reports on our “Prospects” page in the top menu.

OCTOBER
Has attended Capitals’ prospect camp at the end of September and participated in the Capitals main training camp. He played in the Capitals’ first preseason game against the Bruins and did well, logging 17:14 of ice time, before he was assigned to the Kitchener Rangers in the OHL on September 28. Has scored his first goal of the season on October 2.

Has missed games on October 8, 9, 15, and 22nd for unknown reasons, and was ultimately traded to the Shawinigan Cataractes on October 22. He had to wait for his international transfer to be completed before he could play his first game with the team. He made his first start on October 28 on the right side of the top defensive pair and would score in the game.

Has scored his second goal of the season in his third game with Shawinigan on October 30.

Has finished the month of October with two goals in three games, offensively, with a 28.6% shooting percentage, and was a +1. He has been starting games on the right side of the top pairing for Shawinigan.

TRENDING: UP

NOVEMBER
Has was dropped to the right side of second pairing beginning in November, but was solid for the month in that position. On November 13, against Hendrix Lapierre and Acadie-Bathurst, he posted a +1 when a majority of the the rest of the team was -1 or worse. He had a pair of assists in the second game of the month against Cape Breton. Has recorded his third goal of the season on November 19 against the Gatineau Olympiques. The shot appeared to go off of an Olympique player.

Has scored his 4th goal of the season on November 26 against the Chicoutimi Saguenéens.

In 12 games for Shawinigan, Has has four goals and two assists and a +1. After a solid camp and good preseason with the Capitals, Has just needs games. All signs point to Has as a candidate for the blueline in Hershey in September.

TRENDING: UP

DECEMBER
Has recorded his 5th goal of the season on December 4th against the Halifax Mooseheads.

Has and Shawinigan played just eight games in the month of December. He recorded a goal and an assist for the month. For the season he has five goals and three assists in 21 games played.

Defensively, Has has looked strong on the backend in the two games we watched this month. He has consistently played on the right side in the second pairing. He’s beginning to jump into the play, offensively, but is not getting many shots off. He needs to fire the puck more in 2022.

On December 21 the QMJHL paused their entire schedule until January 7 due to COVID-related issues.

TRENDING: SAME

JANUARY
The QMJHL extended their holiday/COVID-19 pause until the second week of January. Players reported to teams on January 14. The League’s regular season schedule was planned to return  the week of January 17, with postponed games to be rescheduled at a later date.

The return of activities initially planned for the week of January 17 was pushed back to February 1. The league is still working to replace the games postponed so far, while the primary objective remains to play all 68 regular season games.

Has played no games in January. His last game was in December 12th. For the season Has has played in just 21 games. He has five goals and three assists. Once again he is desperate for playing time.

TRENDING: SAME

FEBRUARY
An extremely quiet, but steady month for Martin Has. He has anchored the right side of the top pair for the entire season.

While scoring has been rare (0g, 3a in 10 games in February), his defense has been solid in the four games we watched in February and solid for the entire season. He is ready for the next step and should compete for a spot on the right side of the Hershey Bears blueline this fall.

TRENDING: SAME

MARCH
Another quiet month, offensively, for Has. He recorded two goals and three assists in 14 games played. Has recorded his 6th of the season on March 6 against Gatineau. He also had an assist in the game.

Has’ second goal of the month came against Chicoutimi on March 21.

For the season, Has has seven goals and eight assists in 45 games played. He’s shot the puck 80 times for a 8.75% shooting percentage, which isn’t terrible, but below his standard.

Defensively, Has has been solid in his return in the five games we watched in March. Remember, he sat out nearly 18 months during the pandemic. The important part for Has is that he’s playing games on a somewhat regular basis following the QMJHL’s break for COIVD during December and January.

Has could return to the CHL next season but the development value just isn’t there. Has flew through the ranks in Europe and bounced around in the CHL before settling with Shawinigan. The time is right for Has to begin his AHL education.

TRENDING: SAME

APRIL
Offensively, it was another quiet month for Has. He recorded a goal and an assist and was the third star of the game on April 1. It would be his only goal of the month of April.

Defensively Has has been sound, playing in every game of the month of April for Shawinigan. For the month he had a goal and four assists in 11 games played and was a +6. For the season he has eight goal and 12 assists in 57 games played.

MAY AND JUNE

Has and Shawinigan made a long run in the QMJHL postseason and ultimately won it all on June 11, taking home the President’s Cup as QMJHL Champions. Has had two goals and four assists in 16 postseason games.

Has is ready for Hershey.

TRENDING: SAME

PLAYER FORECAST

After being essentially dormant, playing a total of 9 games, for nearly 18 months due to the Covid pandemic, Has finally played in a total of 73 games during his 2021-22 campaign, ultimately winning the QMJHL Championship.

Has is more than ready for the next challenge and should be a welcomed addition to the Bears in Hershey this fall. As a right-handed defensemen, Has will be needed. He remains unsigned by the Capitals, but with his season now complete, we should see some movement, contractually, in the next few days or weeks.

By Jon Sorensen

RELATED READING
Martin Hugo Has Interview For CHL
Capitals Get Martin Has With 153rd Overall Pick
Martin Hugo Has Records Three Points In Czech Republic’s 4-3 Loss To Germany At World Juniors
Garrett Pilon Has Three-Goal Weekend; Aliaksei Protas Returns To WHL; Connor McMichael, Martin Hugo Has Score At World Juniors: Week 15 Prospect Report
Capitals’ Defensive Prospect Martin Hugo Has Officially Transfers To OHL’s North Bay Battalion
Capitals Defensive Prospect Martin Hugo Has Traded to OHL Guelph Storm

About Jon Sorensen

Jon has been a Caps fan since day one, attending his first game at the Capital Centre in 1974. His interest in the Caps has grown over the decades and included time as a season ticket holder. He has been a journalist covering the team for 10+ years, primarily focusing on analysis, analytics and prospect development.
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7 Responses to Martin Has: 2022 Annual Review And Forecast

  1. steven says:
    June 12, 2022 at 7:25 pm

    Would be nice to see the Caps sign him and have him in Wash by the middle of the 23/24 season.

    Reply
  2. DWGie26 says:
    June 12, 2022 at 9:32 pm

    Really excited about Has as a prospect. Saw him play in the preseason game for Caps. Looked stable. Big body and right shot. Hopefully he’ll continue to progress in Hershey.

    Reply
  3. Abby says:
    June 13, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    Martin Has’s season is not done yet, he’s playing for the top major junior award, The Memorial Cup in Saint John, New Brunswick from July 20 -29, 2022. This is the final tournament of the major junior season comprised of four teams, the winner of the OHL, WHL, QMJHL and the host team, who this year are the Saint John Sea Dogs. The winning team is crowned the top team in the CHL and hoists The Memorial Cup, 2022 marks the 102nd Memorial Cup championship. Should be an exciting tournament.

    Reply

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