When Brandon Hagel first came to Tampa Bay, no one could have ever imagined the player he would become. The 2024-2025 season saw Hagel dominate the scoresheet and truly breakout as one of the NHL’s newest star players.
Hagel managed a career best season marking a whopping 35 goals and 55 points for 90 points. Impressively, seven of his 90 points came while the Lightning were shorthanded. Lightning fans could have told you Hagel was a great player, but none could have predicted he would be this good. So, how exactly did Hagel develop into one of the Lightning’s core offensive players?
Before calling Tampa Bay his home, Hagel called Chicago home. Hagel, a previous member of the Chicago Blackhawks, was a consistent depth scorer. In the season he was traded to Tampa Bay, Hagel ended the year with 25 goals and 44 points. For players to break out and find a rhythm, all it could take is a mere change of scenery.
Hagel’s first season in Tampa bay had him ending the 2022-2023 season with a 64 point campaign, crushing his previous 44 point high. If that wasn’t great enough, the 2023-2024 season saw Hagel reach a new career high: 75 points. Now more recently, Hagel scored 90 points. Looking at Hagel’s time in Tampa Bay, one can see the story of a player getting comfortable in a new system.
Hagel’s tenacity, offensive prowess, and consistency have slowly refined during his stay in Tampa Bay. His potential as an offensive weapon became skillfully unlocked once we got to wear a Lightning sweater. With each season that has passed by, Hagel not only has gotten more familiar with Tampa Bay’s system and his fellow teammates, but he also developed as a core contributor to the team.
PuckPedia lists Hagel as being signed with Tampa Bay at an annual $6.5 million deal until the end of the 2031-2032 season. Thankfully for Lightning fans, Hagel is here to stay.
If the story continues, Hagel should soar to new heights during the 2025-2026. Hagel is the type of player any team would love to have on their roster. His passion for the game of hockey is infectious and truly a joy to watch. Whenever he scores a goal, fans jump up out of their seats. He lifts the players around him to a new standard of play. For the rest of the NHL, watch out for Brandon Hagel because he is ready for hopefully another big season.