Brandon Hagel Bio
Brandon Hagel (born August 27, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey forward for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League (NHL). A versatile left winger listed at 188 centimetres and roughly 81 kilograms, he is known for his skating, forechecking, and two-way play. Hagel entered the NHL as a late-blooming prospect and has since developed into a reliable top-six contributor, representing Canada at two major international events.
Originally selected 159th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, Hagel did not sign with that organization. After a productive junior career in the Western Hockey League (WHL), he debuted in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks in March 2020 and was later traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2022.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Hagel was born on August 27, 1998, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was raised in Morinville, Alberta, where he grew up in a close family environment. His father worked as a sales manager in the roofing industry, while his mother had a career in insurance. Hagel has two siblings, an older brother named Tyler and a sister named Chelsea.
As a child, Hagel was an enthusiastic fan of Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin, going so far as to decorate his bedroom with an Ovechkin theme. He began playing organized ice hockey in his home province, suiting up for the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers of the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL). During the 2012–13 AMHL season, he recorded 41 points in 33 games yet went undrafted in the WHL Bantam Draft, a setback that pushed him to work harder.
Path to Hockey
After being passed over in the Bantam Draft, Hagel finished third in AMHL scoring the following year and was named to the league’s Second All-Star Team. He completed his Bantam and Midget career with the Whitecourt Wolverines, gaining additional exposure before catching the attention of major-junior scouts.
On September 17, 2015, Hagel signed as a free agent with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League. In his rookie season, he helped the Rebels reach the 2016 Memorial Cup against the London Knights and was ranked 104th overall by the NHL Central Scouting Bureau. Selected 159th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, he joined the Sabres’ prospect pool but was not signed to a contract by June 1, 2018, making him eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.
Brandon Hagel Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Following the 2017–18 season, Hagel attended both the Rebels’ and Sabres’ training camps. Although he suffered a knee injury during a scrimmage, he returned as an alternate captain and recorded three goals and two assists in consecutive games against the Edmonton Oil Kings. After the Sabres relinquished his rights, he accepted a tryout with the Montreal Canadiens but returned to Red Deer for the 2018–19 season.
Hagel produced 30 points in 19 games to open 2018–19 and signed a three-year, entry-level contract worth $925,000 with the Chicago Blackhawks in October 2018. He later surpassed Arron Asham’s franchise record of 161 assists with the Rebels on February 9, 2019, and was selected to the WHL Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team. After the Rebels were eliminated from the 2019 WHL playoffs, Hagel joined the Blackhawks’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, for eight games and then made his NHL debut on March 11, 2020, the day before the league paused play due to COVID-19.
Chicago Blackhawks Era (2020–2022)
Hagel began his professional NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks after debuting in March 2020. During the 2020–21 season, which was condensed and delayed by the pandemic, he was loaned to HC Thurgau of the Swiss League on September 30, 2020, to stay game-ready. Returning to Chicago, he established himself as a dependable two-way winger and, as a restricted free agent, signed a three-year, $4.5 million contract extension on August 6, 2021.
In his third NHL season, Hagel set new career highs of 21 goals and 16 assists for 37 points through 55 games. With Chicago out of playoff contention, the Blackhawks traded him, along with two fourth-round picks, to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, and first-round picks in 2023 and 2024.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2022–Present)
Hagel joined the Lightning late in the 2021–22 season, recording four goals and three assists in 22 regular-season games. During the 2022 playoffs, he added two goals and four assists as Tampa Bay reached a third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, ultimately falling to the Colorado Avalanche in six games. In his first full season with the Lightning in 2022–23, Hagel set new career highs with 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points in 81 games, finishing fourth on the team in scoring.
Before the 2023–24 season, he signed an eight-year contract extension worth $52 million. He responded with a career-best 75 points across 82 regular-season games, then registered three goals and two assists in a five-game first-round playoff loss to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers. In 2024–25, Hagel recorded 35 goals and 55 assists for 90 points, finishing second on the Lightning behind Nikita Kucherov and earning NHL First Star of the Week honors in February after posting four goals and four assists. His postseason ended in the first round against Florida following a concussion suffered on a hit by Aaron Ekblad in Game 4.
Playing Style and Strengths
Hagel is regarded as a reliable two-way forward whose speed, forechecking, and willingness to play in traffic define his game. He excels at retrieving pucks along the boards and creating transitions through the neutral zone, complementing skilled linemates with his work ethic and defensive responsibility. His blend of hockey sense and physical play has made him a consistent contributor on both the power play and penalty kill.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature milestones, Hagel set the Red Deer Rebels’ all-time franchise assists record in February 2019 and later signed a long-term $52 million extension with the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2023. Internationally, he helped Canada win gold at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, the latter highlighted by his opening-faceoff fight with Matthew Tkachuk against the United States.
Brandon Hagel Career Wins
Hagel’s most prominent victories have come at the international and franchise levels rather than through individual award counts. He contributed to Team Canada’s gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and again at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, where Canada defeated the United States 3–2 in overtime in the final. With the Tampa Bay Lightning, he has been part of three consecutive Stanley Cup Final runs (2020, 2021, 2022) following his midseason acquisition and continues to post career-best offensive totals.
NHL and International Highlights
Hagel’s first full NHL campaign came with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2020–21, followed by a career-high 37-point season that prompted his trade to Tampa Bay. With the Lightning, he has recorded four consecutive seasons of at least 64 points, culminating in a 90-point effort in 2024–25. Internationally, his contributions include a gold medal at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and another at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off.
Other Performances
During his junior career, Hagel helped the Red Deer Rebels reach the 2016 Memorial Cup and later surpassed the franchise’s all-time assists record. He also posted one point across eight AHL games with the Rockford IceHogs and gained professional experience on loan with HC Thurgau of the Swiss League during the 2020–21 NHL pause.
Brandon Hagel Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Hagel was raised in Morinville, Alberta, by parents who worked outside professional sports. His father served as a sales manager in the roofing industry, while his mother had a career in insurance. He grew up alongside an older brother, Tyler, and a sister, Chelsea, in a family environment that supported his athletic development.
Personal Life
Hagel has been open about his advocacy for mental health awareness, an effort inspired by the loss of three family members to suicide since 2017. Since joining the Tampa Bay Lightning, he has participated actively in the NHL’s Hockey Talks initiative, using his platform to encourage conversations around mental wellness. Earlier in his junior career, he had considered leaving hockey to pursue a college education and become a teacher if he did not receive an NHL contract by December 2018, a path he abandoned after signing with the Chicago Blackhawks in October 2018.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2024–25 NHL season, Brandon Hagel delivered his most productive year yet, scoring 35 goals and 55 assists for 90 points in 82 games and finishing second on the Tampa Bay Lightning in scoring behind Nikita Kucherov. His strong play earned him NHL First Star of the Week honors in February after a league-high four-goal, four-assist performance. He also represented Canada at the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off, where he helped secure the gold medal with a 3–2 overtime victory over the United States.
Hagel’s 2025 playoff run, however, was cut short. In Tampa Bay’s first-round series against the Florida Panthers, he received a one-game suspension for a hit that knocked Aleksander Barkov out of Game 2. After returning in Game 4, he suffered a concussion on a hit from Aaron Ekblad and missed the remainder of the series, which the Lightning lost. The episode sparked league-wide discussion about supplemental discipline.
Looking ahead, Hagel remains a central figure in Tampa Bay’s core under his eight-year contract extension. With his combination of scoring touch, speed, and two-way reliability, he is expected to remain a top-six forward and a key contributor for both the Lightning and Team Canada in upcoming international competitions.