Brandon Hagel Bio
Brandon Hagel (born August 27, 1998) is a Canadian professional ice hockey left winger for the Tampa Bay Lightning of the National Hockey League. Selected 159th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2016 NHL entry draft, Hagel did not sign with the team and eventually carved out his NHL career through a combination of persistence and skill development across multiple organizations. He made his NHL debut with the Chicago Blackhawks in March 2020 and has since established himself as one of the more dynamic two-way forwards in the league.
Hagel has represented Canada on the international stage, winning gold medals at both the 2021 IIHF World Championship and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off. His aggressive, high-energy style of play and offensive production have made him a central piece of the Tampa Bay Lightning lineup and a fan favorite in the Eastern Conference.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Hagel was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, and was raised in Morinville, Alberta. His father worked as a sales manager in the roofing industry and his mother was employed in insurance. Hagel grew up idolizing Alexander Ovechkin, even decorating his childhood bedroom with an Ovechkin theme, an early indicator of his deep passion for the sport. He has two siblings, a brother named Tyler and a sister named Chelsea.
Hagel began his hockey career in the Alberta Midget Hockey League, playing Bantam and Midget AAA hockey with the Fort Saskatchewan Rangers. During the 2012–13 season with the Rangers, he recorded 41 points in 33 games, though he was overlooked in the 2013 Western Hockey League Bantam draft. He continued to develop his game, finishing third in the league in points and earning a Second All-Star Team selection before finishing his Bantam and Midget career with the Whitecourt Wolverines.
During his junior career, Hagel seriously considered stepping away from professional hockey. At the start of the 2018 season, he planned to pursue a college education and become a teacher if he did not receive an NHL contract by December. He had already registered for college classes before his career path took a decisive turn.
Path to Professional Hockey
On September 17, 2015, Hagel signed as a free agent with the Red Deer Rebels of the Western Hockey League, beginning his major junior career. In his rookie WHL season, he helped lead the Rebels to the 2016 Memorial Cup against the London Knights and earned an NHL Central Scouting Bureau ranking of 104th overall, setting the stage for his draft selection by the Buffalo Sabres the following year.
Before the 2017–18 season, Hagel participated in both the Rebels and the Sabres training camps but suffered a knee injury during a Rebels scrimmage. Despite the setback, he was named an alternate captain and responded with three goals and two assists in back-to-back games against the Edmonton Oil Kings. He later missed six weeks with an upper body injury that same season but continued to develop his game at the WHL level.
By June 1, 2018, the Buffalo Sabres had not signed Hagel to a contract and relinquished their rights, making him eligible for the 2018 NHL entry draft. After attending Montreal Canadiens training camp on a tryout basis, he began the 2018–19 season with the Red Deer Rebels. His final WHL season proved to be historic: after recording 30 points in 19 games, he signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks worth $925,000 and went on to set a new franchise record for most assists in Rebels history, surpassing Arron Asham previous record of 161.
Brandon Hagel Career
Early Career (2020)
After the Red Deer Rebels were eliminated from the 2019 WHL playoffs, Hagel joined the Chicago Blackhawks American Hockey League affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, for eight games and recorded one point. He made his NHL debut on March 11, 2020, with the Blackhawks, just one day before the league suspended play due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hagel spent the remainder of that unusual season developing within the Blackhawks system.
During the pandemic-interrupted offseason, Hagel was loaned to HC Thurgau in the Swiss League on September 30, 2020, to continue playing competitive hockey. Upon returning to Chicago, he established himself as a regular NHL player and, as a restricted free agent following the 2020–21 season, signed a three-year contract extension worth $4.5 million on August 6, 2021.
Chicago Blackhawks (2020–2022)
Hagel spent parts of three seasons with the Chicago Blackhawks, steadily improving his offensive production each year. In his third season with the team, he had already set new career highs with 21 goals and 16 assists for 37 points through 55 games, demonstrating the two-way reliability that would make him a valuable trade asset. Head coach Jeremy Colliton gave Hagel increasing responsibility on both special teams and even-strength situations.
With the Blackhawks out of playoff contention during the 2021–22 season, the organization traded Hagel alongside two fourth-round draft picks to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, and two first-round draft picks. The deal proved mutually beneficial, but it marked a turning point that elevated Hagel onto a consistent Stanley Cup contender.
Tampa Bay Lightning Era (2022–Present)
Hagel joined the Tampa Bay Lightning for the final 22 games of the 2021–22 season, recording four goals and three assists for seven points. He immediately contributed on the playoff stage, posting two goals and four assists for six points as the Lightning advanced to their third consecutive Stanley Cup Final, where they were ultimately defeated by the Colorado Avalanche in six games. The transition to a championship-caliber environment accelerated Hagel development as an NHL forward.
In his first full season with the Lightning in 2022–23, Hagel achieved career highs in both points and goals, finishing with 30 goals and 34 assists for 64 points in 81 games. He ranked fourth on the team in total points, and the Lightning finished sixth in the Eastern Conference. Before the 2023–24 season, the organization rewarded Hagel production and leadership with an eight-year contract extension worth $52 million. During the 2023–24 season, he set a new career high with 75 points across 82 regular season games.
Hagel reached the pinnacle of his offensive career during the 2024–25 season, recording 35 goals and 55 assists for a career-high 90 points across 82 games. He finished second on the Lightning in total points, behind only Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov, and was named the NHL first star of the week in February after leading the league with four goals and four assists in a single week. His playmaking ability and scoring touch made him one of the most dangerous forwards in the league.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hagel is a left-shooting left winger who combines physicality with offensive creativity. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 181 pounds, he uses his size effectively along the boards and in front of the net. His ability to drive to the high-danger areas and his relentless work ethic have become hallmarks of his game, and his chemistry with Lightning linemates has produced some of the most productive lines in the league.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Hagel career came during the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off when he fought Matthew Tkachuk immediately following the opening puck drop of a game against the United States, sparking a series of brawls that stopped play three separate times in the first nine seconds of the contest. Team Canada ultimately won the tournament, defeating the United States 3–2 in overtime in the final. During the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hagel received a one-game suspension for a hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov before suffering a concussion from a hit by Aaron Ekblad that ended his postseason.
Brandon Hagel Career Wins
Brandon Hagel career statistics reflect a steady and accelerating offensive trajectory across his NHL tenure. From his early development years with the Chicago Blackhawks to his emergence as a top-six forward with the Tampa Bay Lightning, his point totals have climbed each season, reaching a career high in the 2024–25 campaign.
National Hockey League Highlights
Hagel NHL career points have risen consistently, from 13 points in 36 games during his 2020–21 debut season with Chicago to a career-high 90 points across 82 games in the 2024–25 season with Tampa Bay. He scored his first career NHL goal during the 2020–21 season and reached the 30-goal mark for the first time in the 2022–23 season. His performance in February 2025, when he led the entire league in goals and assists for the week, represented a career-defining offensive stretch.
Other Achievements
During his junior career with the Red Deer Rebels in the Western Hockey League, Hagel set the franchise record for most assists and was named to the WHL Eastern Conference Second All-Star Team. His international career includes gold medals at the 2021 IIHF World Championship and the 2025 4 Nations Face-Off with Team Canada. He was also named to Canada roster for the 2026 Winter Olympics on December 31, 2025.
Brandon Hagel Family
Family Background and Hockey Development
Brandon Hagel was born to parents who worked in the roofing and insurance industries, and he grew up alongside his brother Tyler and sister Chelsea in Morinville, Alberta. His close-knit family environment provided the foundation for his hockey career, though he has also carried the weight of significant personal loss. Hagel has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness after losing three family members to suicide beginning in 2017, and he has participated actively in the NHL Hockey Talks initiative since joining the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Personal Life
Hagel was born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and was raised in Morinville, Alberta, giving him a strong connection to the hockey culture of Western Canada. As a teenager, he idolized Alexander Ovechkin and patterned aspects of his own game after the Washington Capitals captain. His planned path into education and teaching, which he pursued in earnest before signing his first NHL contract, reflects a thoughtful and grounded approach to life beyond hockey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2024–25 season represented the peak of Brandon Hagel offensive production to date, as he recorded 35 goals and 55 assists for 90 points across 82 regular season games, finishing second on the Lightning behind Nikita Kucherov. His February performance earned him the NHL first star of the week, and his consistency throughout the season helped carry Tampa Bay through a demanding Atlantic Division schedule.
In the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs, Hagel early postseason impact was marked by controversy after he received a one-game suspension for a hit on Florida Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 of the first-round series. He returned in Game 4 but was knocked out of the series and the remainder of the postseason after suffering a concussion from a hit by Florida alternate captain Aaron Ekblad, officially ending his season. The Lightning were eliminated in the first round by the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.