It’s no surprise that Brandon Hagel became a fan-favorite this season with his high-effort, puck-hound tendencies and great transition play. There’s optimism that the winger could build on this season to be an important piece for the Blackhawks’ future, but where is his ideal spot in a lineup?
Hagel came to Chicago as a free agent signing in June 2018 after the Buffalo Sabres — the team that drafted Hagel — were unable to sign him. The Blackhawks prospect pool wasn’t exactly deep after the Cup winning years, so they turned to scooping up young players with potential through any means necessary, and Hagel was one such player.