Brandon Hagel, aka Bagel, was the big trade deadline acquisition for the Tampa Bay Lightning last spring. The 23-year-old winger (at the time) had already scored 20 goals and was on pace to hit 30, was sitting on a contract well below his value, and brought that annoying speed the Lightning covet so much. In the end, the Lightning traded two first round picks for Hagel, but didn’t get as much as they bargained for in the final stretch of games and into the playoffs.
The Player
Name: Brandon Hagel
Position: Left Wing
Age: 24
2022-23 Team: Tampa Bay Lightning
Last Year’s Rank: Not in organization (Was ranked 6th by Second City Hockey)
Readers Rank: 2
Writers Rank: 2
Drafted in the sixth round in 2016 by the Buffalo Sabres of all teams, Hagel went unsigned through the WHL before getting an ELC with Chicago.