Brandon Hagel’s Impressive Ranking
In a recent piece published by The Athletic, analyst Dom Luszczyszyn evaluated and ranked the top ten contracts in the NHL. While the current roster of the Chicago Blackhawks was unrepresented, one prominent former player from the team stood out. Brandon Hagel, a past forward with the Blackhawks, secured the No. 2 rank on the list; only New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes ranked higher.
Hagel’s Contract and Performance
Hagel is now in the second year of an eight-year contract valued at a cap hit of $6.5 million with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Having just finished the initial year of his substantial deal, Hagel made significant strides, achieving career-best numbers with the Lightning. Throughout the previous NHL season, he played 82 games where he notched 35 goals, 55 assists, and a total of 90 points, following a successful previous campaign in which he recorded 49 assists and 75 points in the same number of games.
Since Hagel’s contract extension last summer, he has continued to improve, showcasing why Luszczyszyn placed him so highly on his list of contracts. Since departing from the Blackhawks, Hagel has emerged as a key player for the Lightning, solidifying his role in their core lineup. During his tenure with Chicago, spanning 108 games over three seasons, he achieved a total of 30 goals and 31 assists, tallying 61 points before being traded to Tampa Bay during the 2021-22 season.
Blackhawks’ Promising Defenseman
Meanwhile, the Chicago Blackhawks have seen promising performances from defenseman Alex Vlasic. During the 2023-24 season, the 6-foot-6 blueliner secured a permanent position on the NHL roster, contributing with two goals and 14 assists over the course of 76 games, and recording 56 hits. The 2019 second-round draft choice has shown he can develop into a reliable defensive presence at the highest level of competition in hockey.
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