"We got to see him play a lot last season when Chicago was in our division," BriseBois said Friday in announcing the trade to media. "We noticed how competitive he is and also the consistency in his effort every shift. We've seen a growth in his play this year and his improved performance. We feel he not only improves our odds of winning a championship this season but also the next two seasons because he's under contract for two more years and the terms of his contract are providing the club with really good value."
Adding Hagel for the current season as well as at least the next two seasons was a major factor for BriseBois in his decision to make the deal. It's similar to the rationale he displayed in 2020 when acquiring Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow prior to the trade deadline. BriseBois gave up a lot in completing those trades as well but saw value in having both of those players for two playoff runs on an attractive salary for the salary cap-strapped Bolts. And those moves undoubtedly paid off as Coleman and Goodrow combined with Yanni Gourde to form a third line no other playoff team could match, that trio the catalyst for the Bolts' back-to-back Stanley Cup championships.
At the time of the trades, hockey analysts thought maybe BriseBois had given up too much to acquire Coleman and Goodrow. Now, they're regarded as shrewd moves that put the Lightning over the top.
The hope is getting Hagel will do the same this season and seasons beyond.
"Hopefully, while his current contract is still in place and providing such great value, we can go on three really long playoff runs, but we actually control his rights for five playoff runs and hopefully they're all long playoff runs," BriseBois said. "The other benefit of this trade is we're replenishing the pipeline a little sooner. We got to keep our first-round pick for this upcoming draft, and we also add a fourth-round pick in this upcoming draft, so that also provided value to us."
With regards to the first-round picks sent to Chicago to facilitate the trade, BriseBois said having a sure thing in Hagel as opposed to drafting a couple players that might be NHL ready in five years at the earliest was too tempting to pass up. Those picks are likely to come late in the first round, provided the Lightning continue to make deep playoff runs, so the chances one of the selections becomes an impact player lessens. The picks are top 10 protected too, so should the Lightning stumble in one of those seasons, they'll still get to make a high selection to build around.
"Yes, we believe in our development program and the people that are involved in our development program: Ben Groulx and the coaches in Syracuse, Stacy Roest, J.P. Cote, all of our consultants that do skating and player development," BriseBois reasoned. "But I also believe in the players that we have on the Tampa Bay Lightning right now, and if we can do anything to increase the odds of our current team being successful and going on another magical run, then I feel like we need to do that and that's why we made the decision that we made."
Hagel said he had just finished up practice with the Blackhawks and was about to drive to the team plane for their road trip to Minnesota when he was pulled aside by Chicago general manager Kyle Davidson and told about the trade. One of the first players who reached out to him was former Lightning great Tyler Johnson, now with Chicago.
"You'll love it," Hagel said Johnson told him.
Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh also texted Hagel when word of the trade was released.
