Brandon Hagel: From Facing Obstacles to NHL Elite

TAMPA – Brandon Hagel has a perfectly illustrated expression to describe his journey to the highest peaks.

“I like to say I got hit in the face a hundred times before I reached the NHL,” Hagel said during an interview with NHL.com at the Canadian team’s orientation camp in August in Calgary.

“I always had to fight to create my own path. I have learned so many lessons from the obstacles encountered in my path. I’ve been through ups and downs. I got cut by teams. The Sabers drafted me in 2016 (6th round), but they never offered me a contract. I went to rookie camps without convincing a team to give me a chance. I was one player among many others.”

today, Hagel is no longer just one player among many others. The 27-year-old Saskatchewanian now belongs to the rare elite category of the NHL.

Author of a first season of 90 points (35 goals, 55 assists) in 82 games last year with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Hagel is aiming for another campaign of almost a point per game. Before getting injured on December 15,he had already amassed 31 points (18 goals,13 assists) in 32 games.

In the infirmary for his team’s last four games, Hagel will return to action for the visit of the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday (5 p.m. ET; The Spot, TSN2, RDS). But regardless of his presence in the lineup, the winger has already offered good arguments to win a position on the Canadian team for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic games.

“When you wear the Canada jersey,you feel an immense sense of pride,” Hagel said. I had this chance for the 4 Nations Showdown and I would like to relive this experience for the Olympic Games. I didn’t know what to expect from the 4 nations. But in the first game, the Bell Center was full during the warm-up period. I got chills looking at the crowd.”

“For me, it was also a victory,” he continued. If you had told me three or four years ago that I would be in this position, I wouldn’t have believed it.”