Hagel (upper body) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Kings, Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Hagel sustained an upper-body injury during Monday's loss to the Panthers, and although he's considered day-to-day, head coach Jon Cooper indicated ahead of Thursday's matchup that the 27-year-old may not return until after the holiday break. Dominic James will enter the lineup in Hagel's absence Thursday, while the latter's final two chances to return before the break will be Saturday against the Hurricanes and Monday against the Blues.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Considered day-to-day
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Assistant coach Rob Zettler said Wednesday that Hagel is considered day-to-day due to an upper-body injury, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Hagel exited Monday's loss to the Panthers in the third period, and head coach Jon Cooper didn't provide an update on the 27-year-old's status after the game. Hagel's injury doesn't seem to be particularly serious, but the Lightning will see how he feels ahead of Thursday's game against the Kings before determining his status. If Hagel is unable to suit up against Los Angeles, Dominic James will be a candidate to enter the lineup.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Unable to finish Monday's game
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Hagel (undisclosed) was injured in the final frame of Monday's 5-2 loss to the Panthers, and there was no update on his status after the game, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.
Hagel departed the contest after taking a high forearm from Seth Jones, according to Encina. The 2016 sixth-round pick logged two shots, one hit and a minus-1 rating in 13:32 of ice time prior to exiting. Hagel should be considered day-to-day until more information is provided on his status ahead of Thursday's home matchup against the Kings.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Among league's best snipers
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Hagel scored a goal and added an assist in an 8-4 win over the Devils on Thursday.
Hagel put the Bolts up 6-2 in the second period when he wired a snap shot past Jake Allen during a delayed penalty. It was his 18th goal of the season, but plants him firmly in the NHL's top-10 in a three-way tie with Sidney Crosby and Kirill Kaprizov for sixth. Hagel continues to flirt with a 50-goal, 80-point pace this season. He's also on a record shot pace (92 in 30 games), but that 19.6 shooting percentage is well above his 15.9 career mark. Expect a bit of regression.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Three points including GWG
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Hagel scored two goals, one the game-winner, and added an assist in Monday's 3-0 win over the Flyers.
Hagel also chipped in four shots on net, a blocked shot and a plus-3 rating. The 27-year-old winger has stepped up with Brayden Point (undisclosed) sidelined, and over the last two games, Hagel has erupted for four goals and seven points while skating on the Bolts' top line with Nikita Kucherov and Anthony Cirelli. On the season, Hagel has 11 goals and 22 points in 21 contests.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Taking warmups and set to play
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Hagel (upper body) is set to return to the lineup Sunday against the Canucks, Lightning reporter Gabby Shirley reports.
Hagel will return after a one-game absence. The 27-year-old had been one of the league's hottest scorers before his injury, registering 13 points in his last nine games. He'll jump right back into the top six on a line with Boris Katchouk and Jake Guentzel as Hagel attempts to keep the momentum going.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Unavailable Saturday
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Hagel (undisclosed) isn't available for Saturday's game against Florida, per Eduardo A. Encina of the Tampa Bay Times.
Hagel was hurt during Wednesday's 7-3 loss to the Rangers. Tampa Bay is also missing Anthony Cirelli (upper body), Victor Hedman (undisclosed), Pontus Holmberg (undisclosed), Dominic James (undisclosed), Ryan McDonagh (undisclosed) and Nick Paul (upper body), so the team is dealing with more than its fair share of injuries. Adding Hagel to that list is contributing to the expectation that Jakob Pelletier will make his season debut Saturday.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Sustains injury early in loss
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Hagel (undisclosed) played only three shifts Wednesday versus the Rangers, and head coach Jon Cooper didn't have an update on the winger's status after the game, Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site reports.
Hagel's potential absence comes at a rough time for the Lightning, who are already missing four other forwards due to injuries. Those injury woes prompted roster moves prior to Wednesday's game, and if Hagel misses time, more call-ups may be necessary. It's unclear if he or any of the other injured forwards will be ready for Saturday's game against the Panthers or Sunday's contest versus the Canucks.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Eleven points in last seven games
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Hagel put up a goal and an assist in a 3-2 win over the Capitals on Saturday.
Hagel has scored at least one goal in six of his last seven games and has 11 points (seven goals, four assists) and 26 shots across that span. Hagel went glove side from the high slot, beating Logan Thompson clean at 8:42 of the third period for the winner. It was the second game in a row that Hagel recorded the game-winning goal. He notched the winner Thursday night against Vegas.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Three-point burst in win
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Hagel scored twice on four shots and added a power-play assist in Thursday's 6-3 win over the Golden Knights.
Hagel saw a five-game point streak snapped Tuesday in Colorado, but he bounced back big in Vegas. The winger's first goal stood as the game-winner, and he factored on the next two tallies as well as the Lightning solidified their lead. Hagel started the year slow, but he's up to six goals, 12 points (two on the power play), 40 shots on net, 10 hits, 10 PIM and a plus-5 rating through 14 outings after this big performance. He remains a top-six mainstay for the Lightning.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Goals in four straight
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Hagel scored a goal on four shots on target, delivered one hit and had a plus-1 rating during Sunday's 4-2 win over the Mammoth.
Hagel has been red-hot in the last handful of games, eliminating any concern after his slow start. Sunday's goal extended Hagel's goal streak to four games, and his point streak now stands at five games. Over the course of the latter streak, he has eight points, accounting for all but one of his points through 12 games played this season.
Hagel scored a power-play goal Thursday in a 2-1 overtime win over Dallas.
Hagel scored for the third straight game. He slid the puck over the goal line on a rebound, and it was originally waved off. However, a video review showed the puck crossed the line. Hagel's slow start is over -- seven of his eight points have come on his current four-game point streak. The streak includes three goals and four assists (12 shots).
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Snaps five-game point drought
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Hagel picked up two assists in a 4-3 win over the Ducks on Saturday.
The points snapped a five-game drought for the talented winger. Hagel has started the season on a rough patch, but he's too talented for this to last. He may not replicate his 90-point performance from the 2024-25 regular season, but he is still capable of producing more than he has so far.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Set to play Thursday
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Hagel (undisclosed) is good to play against Ottawa on Thursday, per Benjamin Pierce of the Lightning's official site.
Hagel suffered the injury during a preseason game against the Panthers on Oct. 2. He had 35 goals and 90 points in 82 regular-season outings with Tampa Bay in 2024-25. Hagel is projected to play alongside Anthony Cirelli and Gage Goncalves versus the Senators.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Recovered from concussion
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Hagel (concussion) is fully healthy for the start of training camp, per Diandra Loux of The Hockey News on Wednesday.
Hagel suffered a concussion in Game 4 of Tampa Bay's first-round series against Florida on April 28, which resulted in him missing the Lightning's final game of the playoffs April 30. However, the concussion didn't interfere with his offseason preparations. Hagel played the full 82 regular-season games in 2024-25 while setting career highs in goals (35) and points (90).
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Won't suit up in Game 5
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Hagel will not be available for Game 5 against the Panthers on Wednesday, according to Gabby Shirley of FanDuel Sports Network Florida & Sun.
Hagel blocked one shot in 11:04 of ice time before being elbowed by Florida's Aaron Ekblad in the second period of Game 4. Ekblad is facing a possible suspension due to that hit, as he's set to have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety. Hagel has not been a contributor to the scoresheet in this series, but his absence will be difficult to overcome in an elimination scenario in Game 5, which is in Tampa Bay. Conor Geekie or Cam Atkinson figure to replace Hagel in the lineup Wednesday.
Hagel will likely return to the lineup in Game 4 against Florida on Monday after serving his one-game suspension.
Hagel received the ban for interference on a hit delivered to Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 on Thursday. After missing Saturday's 5-1 win over the Panthers, the 26-year-old Hagel will presumably return to a top-six role and see power-play time in Monday's matchup.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Headed for suspension
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Hagel will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety on Friday for interference on Aleksander Barkov in Game 2.
Hagel should be expected to miss at least one game, given that he is having a hearing with the league. As such, fantasy players should expect the winger to be sidelined for Game 3 versus Florida on Saturday at a minimum. With Hagel expected to miss out, Conor Geekie could be elevated to a top-six role as well as take the open spot on the No. 1 power-play unit.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: May face supplemental discipline
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Hagel may face supplemental discipline after he left his feet to deliver a high hit to Aleksander Barkov that knocked the Florida star out of the game. Hagel received a five-minute major.
The Bolts lost the tight contest 2-0. Hagel's hit was dirty, which really isn't like him. Victor Hedman played the puck and Barkov was looking at Hedman when Hagel jumped to Barkov's head and neck. The league will undoubtedly look at this hit; there was no report on Barkov's status after the game.
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Lightning's Brandon Hagel: Two helpers in Wednesday's loss
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Hagel pocketed two assists, one on the power play, in Wednesday's 4-3 overtime loss to the Maple Leafs.
The 26-year-old winger continues to be an incredibly steady contributor for the Lightning. Hagel hasn't gone back-to-back games without getting onto the scoresheet in over a month, and over the last 17 contests he's produced five goals and 17 points. He needs five more points over Tampa Bay's final four regular-season games to reach 90 for the first time in his career.
