Lightning Sign Core Piece Long-Term
The Tampa Bay Lightning have locked up a core piece of their future today announcing the signing of forward Brandon Hagel to an eight-year contract extension worth $52 million.
Hagel's new deal will carry a cap hit of $6.5M beginning in the 2024-2025 season. The soon to be 25 year old set career highs last season with 30 goals and 64 points in 81 games. Hagel played a career high 18:38 in ice time rotating in Tampa's top six.
The Lightning acquired Hagel, along with a pair of fourth-rounders, from the Chicago Blackhawks at the 2022 trade deadline in exchange for two first-round picks, Boris Katchouk, and Taylor Raddysh.
Hagel is the latest member of the Lightning to sign a maximum-term eight-year extension. Along with Hagel Brayden Point, Anthony Cirelli, Mikhail Sergachev, and Erik Cernak are all signed through at least 2029-30. All of these players are in the 25-27 year old age range.
The salary cap is expected to rise to $87.5 million for the 2024-25 season. The Lightning project to have $12.6 million in cap space next offseason, with captain Steven Stamkos as the only notable unrestricted free agent.
| POLL | ||
Which player signed long-term will general manager Julien BriseBois reject most in the future? | ||
| Brandon Hagel | 8 | 27.6 % |
| Erik Cernak | 13 | 44.8 % |
| Mikhail Sergachev | 2 | 6.9 % |
| Anthony Cirelli | 6 | 20.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
