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Major announcement on 8-year $52M signing completed: It hurts for the Chicago Blackhawks

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Jack Sutherland
August 2, 2025 (8:12)

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The Chicago Blackhawks traded Brandon Hagel to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he's become one of their top players-did Chicago let one get away from them?

The Chicago Blackhawks may be regretting their trade of Brandon Hagel, who just scored a career-high 90 points (35G, 55A) for the Tampa Bay Lightning this year.

Hagel, who was recently awarded with an 8 year, $52 million contract extension with an AAV (average annual value) of $6.5 million, was named one of the best value deals in all of the NHL by analyst Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic.

Today, the only shock is what Hagel has become: one of the best wingers in hockey. Hagel's rise since signing has been meteoric, culminating in a spot on Team Canada amidst a season where he scored 35 goals and 90 points while finishing top 10 in Selke voting. Hagel has become a star, doing most of his damage at five-on-five, where only two players scored more points than him last season: David Pastrnak and Nikita Kucherov. He's the real deal.

Did the Blackhawks act too swiftly by trading away Hagel before he reached his full potential, or is he a product of playing with a more talented Lightning squad than his previous Blackhawks squad?

Brandon Hagel began his NHL career with the Blackhawks

Hagel was taken 159th overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft by the Buffalo Sabres, but he didn't sign a contract with them.

He later signed a 3 year entry-level contract with the Blackhawks with an AAV (average annual value) of $975,000. He later signed a 3 year, $4.5 million extension to remain with Chicago.

But he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2022 Trade Deadline, and has become one of their best players. Not surprisingly, he was recently invited to Canada's 2026 Olympic orientation camp in August in Calgary.

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Previously on Chicago Hockey Insider

A completed trade between the Canadiens and Blackhawks takes a turn: A player is missing

Connor Bedard and Sidney Crosby headline 42 players invited to camp to represent Team Canada at 2026 Olympics

A major announcement has been made on the next captain of the Chicago Blackhawks: It's a surprise

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AOUT 2 \| 606 ANSWERS Major announcement on 8-year $52M signing completed: It hurts for the Chicago Blackhawks Did the Blackhawks make a mistake by trading Brandon Hagel?
Yes	491	81 %
No	115	19 %
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Major announcement on 8-year $52M signing completed: It hurts for the Chicago Blackhawks

The Chicago Blackhawks traded Brandon Hagel to the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he's become one of their top players-did Chicago let one get away from them?

Brandon Hagel began his NHL career with the Blackhawks

Did the Blackhawks make a mistake by trading Brandon Hagel?