Brandon Hagel has quietly become one of the Tampa Bay Lightning’s most reliable weapons, and the numbers keep pushing the conversation forward. After putting together another strong season in 2025-26, the 28-year-old winger has put himself in striking distance of a milestone that still hasn’t shown up on his NHL résumé: 100 points.
Hagel’s 2025-26 line was the kind that turns heads. He scored a career-high 36 goals and finished with 74 points in 71 games.
That followed a 2024-25 season in which he found the net 35 times, added a career-best 55 assists, and reached 90 points in 82 games. Season after season, he’s kept climbing.
What stands out most is how much Hagel has grown into a true offensive force for Tampa Bay. He’s no longer just a useful piece in the lineup; he’s developed into a legitimate star and a player who can drive real offense. That’s why the idea of another jump next season doesn’t feel far-fetched.
If he can stay healthy and take another step offensively, 100 points is on the table for the first time in his career. The possibility gets even more interesting if he spends more time alongside Nikita Kucherov, the kind of superstar winger who can help unlock another level.
Now heading into 2026-27 and firmly in his prime, Hagel has a chance to put together the biggest season of his career. For the Lightning, that makes him one of the most intriguing players to watch.
In Other News...
Vasilevskiy Is Chasing A Rare NHL Mark As Tampa Starts Again
Andrei Vasilevskiy heads into another season with Tampa Bay in familiar territory: among the NHLs elite and still piling up milestones. After recently winning his second Vezina Trophy and reaching finalist status six times overall, he remains the backbone of a Lightning team that is set to begin its preseason Sept. 20 with four games before the real thing starts to matter.
The spotlight only grows brighter from there, because the next chase on Vasilevskiys rsum has historic weight attached to it. Tampa Bay opens the regular season Oct. 1 against the New York Rangers, and as the Lightning start fresh, their goaltender begins with a notable number still separating him from a rare place in league history. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Prospect Joona Saarelainen Is Becoming Harder To Ignore
Joona Saarelainen is starting to look like more than a name buried in the Lightning prospect pool. The 20-year-old forward handled a solid season with KalPa in Finlands Liiga, showing the kind of all-around game that tends to get NHL clubs paying closer attention. He has built his reputation on playmaking, a willingness to get to the front of the net and the kind of defensive responsibility Tampa Bay likes to see from young forwards trying to earn trust.
Saarelainens role should expand next season, which only adds to the intrigue around where his development goes from here. For now, the plan is for him to stay in Finland a while longer, but his path eventually could lead to an entry-level contract and a move to North America if the Lightning decide the timing is right. For a prospect who is still early in his climb, that makes his next step one the organization will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]
Lightning Fans Have Plenty To Circle On This Home Schedule
The Lightning have already given fans a reason to start mapping out the 2026-27 home slate, with the team unveiling its theme nights and arena giveaway plans for Benchmark International Arena. It is the kind of release that tends to turn a routine schedule drop into a season-long checklist, especially when the mix includes familiar game-night staples and a few fresh ideas designed to give different parts of the fan base something to look forward to.
Among the most eye-catching additions are the first-time Bolts & Boots Night and Margaritaville Night, two themed dates that should stand out on a calendar full of divisional matchups and premium opponent visits. The giveaway lineup also has plenty of collector appeal, with featured items tied to Jake Guentzel, Brandon Hagel, Nikita Kucherov, Victor Hedman and Andrei Vasilevskiy, leaving Lightning fans with a lot to sort through before the puck even drops on the new season. [Read more 🡒]