How Brandon Hagel became ‘straw that stirs the drink' for Lightning
MONTREAL - It was early in the season, right around Thanksgiving, when Brandon Hagel talked about learning when to speak up at the right time.
Great leaders aren't born overnight, and through four hard-fought playoff games, Hagel has become, in coach Jon Cooper's words, "the straw that stirs the drink" for the Lightning. Not just because of his performance on the ice, but due to the impassioned way in which the 27-year-old has led his teammates into battle.
But five months ago, the Lightning hadn't yet realized the kind of team they could become, and two of their established leaders, defensemen Victor Hedman and Ryan McDonagh, were out with injuries.
Since coming to Tampa Bay, Hagel had also learned a lot from those who have come and gone. Steven Stamkos, Pat Maroon, Corey Perry and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare were names he rattled off quickly.
Knowing what to say when is part timing, part emphasis and all effort, Hagel said.
"When your game's not there, you almost feel like you don't know what to say," Hagel said in November. "It's like, ‘Hey, you've been terrible for seven games.' The only answer is myself, or any veteran on the team going out there and showing fight, grit, the will to win. ... It's just being able to come off the ice at the end of the game and be able to look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I thought I played well.'"
Fast forward to the second period of Sunday's Game 4 at the Bell Centre, the Lightning down two goals and at risk of going back to Tampa trailing 3-1 in the series. With 21,000 angry Canadiens fans right on top of the Lightning bench, Hagel stood and knew now was the time. He called to his teammates and gave a speech that Cooper said inspired the Bolts.
"His passion on the bench and when he stood up and looked both ways, literally, I think, captivated the bench with what he was saying and the message he was delivering," Cooper said. "... And you talk about the progression of things that helped us during this game, I think that was a big part of it, too, being down 2-0."
"He walks a fine line, because he is an emotional player, and I think that's what drives him, that's why he has success," Cooper added. "But he's really found a way to keep it within the lines."
Hagel then went out and scored twice in the third period, fueling the Lightning to a 3-2 Game 4 win that tied the series at 2 and put them back in the driver's seat going into Wednesday's Game 5 at Benchmark International Arena.
"Listen, this is the best time of year," Hagel said. "I mean, it doesn't matter where you're playing. You got to embrace these types of atmospheres. You live to play in moments like this. This is why you want to get into the playoffs."
Within months of the Lightning acquiring Hagel at the 2022 trade deadline, he was playing for a Stanley Cup. Tampa Bay lost to the Avalanche in the final, but Hagel got his first taste of playoff hockey, and it lit a fire in him. Then the Lightning were eliminated in the first round the past three postseasons.
"I won't say he's got something to prove, but when it gets (to) this time of year, there's just guys that elevate," Cooper said. "Our team's much different than 2020, ‘21, 2022 when we made that run of the finals; that's as far as he's gotten. There's a group of guys on our team that some have got a ring and some don't. And I think there's a combination of making a push to get the guys that don't have one a ring, and Hagel's leading that charge."
In last postseason's five-game series with Florida, much of the opportunity to have this kind of impact in the playoffs didn't materialize. Hagel was suspended a game for his Game 2 hit on Aleksander Barkov. When he returned for Game 4, his series ended after he took an elbow to the head from Aaron Ekblad.
"When he was out, he was in the locker room, he was still giving speeches," said defenseman Darren Raddysh. "He was trying to get the guys going. He cares and that's what you want in a hockey player. So having him playing and being a big part of our team again this year is huge for us. It's just great when he's out there and being able to do things he can do."
Hagel leads all skaters with six playoff goals, including two on the power play, part of a penalty kill that's running at an 85.7% clip in the last three games. He's a player Cooper can look to to bring out the best in his teammates, as he did when paired with Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point in Game 4.
Everyone is seeing the result of years of growth.
"Hags didn't come in guns blazing," Cooper said. "He came in and found his way. ‘Where's my niche? Let me see what I can do.' And then he slowly started elevating his play. He was forcing my hand to play more and forcing my hand to play him in all situations, and that's what you want in a player.
"And I think he's been around long enough now to know, like leadership's changed, and he's eventually gonna be part of that group. And he may not wear a letter now, but eventually he's going to. There's certain guys that have that trait, and he has it."
Lightning 2, Canadiens 2
EASTERN CONFERENCE: FIRST ROUND
Game 1: Canadiens 4, Lightning 3 (OT)
Game 2: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2 (OT)
Game 3: Canadiens 3, Lightning 2 (OT)
Game 4: Lightning 3, Canadiens 2
Wednesday: at Tampa, 7
Friday: at Montreal, TBD
May 3: at Tampa, TBD*
TV/radio: All games also on The Spot-Ch. 66; 102.5-FM
* If necessary
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