Monstrous return for Brandon Hagel: great news for the Montreal Canadiens

It's confirmed and official. The Chicago Blackhawks have traded forward Brandon Hagel to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

See the complete trade:

To Tampa Bay - Brandon Hagel + two fourth round picks

Chicago - Two first round picks + prospects Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk


Wow! A huge comeback.

Hagel is a similar player to Artturi Lehkonen, so it gives a good idea of what Kent Hughes might get for his Finnish forward, according to many experts. He too was considered to be the "Blake Coleman 2022", but with years left on his contract.

Hagel, 23, had 37 points in 55 games this season in Chicago (21 goals and 16 assists) and 24 points in 52 games last year. He was drafted in the 6th round by the Buffalo Sabres in 2016.

At that price, would you trade Lehkonen?

Another interesting aspect of this trade for the CH is that several teams that were in the race to acquire Hagel could very well turn to Montreal, and call up Kent Hughes, to up the ante for Artturi Lehkonen.

In other words, it increases Lehkonen's value.

More details to come...