Surprise statement involving Brandon Hagel and the Montreal Canadiens

With a tally of 64 points, including 30 goals in 2022-2023, he finished fourth in team scoring behind Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and Steven Stamkos. One can safely say that the Lightning's offense will still be one of the NHL's best in 2023-2024, and that Hagel is now part of the team's core.

However, as reported by Marco Normandin from Habsolumentfan.com, Brandon Hagel almost became a part of the Canadiens organization a few years ago.

Journalist Jared Brook from the site Habs Eyes On The Prize tweeted from account X that in 2018, the Lightning's forward had been invited to participate in the Canadiens' development camp.

Surprising news, but true!

Unfortunately for fans, the management decided not to retain his services, instead offering a contract to the Quebecois forward, Joel Teasdale.

After three seasons with the Montreal organization, Teasdale is now with the Minnesota Wild organization, with whom he landed an American League contract.

As for Hagel, he eventually found work with the Chicago Blackhawks, where his career truly took off, and he was traded to Tampa Bay in March 2002.

Looking at the situation five years later, it's easy to criticize the Canadiens' management, which at the time was led by Marc Bergevin.

But one must remember that Joel Teasdale was one of the top players in the QMJHL at that time, and he wasn't drafted by an NHL team. The season following his signing, he led the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to the Memorial Cup, and his future looked promising.

Sadly, this decision by Bergevin hasn't aged well, and it would have been interesting to see what Brandon Hagel could have brought to the tricolor uniform.