Lightning's Brandon Hagel Ties NHL Record With 4 First-Time Assists – Hockey Writers – Tampa Bay Lightning

Brandon Hagel had four assists in the first half of tonight's (Nov. 25) game against the Colorado Avalanche, tied for the most first-half assists in NHL history and accomplished by only eight others in the past 40 years.

I @TBLlightning he had five first-time goals and Brandon Hagel assisted on four of them – tied for the most in an opening frame in NHL history and scored by eight others in the past 40 years.#NHLStats: pic.twitter.com/wz9maAGQt2

– NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) November 26, 2024

Hagel was originally selected 159th overall by the Buffalo Sabers in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft. On June 1, 2018, the Sabers were unable to sign him to a contract and waived their rights to him, allowing him to become eligible for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He was then invited to the Montreal Canadiens training camp on a tryout basis but started the 2018-19 season in the Juniors. After recording 30 points in 19 games, he signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

In his third season with the Blackhawks in 2021-22, with the team out of playoff contention and having established new career marks with 21 goals and 37 points in 55 games, Chicago traded him for close to two fourth-round draft picks. Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for two first round picks in 2023 and 2024, Taylor Raddysh and Boris Katchouk on March 18, 2022.

In his first full season with the Lightning in 2022-23, Hagel had a breakout year, with 30 goals and 64 points in 81 games. He set new marks in each category and ranked fourth on the team in scoring. In the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs, he had one goal and five points in a six-game first-round loss to their Atlantic Division rival, the Toronto Maple Leafs.