Tampa Bay HC Jon Cooper has a clear reason to be excited ahead of next Lightning season

The sting of falling short in the final stretch of recent NHL seasons still lingers deep within the Tampa Bay Lightning. Despite this lingering frustration, many believe Jon Cooper’s squad has more than enough reasons to make a serious run in the near future.

Names like Nikita Kucherov, Brayden Point, and even Andrei Vasilevskiy send a clear message: the Lightning’s roster has enough talent across all lines to be a team to fear in their division.

However, a specific gamble made a few seasons ago—one that has since turned into a key piece for Cooper—could now become the difference-maker. Brandon Hagel, who arrived in 2022 from the Chicago Blackhawks, is being pointed to by analysts as the potential X-factor for the Lightning.

Brandon Hagel #38 of the Tampa Bay Lightning skates against the New York Rangers.

An interesting move by the Lightning

Acquired via trade from the Blackhawks in 2022, Hagel arrived in Tampa Bay full of promise, though his initial performances unfortunately fell short of expectations. However, both his on-ice impact and statistical output have grown significantly since then, leading many to believe that the gamble on him has indeed paid off.

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NHL insider Dom Luszczyszyn of The Athletic recently offered a pointed assessment of the situation, noting that Jon Cooper’s team has secured a high-upside player for the long term — and at a relatively low cost.

“The big one for the Lightning is Brandon Hagel, both in their initial acquisition of him and the subsequent contract they got him to sign,” he wrote. “I still have no idea how Hagel became as good as he is, but man is he ever good. Trading for him and then signing him for $6.5 million (for eight years!) was pure genius and shows just how much Tampa Bay is still ahead of the curve.”

Eyes on the upcoming season

Despite their first-round exit last season against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, the Tampa Bay Lightning are still seen as a legitimate contender for the 2025-26 season. The team, which finished the 2024-25 season with a 47-27-8 record, still boasts an impressive core of elite players.

Forward Nikita Kucherov remains a top offensive threat, coming off a season where he tallied 121 points (37 goals, 84 assists) in 78 games. Goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, provides a solid backbone in net. While the team parted with some key veterans in the offseason, including captain Steven Stamkos and defenseman Mikhail Sergachev, they have focused on developing their younger talent and adding depth.

With a roster now more familiar with the system and a commitment to player development, the Lightning are poised to prove their doubters wrong and once again be a top team in the Atlantic Division.