Brandon Hagel just completed the first season of his eight-year, $52,000,000 contract extension signed with the Lightning in 2023. Had Aaron Ekblad asked Brandon Hagel to fight in response to his hit on Barkov, the Lightning winger would not have backed down.

Brandon Hagel was assessed a five-minute major and suspended one game after his hit against Aleksander Barkov midway through the third period of Game 2 of the Lightning’s first-round series against the Panthers,

The NHL ruled Ekblad threw a direct blow to Brandon Hagel’s head with an extended elbow, causing him to leave the game with an injury in the second period.