Headlines

  • Avalanche, Jets, Lightning Interested In Jonathan Toews
  • Stars Reportedly Dialing Back Efforts To Trade Jason Robertson
  • Updates On Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad
  • Kings’ Anže Kopitar Wins 2024-25 Lady Byng Trophy
  • Ducks Acquire Chris Kreider From Rangers
  • Multiple Teams Interested In Sabres’ Bowen Byram
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • MLB Trade Rumors
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors

Pro Hockey Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • Atlantic
      • Boston Bruins
      • Buffalo Sabres
      • Detroit Red Wings
      • Florida Panthers
      • Montreal Canadiens
      • Ottawa Senators
      • Tampa Bay Lightning
      • Toronto Maple Leafs
    • Central
      • Chicago Blackhawks
      • Colorado Avalanche
      • Dallas Stars
      • Minnesota Wild
      • Nashville Predators
      • St. Louis Blues
      • Utah Mammoth
      • Winnipeg Jets
    • Metropolitan
      • Carolina Hurricanes
      • Columbus Blue Jackets
      • New Jersey Devils
      • New York Islanders
      • New York Rangers
      • Philadelphia Flyers
      • Pittsburgh Penguins
      • Washington Capitals
    • Pacific
      • Anaheim Ducks
      • Calgary Flames
      • Edmonton Oilers
      • Los Angeles Kings
      • San Jose Sharks
      • Seattle Kraken
      • Vancouver Canucks
      • Vegas Golden Knights
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Partners
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
Go To MLB Trade Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Lightning’s Brandon Hagel To Miss Game 5

April 29, 2025 at 12:47 pm CDT | by Josh Erickson 20 Comments

Lightning top-six winger Brandon Hagel has been ruled out for Wednesday’s Game 5 matchup against the Panthers as he remains in suspected concussion protocol, head coach Jon Cooper said (per the team).

Tampa Bay now faces elimination without its second-leading point getter from the regular season. Even if they manage a win at home to stay alive in the series, there’s no timeline yet for Hagel’s return.

“He’s not playing tomorrow, and you know why,” Cooper said (per the team’s Benjamin Pierce). The reason Cooper’s referring to is a high hit from Florida defenseman Aaron Ekblad midway through the second period of last night’s Game 4 loss that earned him a hearing with the Department of Player Safety today. Ekblad will presumably miss Game 5 as well, if not longer, due to his pending suspension.

“There’s that catchy word called adversity, so the script doesn’t always go as planned,” Cooper said (via Pierce). “But I tell the players, let’s be the ones that write our own story.” The Lightning are trying to avoid their third straight first-round exit after making three consecutive Stanley Cup Finals from 2020 to 2022. Last year’s defeat also came at the hands of the eventual champion Panthers in five games.

Hagel, who erupted for a career-high 35 goals and 90 points in the regular season while playing in all 82 games, has only been available for two and a half games of this series. He was suspended for Game 3 after delivering an illegal hit to Panthers captain Aleksander Barkov in Game 2 and was limited to 11 minutes of ice time in Game 4 before the Ekblad hit. He’s been held without a point, only managing three shots on goal and a minus-four rating.

Nick Paul hopped up to Hagel’s spot on Anthony Cirelli’s wing in Game 3 when Hagel was unavailable. It’s unclear if he’ll do so again. Cooper has opted to dress 11 forwards and seven defensemen for the majority of the series, with the Hagel and Cirelli duo routinely going without a consistent winger as a result.

Share 0 Retweet 0 Send via email

Florida Panthers| Tampa Bay Lightning Brandon Hagel

Hurricanes’ Frederik Andersen Out For Game 5
Main
Utah Signs Jaxson Stauber To Two-Year, Two-Way Extension
View Comments (20)

Comments

  1. emt126

    2 months ago

    Karma to a POS.

    6
    Reply
    • FeeltheThunder

      2 months ago

      Karma? Barkov wasn’t injured moron. Just shaken up as he played the next game, perfectly fine. The drug addict Ekblad went head hunting which shows he’s a pathetic scumbag which fits on a POS team. But the Florida fanbase also showed they’re a classless POS fanbase to cheer an injury which is morbid. What a disgusting display.

      4
      Reply
    • Our cup runneth over

      2 months ago

      @Feel the teardrops
      Hagel isn’t really hurt. He is being sat down because of non performance (0 points in the series). Just another greaseball move by the Lightning.

      Reply
    • FeeltheThunder

      2 months ago

      @Our cup blah blah – You’ve fully proven you’re nothing more than a troll (who also nuts for Tkachuk) & a bad one at that. But what’s worse, is how grossly dense & inept you truly are in so many ways. You’re just a loud mouth begging for attention any chance you get. It’s pathetic.

      Reply
    • Our cup runneth over

      2 months ago

      Takes one to know one

      Reply
    • FeeltheThunder

      2 months ago

      @Our cup or whatever you call yourself – Yes, you would know that you’re an attention seeking troll. Glad you confessed to know that. Unfortunately for you, your observation skills overall in everything else are as bad as your trolling capabilities though. You obviously are in serious need of attention since you’re stalking me like some internet weirdo.

      Reply
    • Our cup runneth over

      2 months ago

      @Feel the teardrops
      As usual you missed the point. You are the internet troll and I am the one correcting your inaccuracies and distorted biases. You come on here with the same drivel day after day. (POS, low life scum , classless etc etc) You need to diversify your insults and then calling them a moron or idiot doesn’t make you right. So I say it again it takes one to know one.

      Reply
    • FeeltheThunder

      2 months ago

      @Our cup is B.S. – HAHA! Thanks for the laugh. I can’t believe you’re really this distorted & hypocritical on every level. You’re not correcting anything you delusional half-wit. Your self-righteousness & arrogance shows how really clueless you are & can’t even see your own hypocrisy. I just post comments on different articles (many non-Tampa related) as I don’t go around like you, antagonizing, insulting, harassing & following people on every article which is the definition of an internet troll. I could pass a fart with more intelligence than you. F*** off, dumbass.

      Reply
    • Our cup runneth over

      2 months ago

      @ Feel the teardrops
      Leave your irritable bowel syndrome out of this. I live in your head free of charge. I insult you because you are an arrogant insufferable intolerant bore. I only comment on stupid asss comments concerning the Panthers

      Reply
    • FeeltheThunder

      2 months ago

      @Our cup is so full of B.S. – Nah…you wish but it’s not surprising you think like that. I just amuse myself at your boorish & pretentious remarks as you’re nothing more than an attention seeking internet basement dweller. You’re a bonafide loser with keyboard warrior tactics. It’s not surprising you like the Panthers, you’re both scumbags with a punk ass mentality who will lie, cheat, and steal.

      Reply
  2. Kucherov

    2 months ago

    Just because he knocked out your boy Kachick at 4 nations doesn’t mean you have to get all emotional. Remember when Hagel ragged dolled a guy 20lbs bigger then him down to the ice..that is when he tore his groin….

    Ekblad the cheater…will sit the rest of the series. Could not even put a shoulder into his chest or shoulder. Had to elbow him in the face/head. Talk about a POS.

    1
    Reply
    • deeds

      2 months ago

      Kachick???? You are a POS speller

      3
      Reply
    • Kucherov

      2 months ago

      It is a pronoun

      1
      Reply
  3. FeeltheThunder

    2 months ago

    It’s unfortunate about Hagel as I hate seeing players get injured especially from cheap, lowball hits from a POS team.

    But I will say Tampa played like crap in the 3rd period of game 4. They came out flat, with absolutely no urgency at all and they fiddled with the puck too much which created bad puck management on all accounts. They lost game 4 themselves as they gave away the game to Florida. Tampa lost the game more so then Florida won the game. Now, they’re down 3-1 & it’s their own doing. They are lacking that killer instinct mentality.

    1
    Reply
    • Kucherov

      2 months ago

      Agree. My concern with this team as a fan is the up and down play. All year, this has been their main issue. When they stay engaged, they are as good as anyone, but they seem to let the foot off the pedal and make huge errors too often.

      While i get the lock it down mindset, the NHL is far different today then even 5 years ago. You have to keep pushing to score.

      And while I love this team, I am confounded how even after winning draws, they can not control the puck and get out of the zone on a regular basis. On the tying goal, they won the draw back to the wall and Florida touched the puck first. This just can not happen.

      While Florida is up 3 1, I still do not feel the series is over. The lighting need to throw more pucks towards the goal and muck it up a bit. The PP needs to put the puck on the goal line and drive it out towards the net. That will create some chaos around the goal front.

      Mikola is let off scott free for targeting a guys head on the dasher. That is pathetic.

      1
      Reply
    • FeeltheThunder

      2 months ago

      Yes, you hit some valid points. I will say Tampa does not stay on the gas pedal when they have a lead a lot of times. They get too comfortable & play lock down mode. But they have a tendency to become disengaged as well which is when bad things happen for them.

      If Tampa would play a full 60 minutes like they did in game 3, Tampa wins this series hands down. Florida doesn’t have many high end skill set guys compared to Tampa. Tampa has the most dangerous offense in the league (even Paul Maurice said it himself) but it only shows up when they’re fully engaged & play the full 60 minutes.

      One thing Tampa needs is more sandpaper players in their forward group. They are missing that Pat Maroon, Corey Perry, Tanner Jeannot type players. Guys who will bring the fight. They have a lot of high end skill players but few sandpaper players like they had during their Cup runs. That is something Julian BriseBois needs to fix this offseason.

      1
      Reply
    • Our cup runneth over

      2 months ago

      The Panthers outplayed them except for 11 seconds in the second.

      Reply
    • Our cup runneth over

      2 months ago

      I agree that your team is sofffft.

      Reply
  4. Red Wings

    2 months ago

    Hagel’s hit on Barkov was actually much worse, just fortunate he wasn’t injured.

    1
    Reply
  5. numberoneslayerfan

    2 months ago

    very calm comments section here i see

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Avalanche, Jets, Lightning Interested In Jonathan Toews

    Stars Reportedly Dialing Back Efforts To Trade Jason Robertson

    Updates On Sam Bennett, Aaron Ekblad

    Kings’ Anže Kopitar Wins 2024-25 Lady Byng Trophy

    Ducks Acquire Chris Kreider From Rangers

    Multiple Teams Interested In Sabres’ Bowen Byram

    Mario Lemieux-Led Group Interested In Stake In Penguins

    Cale Makar Wins 2025 Norris Trophy

    Blue Jackets Expected To Pursue Mitch Marner

    Canadiens’ Lane Hutson Wins 2025 Calder Trophy

    Recent

    Jets Sign Alfons Freij

    Canadiens Sign Vinzenz Rohrer

    Offseason Checklist: Vegas Golden Knights

    Bruins Sign Victor Soderstrom

    Free Agent Focus: New York Islanders

    Metropolitan Notes: Jones, Soucy, Poulin

    Hurricanes Linked To Amir Miftakhov

    Brandon Gignac Signs In Swiss League

    Penguins Re-Sign Bokondji Imama To One-Year Contract

    Jaromir Jagr Hopes To Play 38th Professional Season

    Rumors By Team

    Rumors By Team

    • Avalanche Rumors
    • Blackhawks Rumors
    • Blue Jackets Rumors
    • Blues Rumors
    • Bruins Rumors
    • Canadiens Rumors
    • Canucks Rumors
    • Capitals Rumors
    • Devils Rumors
    • Ducks Rumors
    • Flames Rumors
    • Flyers Rumors
    • Golden Knights Rumors
    • Hurricanes Rumors
    • Islanders Rumors
    • Jets Rumors
    • Kings Rumors
    • Kraken Rumors
    • Lightning Rumors
    • Mammoth Rumors
    • Maple Leafs Rumors
    • Oilers Rumors
    • Panthers Rumors
    • Penguins Rumors
    • Predators Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Red Wings Rumors
    • Sabres Rumors
    • Senators Rumors
    • Sharks Rumors
    • Stars Rumors
    • Wild Rumors

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sam Bennett Rumors
    • Nikolaj Ehlers Rumors
    • Mitch Marner Rumors
    • Marco Rossi Rumors

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    Pro Hockey Rumors Features

    • Support Pro Hockey Rumors And Go Ad-Free
    • 2025 Free Agent Focus Series
    • 2025 Offseason Checklist Series
    • 2025 NHL Free Agent List
    • 2026 NHL Free Agent List
    • Active Roster Tracker
    • Coaching Staff Directory
    • Draft Order 2025
    • Offseason Trade Tracker
    • Pro Hockey Rumors On X
    • Pro Hockey Rumors Polls
    • Waiver Claims 2024-25

     

     

     

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives

    PHR Info

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Commenting Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    Pro Hockey Rumors is not affiliated with National Hockey League, NHL or NHL.com

    scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version