Hagel Trade Stings Now, But Was Smart Call

Trading Brandon Hagel looked like a steal for the other side as he piles up points in the playoffs, making Tampa Bay fans wince every time he touches the puck. Back then, the Lightning's front office crunched the numbers and saw the cap crunch coming, opting for picks and prospects that quietly built their depth. Those same execs I talk to in the hallways still defend it as the move that kept their core intact for this run, but hindsight has everyone second-guessing.