Four Teams Interested in Trading for Blackhawks’ Brandon Hagel

Chicago Blackhawks’ forward Brandon Hagel is garnering a ton of attention ahead of this year’s NHL Trade Deadline. Reports by multiple sources claims that teams are reaching out to see what the cost would be to acquire the forward and there was some speculation the Blackhawks might be willing to move Hagel if the price was right.

Related: Blackhawks Being Offered Huge Return for Brandon Hagel

The Chicago Blackhawks are reportedly being offered a first-round pick and more for Brandon Hagel ahead of the trade deadline. https://t.co/3BM9BkqMQO

— NHL Trade Talk (@nhl_tradetalk) February 15, 2022

As per Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli, the NHL insider reports that four teams have officially inquired. He writes:

If you’re looking for this year’s version of a Blake Coleman or Barclay Goodrow addition, look no further than Hagel, who has generated significant interest in Chicago. Provided that the Blackhawks’ high price is met, he’s a good bet to move (subject, of course, to the opinion of Chicago’s next GM). At least four teams are known to have engaged in conversation on Hagel: Florida, Toronto, New Jersey and Calgary.

Seravalli goes on to say that the Calgary Flames are likely now out of the running because of the assets they spent to trade for Tyler Toffoli. He also notes that the Toronto Maple Leafs were interested but their priority is improving their blue line. Because the cost to land Hagel will be at least a first-round pick plus a top prospect, teams are still in the mix, but not as many as were when the tire-kicking began.

Blackhawks Would Prefer to Move Other Options

Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times agrees with Seravalli’s report that teams are interested but writes that Hagel is virtually off the table. The Blackhawks absolutely don’t want to move the player and it will take a huge offer to see Chicago move on from the forward.

Instead, Pope writes that the Blackhawks are focused on moving other pieces. He explains:

Pending unrestricted free agents Marc-Andre Fleury and Calvin de Haan are the Hawks’ biggest trade chips. They rank third and 13th, respectively, in TSN’s leaguewide trade-bait rankings.

The Hawks happily would deal fellow pending UFAs Ryan Carpenter and Erik Gustafsson, too, if another team was interested. Pending restricted free agents Dylan Strome and Dominik Kubalik have been on the market for months already, even though there are persuasive arguments for keeping both.

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