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Brandon Hagel Injury Update
Brandon Hagel suffered an upper-body injury likely a concussion during the Tampa Bay Lightning's 5-2 loss to the Florida Panthers on December 15, 2025, and hasn't returned since. @GinoHard_ reported on X that Brandon Hagel left the game in the 3rd period after a hit from Seth Jones and did not return. Hagel had previously suffered a concussion in April from a playoff hit by Aaron Ekblad.
The hit came late in the third period, and right now, as of December 17, the Lightning are calling it day-to-day with no firm timeline, which stings for a guy who's been carrying the load this season. You can feel the frustration building around the league; these kinds of injuries pile up, especially in heated rivalries like Lightning-Panthers.
What Happened to Brandon Hagel?
Hagel got leveled by a forearm/elbow to the head from Panthers defenseman Seth Jones along the boards. He was stopping up at the blue line, puck on his stick, when Jones braked hard but led with that elbow replays show it catching Hagel square in the noggin, rocking him immediately. @Diandra_loux posted on X a look at Seth Jones leading with his elbow on a hit against Brandon Hagel, who did not return to the game. #GoBolts
No penalty on the ice, no suspension from NHL Player Safety after review, which has folks grumbling about consistency. It's the third head contact Hagel has taken from the Panthers since April, per some chatter online brutal pattern if true. Hagel skated off under his own power but looked wobbly, and that was it for the night; 13 minutes played, two shots, one hit, minus-one. Reminds you of those gritty moments where a split-second changes everything Hagel just crumpled like he'd been sledgehammered.
Kinda wild how these Florida-Tampa clashes turn into injury fests. Last spring, there was that Ekblad high hit on him too. Anyway, the Lightning kept it vague postgame: upper body, evaluating. Concussion protocol feels obvious from the footage, though no official word yet.
When Will Brandon Hagel Return?
No exact return date yet; he's day-to-day ahead of Thursday's home game against the Kings, pending medical tests. If it's a concussion, we're talking anywhere from a few games to weeks Hagel's had them before, so caution rules. Tampa Bay's next update should drop soon, maybe after practice, but with Olympics looming in early February, every day counts for Team Canada hopefuls like him.
Hope it's quick. The guy's a heart-and-soul player; the Lightning are thinner without him grinding those shifts. Cross fingers for good news by the weekend league moves fast, injuries slower.
Brandon Hagel Stats
Hagel's been a beast this year: 18 goals, 31 points in 32 games, pushing nearly a point-per-game pace even in a recent mini-slump.Here's a quick look at his season snap:
|
Stat |
Total |
Per Game Avg |
|---|---|---|
|
Goals |
18 |
0.56 |
|
Assists |
13 |
0.41 |
|
Points |
31 |
0.97 |
|
Shots |
~85 |
2.66 |
|
Hits |
High |
Grinder |
Disclaimer:
This Brandon Hagel injury update is based on the latest available reports as of December 17, 2025. Injury statuses can change quickly always check official Tampa Bay Lightning or NHL sources for real-time updates. Stats and details are approximate and subject to official confirmation. Not medical advice; fan info only.
