Lightning Have Found Their Ondrej Palat Replacement

Photo by Mark LoMoglio/NHLI via Getty ImagesLast season when Julien BriseBois and the Tampa Bay Lightning acquired Brandon Hagel, they paid a hefty price for a young winger on an affordable contract. The Lightning received Hagel and a 2022 and 2024 fourth round pick from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forwards Taylor Raddysh, Boris Katchouk, a 2023 1st round pick, and 2024 1st round pick.

You can almost divide the trade into two distinct parts of Hagel for the two first round picks, and Raddysh and Katchouk for the two fourth round picks. The Lightning needed to move Raddysh and Katchouk to make salary cap space for Hagel and two fourth round picks is roughly what both should have…