If history is anything to go by, Brandon Hagel was never meant to be anything in the NHL, a fringe third line player at most, just like every other sixth round pick in the NHL, but what he has achieved is leaps and bounds better than what he should've in the NHL. Ever since joining Tampa Bay, his game has reached new levels.
Friday, the talented Russian forward prospect signed a two-year contract extension with the Washington Capitals. The deal will pay him $900k in 2026-27 ($850k salary + $50k signing bonus) and $950k in 2027-28 ($925k salary + $50k signing bonus). His cap hit will be $925k. Miroshnichenko was set to be a restricted free agent over the summer. The deal was negotiated by his new agent, Dan Milstein of Gold Star Hockey.
Tavares seems to be the most underrated leader on this team and possibly in the entire NHL. He had the awareness to walk away from the captaincy, hand it over to a player in Auston Matthews who is the true future of the franchise and was already the leader on the ice, and then took a massive pay cut to remain with the Leafs and give them enough financial flexibility to possibly remain competitive.