Dont worry I wouldn’t do it either

I've been reading that MAF won't go to Edmonton, and Hagel would likely be on the third line in Edmonton... and 3rd line winger is about the last thing on the priority list. So it's not really worth discussing.

Hagel is better than Hyman, JP, Yams, and Kane in my opinion.

I'm glad you added those last 3 words.

Hagel:
14G 13A 27 pts in 44 games. 0.62 ppg (on pace for 50 points)

Hyman:
16G 14A 30 pts in 42 games .71 ppg (on pace for 58 points)

JP:
12G 16A 28 pts in 46 games. 0.6 ppg (on pace for 50 points)

Yams:
9G 9A 18 pts in 48 games. 0.38 ppg (on pace for 31 points)

Kane is definitely better offensively but just not that great defensivly compared to Hagel or other guys on this list even. Hagel is also easily the best defensive forward on this list also. The argument people like to make that he plays with Kane and Cat doesn't apply here cuz all these guys play with Mcdavid and Drai. None of this even factors in the initial argument about trade value, where Hagel will be cheaper than all these guys the next two seasons. He's also only been in the league for two years.

Clearly you've never watched Puljujarvi play. You know why he plays with McDavid a lot? Because he's a turnover machine, he creates chaos for defensemen trying to move the puck.

I just looked up the numbers: the Hawks give up more goals, expected goals, scoring chances and high danger corsi when Hagel is on the ice than when he's on the bench. This despite him getting 67% offensive zone starts!!.

Stop trying to bill him as being good defensively.