( Photo Credit: Eric Canha / Imagn Images ) 

By: Andrew Patten | Follow me on Twitter / x @a_patten11

The James Hagens hype train began in June 2025. The Bruins selected the Boston College forward seventh overall in the NHL Draft after a stellar freshman year. He followed up with a campaign worthy of the Hobey Baker Award. As a sophomore, Hagens posted 23 goals and 24 assists in 34 games. He led a B.C. team that ranked in the Top 20 offensively in college hockey. Unfortunately, he couldn’t carry the Eagles to a Hockey East championship; B.C. lost to UConn in the semi-finals last Friday night at TD Garden.

As ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported during Saturday night’s Bruins-Red Wings broadcast, James Hagens is expected to turn pro as the Eagles fell short of making the NCAA tournament. The key question: when he signs, does he go straight to the Boston Bruins lineup or spend time with Providence in the AHL? Most fans want the 2025 First-Rounder in Boston, but that may be less urgent now—thanks to Lukas Reichel.

Now, it’s only been two games for the German forward, but he’s shown off the skill set that made him the 17th overall selection in the 2020 NHL Draft. After spending a weekend with Providence, where he posted five points in three games for the Baby B’s, Reichel was called up to the big club on an emergency basis and slotted into the third-line left wing role immediately in the Bruins’ win over the Winnipeg Jets last Thursday.

A role that’s been a revolving door for the team in the last couple of months, cycling between Mikey Eyssimont and Alex Steeves. Reichel made an impact right away, using his speed to get in on the forecheck and taking advantage of a fortunate bounce to net his first goal as a Boston Bruin. He would add an assist later in the game to finish his Bruins debut with a two-point night and earned praise from his head coach and fellow countrymen.

The Reichel-Lindholm-Geekie line performed well enough to earn another look in the Motor City last Saturday night. Reichel again showed off his speed, putting some pressure on Detroit’s defense, which helped lead to Elias Lindholm’s tying goal in the third period. That wasn’t the only time in this game Reichel caused the Red Wings’ headaches.

Late in the third, Reichel was able to break free behind Detroit’s defense, getting hooked on a breakaway. He was awarded a penalty shot but couldn’t beat Red Wings goalie John Gibson to increase Boston’s lead. He would finish the night without a point, but had a plus-one rating in almost 11 minutes of action. There’s no doubt the 23-year-old forward has helped jump-start Boston’s third line.

Given this recent success, the question remains: Has it been enough to keep Hagens off the NHL roster? That remains to be seen. It’s hard to judge based on just two games. Reichel showed NHL success with the Chicago Blackhawks, but couldn’t stay consistent. Still, if Boston doesn’t want to rush Hagens, Reichel has proven capable of filling a spot that’s been a black hole for the Bruins in recent months.