By: Declan Flavin | Follow me on Twitter / X @FlavinDeclan
The strategies of what has been an up and down Boston Bruins power play this season will be debated by fans probably until the end of time. More decisive moves from the unit regardless of potential outcome wouldn’t hurt, and perhaps cutting the patented drop pass, but there’s also another convenience that the team could use around now.
A certain someone with the Providence Bruins has been excelling at just the situation the Bruins struggle with during the man advantage. Adding him now could create a consistency down the line for an area of the team that matters the most.
James Hagens: The Stopgap
In situations before with a young potential call-up like Hagens, it’s not always a roster depletion but a situational obstacle that can grant them their chance. With recent scoring totals being lower on the road for the National Hockey League squad, consistent entries on the man advantage leading to more output would push them to new limits.
It’s not always a details thing for the powerplay entries either, as the seasonal inconsistency of the powerplay expresses also somewhat of a lack of the right personnel. David Pastrnak and others tend to struggle here and there with hesitation before making certain moves, something that was ailed by a veteran like Patrice Bergeron and could be with a decisive prospect like Hagens.
Whether general manager Don Sweeney identifies the 5-4 unit to be that in need of outside aid is another discussion, but he’ll start to feel the heat depending on the results of the last three games. There’s only so much the current roster can do in a whole season before needing that last bit of help to get them to an encouraging playoff spot.
The Jacobs family and the city of Boston want a cemented postseason spot that doesn’t pass by in a short week. If the unaided power play unit hesitates and is unable to enter the zone like they did late against the Carolina Hurricanes, any playoff conversations will be short-lived.
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