By: Chad Jones | Follow me on Twitter/X @ShutUpChadJones
The Boston Bruins wanted to be cautious with James Hagens, and for good reason. The Bruins drafted Hagens seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft and have officially brought him up to the big club.
Earlier this week, Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney inked the former Boston College Eagle to a three-year entry-level contract. Hagens had played in six games with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, scoring one goal and recording three assists.
There was a buzz around Hagens since the Bruins drafted him last year. And many were clamoring for the young winger to immediately join the NHL when he decided to move on from college. But the timing worked out well for both parties.
Practice Makes Perfect
Following their overtime defeat to the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night, Boston had three full days off before their next game on Saturday, a rarity in this season’s condensed schedule. The Bruins’ signing of Hagens this week gave Bruins Head Coach Marco Sturm and his staff time to acclimate him to their structure.
Getting extra practice time before putting on the Spoked-B for an official game is definitely beneficial. That process had to have helped Hagens ease into this situation.
Home Sweet Home
The Bruins’ schedule for the rest of the regular season contains two games at TD Garden and one game in Columbus against the Blue Jackets. Hagens would feel a lot more comfortable taking his first NHL warmup skate in Boston, or at least not having to play in multiple road games first.
There was no need to rush him up to the Bruins with the Black and Gold on a grueling four-game road trip. Getting a chance to perform in front of the home fans should calm Hagens’ nerves.
Limited Pressure
The Bruins are currently in the top wild card spot in the tight Eastern Conference. With a record of 43-26-10, Boston will almost certainly reach the playoffs.
With already 96 points banked, they would need to lose in regulation over their last three contests for it to even be a possibility of missing the playoffs. Moreover, another team below them in the standings would have to grab all six points.
Hagens is not coming into a full-on pressure-cooker schedule slate. It is important that the Bruins finish strong, but they should not need to rely on Hagens to be spectacular to make the playoffs.
Boston could not have picked a better time in their schedule to give Hagens his first taste of NHL competition. It will be interesting to see when he is inserted into the Bruins’ lineup and how he adapts to the physicality, speed, and talent of this level.
The Bruins are back home this afternoon for a matinee tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Boston then travels to Columbus for an important game against the Blue Jackets Sunday night before ending the regular season with a home game against the New Jersey Devils Tuesday. If you want to see the Black and Gold in person at TD Garden or on the road before the season ends, consider using this official StubHub Ticket-affiliated link here for the most competitive concert and sporting event tickets in the North American region.
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