James Hagens arrives at Bruins training camp with a real opportunity in front of him, and the preseason could determine whether his role stays where it is or grows fast.
The Bruins’ seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is already one of the most closely watched prospects in the organization. He is expected to be a regular in the lineup, but what he does before the games count will matter. A strong showing could push him into a larger spot than the one currently projected for him.
Hagens already got a brief taste of pro hockey last season. After wrapping up his year at Boston College with 23 goals and 24 assists for 47 points, he moved on to the professional level.
He went to the Providence Bruins of the AHL and made noise right away, posting one goal and three assists for four points in six games. That performance led to a call-up to the NHL, where he appeared in five games across the regular season and playoffs.
The next step is the harder one: proving his game can scale up against NHL competition. The biggest adjustment from college or junior hockey is the pace and the physical edge, and Hagens has already seen enough of it to know what’s coming. That experience should help him prepare and shape his offseason work around the demands of the pro game.
What the Bruins need now is for his offense to travel with him. If he can create the same kind of production he had at Boston College, it would be a major lift for the lineup.
The source material points to that kind of jump helping push Boston’s offense into the top five in the NHL. It could also earn him more ice time than originally expected.
For now, he is projected to play wing on the third line. But if he starts producing consistently, that spot may not hold for long. A productive preseason would be the clearest way to open the door to the top six.
That’s why his playmaking will be under the microscope. The Bruins want to see him setting up teammates and using the skating that has made him such a highly regarded prospect.
If he ends up among the highest point-getters in camp, it would be a boost for both Hagens and the organization. It would give him confidence that he can carry his offense to the NHL, and it would give Boston a clearer sign that he is ready for more.
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