James Hagens knows exactly what comes with being the Bruins’ highest draft pick in more than a decade. He also knows there’s only one real way to handle it: show up, work, and let everything else fade into the background.
The 19-year-old, selected No. 7 overall in 2025, is back in the Boston area after a few weeks at home in New York following the World Championships, and he’ll be here all summer as rookie and training camps approach. His routine is already set at Warrior Ice Arena, where he’s working out Monday through Friday and spending four of those days on the ice.
That kind of steady, no-drama approach fits the moment for a Bruins team that is clearly leaning into a youth movement. Hagens is part of that group alongside Fraser Minten, Marat Khusnutdinov and Matt Poitras. Boston has made some offseason changes, but they’ve been more tune-ups than overhaul: JJ Peterka was added to the top-six forward mix, Viktor Arvidsson departed for Detroit, Will Borgen came in to help the right side of the defense, and Andrew Peeke signed with Utah.
So there’s space here for internal growth. And for Hagens, there’s also the reality that comes with being the organization’s highest pick since Tyler Seguin went second overall in 2010.
The expectations are obvious. The pressure is obvious.
Social media only cranks that volume higher.
Hagens, though, doesn’t sound like a player getting swallowed by it. He says he’s “not much of a phone person,” and his mindset is all about controlling what he can control.
“Something that’s been great for me is (the belief) I’m only in control of my own abilities. I control what I can do.
I’m not worried about what other people’s opinions are about me. I just want to be able to give it my all,” Hagens told the Herald after a workout in Brighton this past Friday.
“Everyone holds themselves to a high standard and so do I. I know how hard I have to push it and I know when I have to be better.
Pressure is a privilege is something my dad would always say. You come to the rink with a smile on your face, and you don’t worry about outside noise.
You just go about your day.”
That groundedness isn’t an accident. Hagens points to his parents, Kristine and Michael, both schoolteachers, for keeping him rooted.
“You should never forget where you came from,” said Hagens, who has been finishing up some work from his second semester that was interrupted by his new profession. “I was so lucky and fortunate enough to have two parents that were able to sacrifice so much for me, my sister (Emma) and my brother (Michael). They were the best parents in the world and I’m super grateful to be able to grow up with role models like that.”
There was a clear glimpse of how Hagens can look more comfortable in the middle when he played center for Team USA at the World Championships, after starting out on the wing. But he isn’t treating position like a battle line. If the Bruins need him somewhere, he’s focused on being useful there.
“It’s not really the position as much as I just want to be able to play,” Hagens said. “I love center.
I love playing wing as well. You just want to be put out there and whatever you’re told to play, you want to feel comfortable while playing and really learning.
That just comes with experience.”
The experience at the World Championships mattered, even without a medal for that very young American team. Hagens said the chance to be around so many established players was a major takeaway.
“It was great to be able to learn from all those players, coming from all different teams,” he said. “Just a couple of months ago, I was watching those guys in my college dorm room.
And to be a part of that and to be around them every day was really special. They were great guys and I had a great experience and time.”
Now the focus shifts to what comes next. Hagens is still adding strength to his 5-foot-11, 177-pound frame, and he’s also working on faceoffs and his shot.
The offensive profile has already evolved once at Boston College. As a freshman, he played alongside future NHLers Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perrault and posted 11-26-37, which fit his role as more of a distributor.
Last season, he showed another layer, scoring 23 goals and finishing with 23-24-47 in 34 games.
That balance between passing and shooting is the part he’s still refining.
“You have to be able to know the right time to shoot and the right time to pass it,” Hagens said. “It’s being able to read the play and be able to think on the spot.”
And while there’s opportunity ahead, there’s no shortage of competition either. If Hagens opens on the wing, he’ll be fighting for ice time - and maybe a roster spot - against more experienced players such as Alex Steeves, Mikey Eyssimont and Lukas Reichel.
He’s not expecting any shortcuts.
“This is the National Hockey League. Every day is a grind.
You have to bring your best every single time you show up here. It’s going to be tough,” Hagens said.
“But it’s just exciting. It’s an exciting time for me.
This is my dream. I’m living out the dream I had as a kid.”
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