The Bruins have climbed back into the picture early, sitting just three points behind the Hurricanes for first in the Eastern Conference. A lot of names have fueled that start, but none are as young - or as intriguing - as James Hagens.
At 20, Hagens has already become a major piece of Marco Sturm’s lineup. He’s sitting third on the team in points even though he’s averaging the fifth-fewest minutes, which says plenty about how much he’s squeezing out of every shift. The rookie has looked less like a kid hanging on and more like a player who belongs right away.
That fast start is now showing up in award chatter. Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis placed Hagens third on his Calder Trophy ladder, and the case is pretty straightforward. Ellis wrote:
“Hagens was a natural center throughout junior and college, but it’s never easy for a young player to come in and take on the added responsibility as a rookie. So it’s been nice watching Hagens thrive in a third-line role, where he has managed to put up 11 points through 15 games. That’s about a 60-point pace, which would be the second-best output by a Bruins rookie of the 21st century.”
The numbers back up the buzz. Hagens is tied for first among rookie skaters in goals, tied for second in assists and first in points. He’s also been a real factor on Boston’s power play, where he’s anchoring a second-unit group that has helped the Bruins convert 20 percent of their chances with the man advantage.
Ellis pointed to Hagens’ speed, two-way game and willingness to carry the puck through the middle of the ice as the traits driving that early production. Through the first fifth of the season, Hagens trailed only Canadiens netminder Jacob Fowler and Red Wings winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard on Ellis’ Calder list.
There’s still plenty of season left, but Hagens has already made a strong enough impression to put himself in the hardware conversation. His third-line role hasn’t slowed him down one bit, and his age-20 season is starting to look like the beginning of something bigger.
In Other News...
James Hagens Is Giving Bruins Fans A Reason To Believe
James Hagens gave Bruins fans an early jolt in a tense night against Vegas, opening the scoring in Bostons 3-2 win that needed overtime and a shootout to be settled. The result pushed the Bruins to 11-4-1 and offered another reminder that the rookie can already tilt a game in a meaningful moment, especially in a matchup that stayed tight from start to finish.
Boston still had to survive plenty after that fast start, with the Golden Knights pushing the game beyond regulation and forcing the Bruins into a skills competition. Jeremy Swayman handled everything Vegas threw at him in the shootout, and David Pastrnak delivered the finishing touch, but Hagens goal was the kind of spark that made the night feel like more than just another two points. [Read more 🡒]
Marco Sturm Turned A Bruins Win Into A Charlie McAvoy Debate
The Bruins left Vegas with a shootout win, but the postgame conversation quickly shifted away from the result and toward Charlie McAvoys night. Bostons top defenseman was whistled for a pair of minor penalties, and one of them opened the door for Golden Knights captain Mark Stone to cash in on the power play, a sequence that made the Bruins discipline a central issue even in victory.
Marco Sturm didnt let the win soften his view of McAvoys decisions, using his postgame comments to zero in on the defensemans emotional control. For a Bruins team still trying to build cleaner habits, the coachs critique turned a good result into a reminder that the margin for error shrinks fast when one of your most important players starts spending too much time in the box. [Read more 🡒]
Bruins Fans Are Starting To Push Back On Marco Sturms Hagens Plan
James Hagens has given the Bruins plenty to like in the opening stretch of his rookie season, and that has naturally led to a bigger conversation about how quickly his role should grow. The young forward has looked comfortable enough to make fans and some observers wonder why he is not being leaned on more when games tighten up, especially with Boston looking for reliable options it can trust in key moments.
Marco Sturm, though, has been measured about that next step. He has pointed to the need to build Hagens up gradually and has been wary of handing him more late-game responsibility too soon, a stance that is starting to draw pushback from a fan base eager to see the rookie rewarded for his strong start. The debate now is less about whether Hagens belongs and more about how much the Bruins are willing to ask of him right away. [Read more 🡒]