Boston Bruins
“It’s not solely that he’s creating probabilities and getting his factors – we all know he can do this – he’s actually rather more well-rounded now.”
On the identical ice that James Hagens will quickly name dwelling, the Bruins’ prime prospect had the chance to hoist some {hardware}.
The dynamic heart performed a key half in serving to Boston School win its first Beanpot event since 2016 on Monday — recording two assists within the Eagles’ 6-2 win over Boston College at TD Backyard.
For his efforts, Hagens was named 2026 Beanpot MVP after scoring two targets and 5 whole factors over the two-game event.
“It’s simply thrilling to have the ability to get this trophy, not just for us, however for our college and all of the followers that confirmed up at present,” Hagens said postgame. “It means lots. We had a pair guys that performed with us that have been in a position to come again and be right here tonight. To have the ability to have their assist is superior – an enormous assist.”
Hagens — chosen within the first spherical (No. 7 general) within the 2025 NHL Draft by Boston — now has a team-leading 31 factors over 24 video games with the Eagles throughout his sophomore season.
Drafted with the expectation of being a playmaking top-six heart in Boston, Hagens has largely frolicked on the wing over the previous couple of months with the Eagles.
However BC head coach Greg Brown stated that he’s been impressed with how Hagens has developed in all features of his recreation amid his second yr at Chestnut Hill.
“James is at all times in a position to create offense. You get drafted that top for a purpose – due to the offensive facet of the puck, which is the toughest factor to do. However what we’ve actually been impressed with is how he’s rounded out his recreation,” Brown stated of Hagens. “We need to put him out now once we’re defending the lead in opposition to the opposite staff’s prime gamers as a result of he’s actually added so many dimensions of element.
“It’s not solely that he’s creating probabilities and getting his factors – we all know he can do this – he’s actually rather more well-rounded now. And credit score to him for working onerous on that stuff.”
Hagens — certainly one of 5 totally different Bruins prospects on BC’s roster — wasn’t the one Bruins product to impress on Monday night time in opposition to the Terriers.
BC senior captain Andre Gasseau (2021 seventh-round choose) additionally scored two targets for the Eagles on Causeway Avenue, whereas Bruins 2024 first-round choose Dean Letourneau additionally lit the lamp within the victory.
Gasseau now has 15 factors in 13 video games amid his remaining collegiate marketing campaign.
“Not simply the offense; he brings the whole lot to us. He’s the primary over the boards on the PK, first over the boards on the ability play,” Brown stated of Gasseau, who centered a line subsequent to Hagens on Monday. “He performs in opposition to the opposite staff’s prime gamers; he wins faceoffs. He actually does the whole lot. Taking part in heart, controlling the ice down low within the defensive zone. There’s not something that he’s not doing for us.”
Hagens has been as marketed as a talented playmaking ahead because the Bruins drafted him. However Letourneau’s emergence as a sophomore has been a significant growth for Boston’s burgeoning pipeline of younger expertise.
After scoring zero targets and simply three factors over 36 video games as a freshman, the 6-foot-7 Letourneau leads the Eagles with 16 targets over 26 video games — whereas including a further 12 assists.
Whereas it stays to be seen when Letourneau will make the leap to the professional ranks, the writing is on the wall that Hagens may very well be taking part in for the Bruins as quickly as late March or early April after the Eagles’ season wraps.
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