Boston Bruins
“They’re giving me a chance right here. So it is as much as me to benefit from it.”
PROVIDENCE — It’s been a frantic couple of days for James Hagens.
Simply days after his sophomore season at Boston School came to a crushing end in the Hockey East semifinals, the 19-year-old ahead was again on the frozen sheet on Tuesday.
Besides this time, he took to the ice at Windfall’s Amica Mutual Pavilion. His maroon-and-gold sweater? Traded in … for black-and-gold gear.
The Bruins’ blue-chip teenager has a lot left on his to-do listing. In any case, he hasn’t even moved out of his dorm at Chestnut Hill.
However Hagens — Boston’s greatest expertise to come back via its prospect pipeline in over a decade — has extra urgent issues in the meanwhile.
Particularly, discovering his footing in professional hockey.
And making a compelling case for a spot in Boston’s lineup amid a frantic playoff push.
“Simply wanting a chance, need to have the ability to go on the market and present your recreation,” Hagens stated Tuesday after his first skate with the Windfall Bruins. “You’re employed for this your entire life. So to have the ability to have a chance, to have the ability to go after this and play [Wednesday] night time, it’s one thing that’s actually particular.”
Hagens, who signed an AHL amateur tryout agreement (ATO) on Monday night, received’t be on the ice Tuesday at TD Backyard as Boston performs host to the Maple Leafs.
The expert ahead — chosen seventh general within the 2025 NHL Draft — will take his first steps as a professional with the Bruins’ AHL affiliate in Windfall, beginning with a street tilt towards the Springfield Thunderbirds on Wednesday night (7:05 p.m. puck drop).
For Windfall head coach Ryan Mougenel, exposing Hagens to the elevated competitors and physicality discovered within the AHL shall be essential for his growth, particularly as he readies for a featured function in Boston shifting ahead.
“I hope he takes loads away,” Mougenel stated of Hagens’ upcoming tenure with a Windfall crew sporting a league-leading 47 wins over 61 video games this season. “I believe the most important factor is how the Bruins play. I believe that’s actually necessary. And our basis? They’re vertical inside the group.
“Issues that we worth are the identical issues that Marco [Sturm] and his employees worth. So I believe that’s one factor I need him to remove, is there’s a sure normal for a way we play and the way the Bruins play.”
In fact, that doesn’t imply that Mougenel and his employees will attempt to curtail Hagens’ strengths as an elite playmaker and offensive menace within the professional ranks. Even together with his 5-foot-11 body, Hagens is adept at creating area for himself via elite edge work, a pointy hockey IQ, and crisp passing.
After posting 47 factors (23 objectives, 24 assists) over 34 video games with the Eagles this season, Hagens will open his professional profession on Windfall’s prime line at wing subsequent to P-Bruins captain Patrick Brown and Matej Blumel.
Given Hagens’ draft pedigree, robust collegiate stat line, and upside as a possible franchise fixture, the case may have been made that Hagens warranted a spot within the NHL immediately.
However Hagens dismissed any discuss of frustration about starting his profession towards AHL competitors.
“I like it,” Hagens stated of beginning in Windfall. “Nothing’s given, the whole lot’s earned. So it’s simply understanding that it’s important to earn a spot wherever you go. In order that’s going on the market — it’s working your hardest. It’s making an attempt to indicate the whole lot you labored for. Hopefully it pays off.”
Hagens stated he already acquired a congratulatory textual content message from Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy after placing pen to paper on his ATO deal.
Hagens may comply with an analogous profession trajectory to the one McAvoy adopted within the spring of 2017.
After two standout seasons at Boston College, McAvoy signed his ATO with Windfall in March 2017 — finally enjoying 4 video games towards AHL foes whereas getting acclimated to the professional recreation.
When accidents considerably hampered the Bruins’ D corps going into the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs, Boston signed McAvoy to his entry-level contract — clearing a path for him to play his first NHL video games throughout postseason motion towards the Senators.
If Hagens thrives over the subsequent few video games with Windfall, the Bruins may choose to signal him to his ELC — including him to Boston’s lineup as a late-season spark with factors at a premium.
In fact, a few of that may fall on Hagens to take away all doubt about his skill to carry his personal at hockey’s highest stage.
“Hopefully going on the market, displaying the whole lot you’re employed for, showcasing your recreation, making an attempt to be accountable, incomes the coach’s belief. That’s an enormous factor if you wish to get known as up,” Hagens stated of his method with the P-Bruins.
Hagens will endure some rising pains in Windfall. Even when he routinely dictated phrases within the offensive zone towards Hockey East opponents, oftentimes three to 5 years older than him, Hagens should make changes when battling alongside the boards towards seasoned veterans at this stage.
These bumps within the street are a part of the method for Mougenel and his employees in participant growth. Nevertheless, Windfall’s bench boss isn’t discounting Hagens’ skill to treatment these preliminary struggles.
“The one factor I did say to James right now is the American League is a extremely good league, and there’s going to be instances you is perhaps slightly bit pissed off,” Mougenel stated. “It’s completely pure. It’s a part of the method.
“It’s a part of understanding what you possibly can and what you possibly can’t do. There’ll be these educating moments. … You don’t get the success that James has had by not being inquisitive and placing the time in.”
Hagens hasn’t had a lot time to sit down nonetheless and middle himself in current days.
However together with his professional debut slated for Wednesday night time, the Bruins’ star prospect is making an attempt to remain the place his skates are and never look too far forward.
It’s a mindset that might have him again on Causeway Road briefly order.
“Simply go on the market — give it your all,” Hagens stated of the Bruins’ brass’ message to him. “They’re giving me a chance right here. So it’s as much as me to benefit from it.”
Get the most recent Boston sports activities information
Obtain updates in your favourite Boston groups, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.
