There were high hopes for James Hagens when the Boston Bruins drafted him seventh overall in 2025. And early on in his first full season in the NHL, he is not only proving the Bruins right, but he may be exceeding those expectations.
Through the first 16 games of the season, the Boston College alum has six goals (second-most on the Bruins; David Pastrnak has eight) and six assists. Not only is he looking like an early candidate for the Rookie of the Year award this season, but he is already proving that he might establish himself as a long-term franchise cornerstone.
James Hagens has been incredible for the Bruins
There's a lot to like about Hagens and what he brings to the table (or, I guess, the ice) in Boston. He is already proving that he can be a high-level goal scorer and dynamic playmaker, but he also brings a ton of energy on the defensive side of the puck.
Hagens is also displaying a high-level IQ, which is impressive for someone who just turned 20 years old only a couple of days ago. He has great vision, and he is showing that he can make good and quick decisions constantly.
A lot of what Hagens is producing might not be sustainable (he most likely won't end the season with a 20% shooting rate, which he currently has), and he is also benefiting from playing on the third line, where he doesn't have a ton of responsibility and can continue finding his footing (if he continues playing like this, head coach Marco Sturm may have no choice but to promote him eventually). But even so, he is showing a lot of promise early in his NHL career, and that's exactly what Boston needed to see.
James Hagens is a long-term asset for the Bruins
Hagens has a ton of potential, and if what he is showing right now is even a small glimpse into what his future will hold, then there are reasons to think he is going to be a big-time contributor to the Bruins for years to come.
As it stands, the Bruins should be a legitimate playoff race for the foreseeable future (they made the playoffs last season before getting eliminated by the Buffalo Sabres in the first round in six games, and they are 11-4-1 right now, which leads the Atlantic Division), but players like Hagens can help them extend their window.
It's too early to definitively say Hagens is going to be a star or anything like that, but there's no denying that he has looked great with the Bruins so far, and there is no telling just how high his ceiling is.
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