Hagens arrives on the NHL stage
James Hagens made an immediate impact in his NHL debut, recording his first career point in the Bruins’ 3–2 win while showcasing the skill and two-way play that has fans excited for what is to come.
Photo courtesy of Hendrick Seis/Wikimedia Commons
Since going seventh overall in the 2025 National Hockey League (NHL) Draft, fans have been anxiously awaiting 19-year-old forward James Hagens’s debut with the Boston Bruins. Hagens has been lighting it up at Boston College, becoming a Hobey Baker Award finalist and earning 47 total points over 34 games.
Hagens was the favorite heading into the NHL draft and was expected to go first overall to the New York Islanders, which would have kept the Long Island native in the place he knows best. As the hype around defenseman Matthew Schaefer and center Michael Misa grew, Hagens fell into the background, which was perfect for the Boston Bruins.
After the Boston College Eagles’ season ended, Hagens spent two weeks with the American Hockey League (AHL) Providence Bruins on an amateur tryout agreement, where he appeared in six games and recorded one goal and three assists. On Apr. 8, the Bruins signed Hagens to a three-year entry-level contract with an annual NHL cap hit of 975,000 dollars.
Following his signing, he made his NHL debut on Sunday, Apr. 12, against the Columbus Blue Jackets. This was not just a run-of-the-mill game; the 3-2 win helped to determine their final seed for the postseason, and Hagens had a part in that win.
After starting the rush up the ice with a pass out of the defensive zone and forechecking a Blue Jackets player to help the Bruins regain possession, Hagens earned his first NHL point from a secondary assist on defenseman Henri Jokiharju’s goal. This level of play that he showcased in just his first NHL game speaks volumes as to the type of player he was at Boston College and will be in his career.
Boston College head coach Greg Brown spoke on Hagens, saying, “His offensive game was always there, and he still continues to develop it…He’s only 19 years old now, but I think he took huge steps in the rest of his game, becoming a 200-foot player, defensive awareness, defensive detail — all those things that you’re going to need to play in the NHL, James really improved on this year, so it’s great to see.”
Hagens skated on a line with forwards Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov, and finished the game with one assist, one shot on goal, and three shot attempts in his 13:08 minutes of ice time. He also recorded his first penalty with a hooking on Blue Jackets forward Charlie Coyle. His line produced more shots, more scoring attempts, and chances than they gave up—not complete domination, but definitely NHL calibre playing.
It was a special night not just for the Bruins and their fans, but for Hagens’s family as well. In total, 13 of Hagens’s family and friends flew to Columbus to be in attendance for his debut, including his mother, father, sister, and brother. To make the night even more memorable, the puck that signified his first NHL point was gifted to his mother, Kristin.
After the game, Hagens spoke on his debut, saying, “It was super cool… Really cool building to be able to get that win. It was special. Maybe stay out of the box. But it was a really cool game.”
As the Bruins prepare for the postseason and the competition of playoff hockey, Hagens’s debut offered a glimmer of hope to fans of what his time with the Bruins could mean for the organization. Bruins fans have a lot to look forward to with James Hagens on their roster, and so does Hagens.