Is James Hagens a Boston Bruin?
Well, James Hagens’ season with Boston College is over, and that has set the speculation wheel in motion about whether and when he will sign a contract with the Boston Bruins. People are already placing him in the Bruins lineup, and that may very well happen, but he does have options. In this video, I wanted to break down what type of season and how James Hagens has progressed this season and weigh all the options in front of him. In the end, I will share my opinion and hopefully spark some discussion about it in the comments below.
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34 Comments
What do you think Hagens will do?
Providence gets a huge boost and goes on a championship run. Rumors are Hagens isn't happy, but promised a spot in September.
Don’t rush the kid into the frontline now. Let him mature a bit and put on some weight and knowledge of the jump he’s about to make. Then throw him in some preseason and reg season games next year .
Lots to unpack. I think Hagens should start in Providence for a few reasons and I'm guessing that's what the Bruins want too. I think that people forget that most likely Hagens would be on Poitras' wing and Poitras is an NHL level player on a tear right now, so I think it would be very helpful for the Bruins to see how Hagens plays with him. Plus, while PVD continues to dominate they could use someone to fill the void Locmelis left. If Reichel all of a sudden turns into Steeves, then bring Hagens up after some games in PVD to see how he does. The problem with all this is Hagens is seeing his BC teammates just jump directly into the NHL and I'm guessing he feels he could do the same. However, the B's are in a tight playoff race which could go either way and they seem to have found a lineup that's keeping them afloat right now. I would not mess with that and how would the players feel about that? The Bruins also play a very defensive focused style of play, which he will not be used to. It's not the time to find out what Hagens can or cannot do. Hagens has played wing all season at BC – he isn't all of a sudden going to be put up as 1C with no NHL experience. Everyone needs to temper their expectations. I'm excited for him to join the roster next season, but I don't think now is the time.
Hagens in the Bruins lineup next week. They need something more to make the playoffs. He's their best card to play. So they'll play it. Hagens himself isn't likely to see himself as not NHL ready. So, here we go!
Sit kuraly put khusnutdinov on 4th line center put hagens with pasta minten problem solved.
As much as I would love hagens in the nhl right now, I don’t really think there is a spot for him to slide into. Him taking Lukas’ spot is where I would put him, but he’s been pretty good since joining Boston. The other lines are also coming together so I would slot him into providence where he can get experience and adopt there winning culture this year. Unrelated to the video, last nights win was the most ecstatic I’ve been following a win since game 7 against the leafs in their last playoff birth.
Now what happens with Matthew Poitras?
I don't see the point of him going to Providence, other than the Bruins don't want to lose a year of his eligibility. They had McAvoy right into the lineup when they signed him. Just bring him up and see what happens. He can skate, pass and score. We still don't have that in the lineup other than a couple guys
No idea, but I am interested in seeing how it plays out.
Unless we have key injuries or fall out of the playoff race, we won't see him until next fall.
I think he should stay in school and finish his degree.
I wish he would go to provy for a bit I know Hagens will not want that.
AHL will put hair on his chest
The contract stuff is complicated.
Thank goodness we have Court!
I'd guess, see how he does in Providence with Mogenul first.
They are firmly in a playoff berth, Wilkes-Barre will have to win all the rest of their games and Providence Bears lose more than half of theirs to drop from first seed.
That's where I would feel comfortable experimenting with a new player.
If he can get some NHL ice time, that certainly would be good for his off-season training to feel that speed.
I don't picture Bruins organization gambling with this asset, nor with their current playoff trajectory. The top two lines are gelling.
Proceed with caution.
James and Michael made it a point to choose the same college, Michael backing out of his Harvard commitment to play with James.
they like Boston, being close to home. Any chance of seeing Michael in black and gold?
The LD position is pretty full but, don't know if that would be feasible or logical?
Michael is older but he was considered the same sophomore year as James?
they've gone to a lot of effort to play together.
wondering if that could continue?
Or be logical. I'm not sure Michael would end up on NHL ice that quickly,
But they would be with the same franchise.
Start off their professional careers in the same locker room
I like Reichel so far!? I like his speed and determination forechecking and back checking!? It was cool seeing him get that goal in hos 1st game! I hope he fits in and is able to finally break out in Boston!?
I’m hopeful that the Bruins will have him finish the season with Providence and get his opportunity next year
the bruins are NOT signing him to play for the team blowing a year of his contract. maybe providence.
Hagens needs time to grow and develop. Providence is a good starting point, in my opinion.
I thought if he signs now, you won't necessarily burn a year of his contract until he plays at least 8 or 9 games? So if he plays less than that the first does not kick in until the year after?
Why does everyone want him in providence when guys like Cole Hutson play in the nhl right away and look great?
What is he gonna learn at the ahl level? He’s already 194 pounds at 5’11” he’s filled out already
Whatever Pasta's saying about loving the guys on his current line, he hasn't played with Hagens yet. Hagens could well end up being the Adam Oates to Pasta's Cam Neely.
Hagens' passing and playmaking is elite. Pasta should (eventually) score 70 goals with Hagens feeding him.
Thx Court. Hagen sees what we all see; the East is wide open if you make the playoffs and the Bs could easily go play for the Cup. I would take Hagens in a bottom 6 role over Curaly, Essimont, Steeves and Reichel any day of the week. I honestly think Hagens is confident as a hell in his skills and if he produces and plays on the 2nd team power play, watch out NHL thecm Bs have a great chance at the final this spring!
Do people realize the almost only reason Boston in occupying a PO spot
is the play of Swayman? He is easily responsible for 14 points of standing on his head like Detroit last night and Washington a week ago and even the OTL loss in
Montreal. Thats 5 points in just 3 of his last 3 games where he was the difference maker.
The advance stats outside of goaltending is below PO grade for Boston.
So sign Hagens to an ELC, play him against Toronto and make an evaluation after that on what you do. This team us currently Swayman, Swayman, mire Swayman and special appearances by McAvoy, Pastrnak & Zacha. They need more high end skill.
Either route is good. You can imagine him injecting a lot of adrenaline into the lineup and TD Garden, but you have to live with the 19 year old mistakes in the middle of a playoff race also that will, not might, come. That's the trade off, and given his skill it might be worth it. The only reason McAvoy debuted in the playoffs in 2017 is because the Bruins were one injury shy of calling me to suit up
I truly like your videos, your opinion, what you have to discuss. Wish you said a little more with your chest. A little more passion would go a long way. Dont be afraid of pissing fans of, were Boston fans, most of us are opinionated. Just because we don't always agree doesn't mean I'll stop watching. You're close to being the best YouTube page talking bruins hockey. A co-host would go far for you. Just like commentary, having a soft spoken fan and someone with color, someone mad, someone that can sound upset or thrilled with what we have on ice. You're a soft spoken analysis that needs someone that speaks from his heart on his sleeve
Would love to have a private conversation about it
If I see one more person suggest Lukas Reichel should have literally any bearing whatsoever on Hagens’ immediate future, I am smashing my computer into a million pieces. The constant moving goal posts infuriate me. Of course Hagens will sign, but it’s obvious what he wants, and I believe there is a compelling argument that it’s best for both the player and the team to at least give him meaningful NHL minutes before the season is over. If we’re talking about playing a small handful of games in Providence as a runway into the rest of the season in the NHL that’s one thing. But this is not a Poitras situation. Hagens is 5’11, 194 pounds with amazing vision, heads-up play, hockey IQ and spatial awareness. He is hardly the vulnerable pipsqueak that some people are making him out to be. This doesn’t mean we think he’s going to step in and be our savior. Nobody expects that. But I worry that this is about two things…1) the Bruins want to avoid burning a year off his ELC. 2) the Bruins are scared to implement and develop a young player when the margin for error in making the playoffs is so thin. Both would be extremely problematic motivations for not playing him in the NHL in my opinion. You can’t drop him straight into NHL playoffs. But if you give him some time leading up to it playing in big games down the stretch, it could be some of the best experience for him imaginable. They have so many options. 1LW and 3LW are probably the most realistic options for him to play meaningful minutes in the NHL. They can move Khusnutdinov down. They can sit or even periodically rotate Reichel in for Hagens so he plays less than 10 games if they think they are going to miss the playoffs and don’t wanna burn a year off his contract for no reason. If they do make the playoffs, and Hagens is in the NHL, then they will be burning a year anyway, and in my opinion, that experience would be worth burning the year. They could even play him for less than 10 games and then reassess if they feel that he isn’t ready after that. But using replacement level third liners as an excuse to keep them out of the lineup is insane. And if they are more worried about making the playoffs and burning a year off his ELC than the potential benefits of immediate NHL exposure then I find that even more problematic. It is very obvious that Hagens wants to play for Boston so any pushback on that is coming from the Bruins end. At that point, you even run the risk of causing unnecessary tension before things even begin. This has little to do with my immediate expectations of Hagens and more to do with how the Bruins handle skilled young forward prospects. Obviously, he will sign anyway.
I’m ok with him playing in Boston but he just got off a season in college so don’t expect too much from him right off the bat. He is better than Snuggerud but not he’s going to be a Cole Caulfield or Celebrini but I think he’s at a Fantilli caliber. The Bruins have a very good player on hand and I think we’ll see the best of him in 26-27.
healthy scratch Khusnutdinov for Toronto game, move riechel up to 1st line LW, then throw Hagens on the LW on the 3rd line. Start there and evaluate how he fits. Sending a 7th overall pick to PVD while you are hunting for a competitive playoff spot is just WILD to me.
From what I have seen of Hagens, I would not be so hasty on jumping on the band wagon. Give him some time in Providence and see if he is really what he has been hyped to be. He seems to be diligent enough but seems to do a lot of circling, not so much a forward driver imo. The Bruins still need to get their defensive house in order, don't expect goal tending to carry the burden of winning games. Hagens at this point may be more of a distraction. This team needs to focus as they are.
I just think fans' expectations are too high and a bit unrealistic on poor Hagens who has not played a single professional game. Can we try to avoid what with a prospect like Poitras? And face the reality that Jack Hughes's performance (noted as Hagens' potential ceiling) has been limited by injuries to only 1 season out of 7 where he played more than 70 games? Maybe the Bruins can try to do a better job of Hagens' player development and give him a better chance to gain more strength to produce at the top pro level.
Thanks for post and clarifying the situation. I'd love to see him in the line up but don't see the urgency to push the transition. Whatever makes sense for his development which is probably providence
I think Hagens wants to suit up with the Bruins asap.
By not making a move for 1C at the deadline, the Bruins management have effectively broadcasted, that Hagens is their 1C plan A for the tail end of Pasta’s prime.
It only stands to reason, that they want to give him a tryout sooner than later.
All this can be made easy, if the Bruins hit the wall now and are out of the playoff picture with say three games left, or they’ve clinched by then.
If they make the playoffs, he might get a looksie the moment someone craps the bed. The only scenario in which he won’t get a look for sure is if the playoff race is a nail-biter until the very end, and then the Bruins fail to clinch.