Last season, after signing his entry-level deal, James Hagens played in the last two regular-season games after the Boston Bruins clinched their playoff spot. Head coach Marco Sturm then suited him for the first three games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Buffalo Sabres before he was scratched for the final three games.
He entered training camp as someone who was not guaranteed a roster spot, given the number of veteran forwards the Black and Gold still have, along with fellow youngster Matthew Poitras looking to crack the lineup.
Poitras was injured in camp and began the season on the injured list, and Hagens played so well in camp and the preseason games that he forced the Bruins' hand to keep him. Sturm kept the "Kid Line" together, and after a tough first game, the 2025 first-round draft pick scored his first NHL goal against the Winnipeg Jets.
James Hagens scored first career NHL goal against Jets
It was a sloppy start to Friday night's game for the Bruins in Winnipeg's season opener. The Jets grabbed a 1-0 lead, but as the period went along, Boston got better and tied the game on a Hampus Lindholm goal.
Near the end of the opening period, the Bruins had some offensive zone time pressure, and it paid off. There was a lot of traffic around the Jets' net, and the Hagens was Johnny on the spot. He was at the side of the crease and was able to bury a loose puck for a 2-1 lead.
It appeared to be a weight lifted off of Hagens' shoulders after the puck crossed the line. For the Black and Gold. This is the first of what Boston hopes will be a lot of goals for the former Boston College standout. However, after just a handful of regular-season games, Hagens finally has his first.
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