Going into training camp later this month, there are going to be a lot of eyes on some Boston Bruins players. Some are veterans, and some are younger players. There is a handful of veteran players on defense and in the bottom-six who are going to be in a dogfight for a playoff berth.
One of the younger players who will have some eyes on him is the 2025 first-round pick, No. 7 overall, James Hagens—who signed to a PTO after his sophomore season at Boston College last March to get his feet wet with the Providence Bruins in the American Hockey League (AHL) before signing his entry-level contract. He saw some action late in the regular season before playing in the first three games of the playoff series against the Buffalo Sabres.
However, the Bruins and second-year head coach Marco Sturm need the New York native to earn a spot on the Opening Night roster. The Athletic listed 20 candidates for the Calder Trophy this upcoming season, and Hagens came in at No. 10 on the list. Harman Dayal dropped a projection that should be music to Bruins fans' ears.
NHL writer has a projection that Bruins fans are hoping for with James Hagens
Let's be honest, Hagens is going to have to have a huge breakout season to win the Calder Trophy this season. There is a lot of very good young talent that is eligible alongside him. Dayal did drop a subtle statement that Boston fans would love to see come true.
"With a creative, free-flowing offensive toolkit and a decorated NCAA scoring profile, Hagens has all the ingredients to eventually develop into a legitimate top-six difference-maker,'' wrote Dayal.
A legitimate top-six difference-maker is what the Black and Gold desperately need. There's no doubt about that. They are begging for a prospect to come in and take on that role. Fraser Minten is someone who could do that, but if both Hagens and Minten can do it, well, then the Bruins have something.
Winning the Calder is a very long shot at best. However, securing a top-nine role this season and making the impact that Boston needs is something that Strum, the Bruins, and fans would take with Hagens. Nobody is asking him or looking for him to come in and be David Pastrnak, but what everyone would like is a full-time impactful prospect who can solidify the top-six in the not-too-distant future. That would be considered a big step in 2026-27 for Hagens and the Bruins.
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