Going into the Prospects Showcase this past weekend, it was an opportunity for some Boston Bruins prospects to make some early impressions on the front office and coaching staff in Western New York against some Buffalo Sabres prospects.
Going into the two games, you knew there were going to be a lot of eyes on Bruins top prospect James Hagens. It was the unofficial beginning of training camp for the seventh overall pick in the 2025 Entry Draft and one opportunity that he didn't let pass him by.
James Hagens is creating difficult decisions for the Bruins ahead of training camp
In the first of two games in less than 24 hours, late on Sunday afternoon, Hagens scored two goals in the Bruins' 6-2 win over the Sabres. Fast forward 18 hours to noon on Monday afternoon, and the former Boston College Eagles forward scored not one, not two, not three, but all four Boston goals in a 4-3 overtime victory. Both teams were so tired that they decided to skip a planned shootout at the end of overtime and instead hit the showers and head back to their respective training camps.
Bruins general manager Don Sweeney knew that there were going to be questions entering training camp as to how things might end up going, but Hagens is creating more questions and possibly a start at camp in one position?
“We might have to look at him at center,” said Sweeney, per Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe. “Maybe that’s where we use him.”
When Hagens signed his entry-level deal last spring, he played in the final couple of regular-season games and three games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs against Buffalo on the wing with Fraser Minten, his center, and Marat Khusnutdinov on the opposite wing. However, could Hagens create a bigger logjam at his natural position at center in camp? Last season, Hagens was just happy to be playing in the NHL in the postseason after a quick stint late in the regular season.
“To be honest, I was just excited to be out there playing hockey,” said Hagens, per Dupont. “Being able to get there for the playoffs was a dream come true for me — one of the coolest moments in my entire hockey career. So it was more taking it all in, going out there, not overcomplicating anything — try to trust yourself and trust your teammates.”
When an NHL prospect who has visions of making the NHL roster out of training camp goes to the Prospects Showcase, they need to stick out and dominate. Hagens did that, opened some eyes, and now has his general manager thinking big picture before training camp begins. It's a perfect scenario for him in the middle of September.
Add us as a preferred source on Google