Bruins Believe World Championships Can Help James Hagens Grow

TL;DR

The Boston Bruins signed James Hagens to an entry-level contract on April 8, 2026. He made his NHL debut shortly after, contributing to the team during the regular season and playoffs.

Key points

James Hagens signed an entry-level contract with the Bruins
He made his NHL debut shortly after signing
Hagens recorded a secondary assist in his debut
He played on the third line with Minten and Khusnutdinov
Hagens participated in both regular season and playoff games

Boston BruinsJames HagensFraser MintenMarat Khusnutdinov

Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

On April 8, 2026, the Boston Bruins signed James Hagens to an entry-level contract.

He made his NHL debut four nights later, picking up a secondary assist against the Columbus Blue Jackets. He played in four more games after that, one in the regular season and three in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Hagens skated on the third line, dubbed the “kids’ line,” alongside Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov.

Then he watched from the press box as the Bruins’ season came to a close in Games 4, 5, and 6.

Marco Sturm called it a man’s game ahead of Game 5, and said that he cannot expect his less-experienced playoff players to “be the difference already.”

“With Hagens, he just, I do like him. I want to see him at one point, probably as a center, he does have potential, but it’s just, he’s just not there yet,” Sturm said on breakup day. “I think it’s great for him now learning the game as a winger, and then, we have to see moving forward where it’s going to go.”

Once Hagens got called up to join the Bruins, returning to Providence was no longer an option.

However, his season did not end on May 1. He is heading to Switzerland for the IIHF World Championships, representing Team USA with the men’s national team for the first time in his career.

“Ideally, I’d rather be watching him play [for Providence] in Springfield, to tell you the honest truth. The rules are the rules, and how we navigated in terms of getting James experience at this point in time,” Sweeney said on Wednesday (). “That was part of it, you know, going to Providence for a period of time, getting into regular-season games, playing in the playoffs. And now he has the benefit of going to play in the Worlds. And that’s a longer tournament than people realize. It’s going to be a great opportunity.”