BREAKING NEWS: Bruins Sign James Hagens to AHL Amateur Tryout Agreement | Bruins Beat

38 comments

1. Great news, can't wait to see him with the big club.

2. Sweeney is so scared to screw it up. He's rather ride with eyssimont and steeves and reichel. That's the problem. Where's Craig janney?

3. If anyone is “pissed” about Hagens starting out with a half-dozen AHL games, then that individual is a dumbass, in my opinion.

   He’s 19. Be patient. His time will come, and soon.

4. Bruins must lose tomorrow but I know they’re gonna pull a Joe Milton

5. Unless a team has no shot at the playoffs, any newly arriving NCAA player should report to the AHL regardless of draft status. Have him learn to play against men and slide him into the lineup organically. The Bs have a good team. If I’m not mistaken, you burn a year on his entry level contract at 12 games played in the NhL. Let’s not overthink this.

6. I guess

7. He's going to be a ladies favorite stud center like Sakic and Yzerman

8. My only question is, if Misa and Shaffer can play now, why not Hagens?

9. Worst case scenario is Boston stumbles there way out of the playoffs and Hagens would have made the difference.

10. Ok, now…..what about Andre Gasseau and Oskar Jellvik?

11. Hyped the vid fellas. Great job. Im fine with a PB start.

12. Good that he is starting out in Providence. Let him get his feet wet in the pro game, and if Boston starts to struggle in the playoff chase, then perhaps call him up. They're probably taking lessons from Ryan Leonard's pattern last season(initial splash followed by scoring drought).

13. Unfortunately, I think you said the quiet part out loud Evan. They want him in the AHL playoffs and they don’t want to burn a year off his contract, so they will keep him there unless there’s a major injury, or he has 10 points in his first 3 games. Obviously it depends entirely on his performance. But if he does light it up, they shouldn’t let that stop them from signing him if his play warrants it. I think we were all fine with him playing a few games in the AHL and then signing for the rest of the season if he deserves it. But I could quickly see this turning into a situation where even if he excels there, they don’t call him up just so they can chase a Calder cup and save themselves from burning a year on his ELC. THAT would be wrong imo..and risk causing unnecessary tension with the player who obviously wants to be in Boston. But I guess we’ll have to see what happens.

14. I think the ATO is to get Hagens on the ice with Providence so he's not sitting around while they finish ironing out his ELC.

15. Wise decision. Let's see how he handles the pro level and where he's at developmentally. My opinion would have been different had he led BC further this year.

16. I think it's the right decision not to rush him into the NHL. Great episode as always! 🔥

17. People are putting way too much on this kid. This is the right way to go. The Bruins might make the playoffs but I don't see a long playoff run.

18. In no way can providence help Hagens.

19. On an ATO who takes the risk of a career altering injury?
    If its all on Hagens why would he do this as an elite prospect?

20. This is the DEI generation. Earning anything is foreign to these clowns.

21. If he started in Boston and they fall out of the playoffs hes off to a ROUGH start on his journey. Let him prove hes worth a look or let the team fall back without him before elevating. Seems wise, glad he agreed to it.

22. Why is it ok for other top picks around the league to step. Right in, but, God forbid the Bruins do the right thing. Of course he's going to struggle! Instead, we have a bunch bottom line stuffs? If they even make the playoffs, we all know they are out in the first round. Be real. Of course you are ok with that! You are part of the Bruins suck ass media. The Bruins are known to ruin players (Poitras) shall I keep going

23. I think if reichel didn’t make an immediate impact in his first 2 games, Hagens would have signed his ELC. Hagens will be called up for the last 5 games

24. Wrong decision. Hes gonna rot down there

25. It's a Lil disappointing to not have chance to see Hagens play with Bruins asap, but I think this is the right move by the Bruins!!? No need to rush him into the NHL and risk possibly setting his development back a lil!? Let him get some experience in Providence and get some playoff experience in AHL with them, if he doesn't end up with big club b4 then, that way he gets good pro experience and some playoff experience, and if he starts great and lights it up in Providence then Bruins can always bring him up!? I think it's a smart move to not rush him into the NHL!? Even if he doesn't play an NHL game this season him getting pro experience and some good pro playoff experience in AHL should be great for him, and then next season he probably makes team out of camp!? I think it's good move, cuz even if Bruins make playoffs its Long shot that they go on big run anyways, so y not take ur time with Hagens and get him great experience in Providence and possibly go on good playoff run with Providence and let him develop even more, and if he kills it and lights it up then maybe he gets a few games with Bruins this year, but at worst it'd be great experience and would give him great shot of making team out of camp next season!!? If we don't see him with Bruins this season, I'm almost positive he most likely will make team out of camp next season!!?

26. If there’s an option for Hagens to go back to BC next year if he plays in Providence vs. Boston, then why don’t we sign Dean to the same thing and let both of them go on a Calder cup run this spring? Worst case scenario he goes back to BC after getting pro experience, best case scenario he breaks out.

27. Curious, why is no one talking about Letourneau?

28. The kid is overrated not going to be that good or as what you expect if anything will take a bit of time for him to be average

29. I agree with Evan completely. This doesn't bother me at all. I also don't see him going from Providence back to BC. He has nothing left to prove at BC. I'd be surprised if he wasn't a full-time Boston Bruin by the start of next season.

30. Its the correct move. Big jump from College hockey to the AHL and another big jump to the big show. Hopefully this kid has big success.

31. They made the right choice give him 4-5 games see how he does if he is killing it in providence, he’ll be in Boston, we’re in a playoff push right now it’s not exactly like some of these other teams who have just signed there college guys or in utahs case signed desnoyers, he won’t be in Utah until next year, which may be the case for James as well, if we were in similar situation as last year he’d be playing right now but we’re in a huge playoff push right now and that’s a lot of pressure on a 18-19 year old kid.

32. Ignore the fans! We’re not winning the cup this year. Do what’s best for Hagen’s development.

33. no shit

34. Good analysis boys

35. Hagens won't play a game, he goes back to BC. He's here to pratice with the tean and get up to speed. Thats it.

36. Boston isn't going anywhere in the post season even if they make it to the playoffs

    Their crap road record, their crap PK where they've taken the most PIMs in the NHL and the fact that at 5×5 they're still bottom 5 for the year in xGA, xGF and HDCA all say that

    Playing Hagans in some sheltered, 3rd line role where he won't play Top line minutes, in crucial situations or probably any on Special Teams is exactly a "must" for Hagans?

    Over just going to the AHL, acclimating himself, proving he can handle the NHL and if the Bruins go south, play on their 1st line, in all critical situations, on both their PP1 and PP1 while also taking on a leadership role for a PVD team that could potentially have a long playoff run this AHL post season

    All just so Hagans can play with Alex Steeves & Mikey Essymont 8 minutes a game?

    The fact anyone thinks that is the best path for Hagans right now, they're nuts.

    If he lights up the AHL, proves he can handle the pro game quickly and BOS has a "reason" to bring him up, then he'll be up. If he plays poorly or is bad with the details away from the puck and Boston drops out of the playoffs they likely won't bring him up because the only reason to at the point would be "just because".

    The Bruins aren't deliberately keeping Hagans from the NHL over the stupid ELC crap. Whether he burns a year or not sometimes that works out for the player, sometimes the team, sometimes neither. It's not a factor.

    The only factors are ONE, is James Hagans ready for the NHL and TWO, will Boston have a reason to play him in the NHL at all after a week or so in the AHL if they fall out of the post season race>

    The Bruins only have 12 games remaining

    7 of them are on the road (where they've been below .500 all year) and 8 of the 12 are vs CLB (2), TB (2), BUF CAR DAL & MIN

    The Bruins have the most difficult schedule remaining in the entire NHL the rest of the season, not just amongst the four or five teams they're fighting for a playoff spot with, the entire NHL!!!

    It's a realistic possibility that Boston falls out of the playoff race the next 7-10 days and then has no reason to integrate Hagans into their lineup this year for any reason

    Whether Hagans even plays 1, 5 or 10 or more games for PVD or 1, 5 or 10 or more games for Boston this year, does anyone not really believe that come game one next season, he's not playing for Boston?

    All of this is why this loud outcry over James Hagans not starting his career off in Boston is just nonsense

    If he proves he can play in the AHL Hagans will get called up quickly, especially if Boston is still in the playoff race a week or so from now and certainly if any injuries were to strike, which is what elevated Charlie McAvoy into their lineup after he signed his ELC his rookie year

    The plan at that time wasn’t to play McAvoy in the NHL, it just worked out that way because of injuries at the big club level

    I’d be more worried Toronto’s pick falling to them in the #6-#10 range at this year’s draft than anything about or tied to James Hagans. At least that’s a topic that will have some actual relevance and meaning between now and July

37. Bs are smart to start him in Providence.
    Hagens needs to get some experience and continue his development.
    Rushing him to Boston gives him far fewer minutes and forces him to sink or swim.
    Having him learn the pro game with some coaching and mentoring from AHL veterans.

38. I agree to let him come along slowly , were doing alright . But ya if he lights it up down their , bring him up