James Hagens is a hockey player and he wanted to get on with the business of playing hockey.

That was the vibe that the Bruins’ top prospect gave when he met with reporters after his first pro practice at the Amica Mutual Pavilion on Tuesday. The fact that that hockey playing will first take place in Providence rather Boston didn’t seem to faze the former Boston College star in the least.

“I love it. There’s a saying ‘Nothing’s given. Everything’s earned.’ It’s just knowing that you have to earn a spot wherever you go. It’s going out there, it’s working your hardest and showing everything you worked for hopefully pays off,” said Hagens.

Right off the bat, there is a comfort level in place for him. Fellow Long Islander Charlie McAvoy sent him a congratulatory text after he signed his ATO on Monday. He started in practice on the wing playing with Patrick Brown, who is the nephew of his former coach at the Heights Greg Brown and who is known as one of the top leaders in the AHL. He’ll see his first pro game on Wednesday in Springfield.

Hagens did not seem overly concerned with how long it will take him to get to Boston, at least not outwardly so. If there was any push-back from his camp about starting his career in Providence over the past few days, that doesn’t seem to matter any more.

“I just want an opportunity to be able to go out there and show your game. You work for this your whole life so to be able to have an opportunity to go after, to play (Wednesday) night (in Springfield) is really special,” said Hagens.

Once I heard that (the plan was to start in Providence), I was really open for it. It’s a great chance to showcase your game, to be a part of a team like this and to be able to be around a group like this as well.”

Was there much talk about a timetable for him to see games in Boston sooner than later?

“You let agents talk and deal with that stuff. I just want to be able to play hockey and be able to have this opportunity…you have to try and run with it,” said Hagens.

He said his focus now is to play a responsible game and earn coach Ryan Mougenel’s trust.

“That’s a big thing if you want to get called up,” said Hagens.

As is often the case with these late-season college signings, it’s been a whirlwind for Hagens. Most of his belongings are still in his dorm room in Chestnut Hill. One way or another, the son of two school teachers plans to get his degree, something he said was “non-negotiable” with them. And after having his season ended in ended in overtime on a deflected goal by Uconn on Friday in the Hockey East semifinals, it took him a little while to refocus on the next step in his career.

“My head wasn’t there,” he said. “I was really focused on staying the moment. I was devastated losing that game. You never want to have your season end like that. It was tough. I was more interested about being in the moment, being around your family, being around guys you’ve been around for two years, to be with the seniors. That was their last game as well. It was tough. It was heartbreaking.”

But kids are resilient, and Hagens sure seemed fully recovered on Tuesday to start his new career.

Said Hagens: “They’ve given me an opportunity here and it’s up to me to make the most of it.”

In Boston, meanwhile, coach Marco Sturm was asked if Hagens could help the team in the playoffs and he wasn’t about to speculate on that. But he liked Hagens’ attitude.

“I’m very excited, that’s what comes to my mind. Being in the minors, they’re going to love it and he’s going to love it,” said Sturm. “It’s going to be great for him to be a pro and have that experience and then who knows? But he’s just going to go and I like that part about it. He just wants to play hockey. That for me shows that it’s going to be a bright future for us in the long-term. That’s just the first little step and I’m very excited for him.”…

With the B’s starting a back-to-back, Sturm made the mildly surprising decision to go back with the hot Jeremy Swayman against Leafs. While he didn’t name a starter for Wednesday’s game against the juggernaut that the Buffalo Sabres have become, it has become rare in today’s NHL for a goalie to start both games of a back-to-back in the regular season.

Swayman was seeing his fourth straight start after stopping all but six of the 98 shots he faced in the previous three games (2-0-1).

“He’s playing too well,” said Sturm after the optional morning skate. “It’s a big game for us. Every game is big but today, facing a team that is out of the playoffs, they’ve got nothing to lose. I think Sway right now gives us the best chance to win the hockey game. We have to go into games like that, it’s just way too important.”

While he didn’t call Tuesday’s game against the Leafs a must-win, it sure felt like it with the goalie decision. Sturm was also concerned with his team being able to park Saturday’s big, emotional win.

“It’s a mindset. We’ve been through it a couple of times this season,” said Sturm. “Hopefully it’s a good thing we had a day in between, or two days in between to kind of regroup. But we came home very, very late (on Sunday morning). I could tell a little bit in practice (on Monday). We just have to make sure we’re dialed in here because of where we’re at right now in the standings.”…

With the Leafs in town, and the gnashing of teeth over the Brandon Carlo trade that sent the Bruins Fraser Minten, possibly a 2026 top-10 pick and a 2025 fourth round pick (promising defense prospect Vashek Blanar) at a fever pitch in Toronto, the subject of Minten’s development naturally came up in Sturm’s morning briefing with the Toronto media.

“He’s still growing, he’s still a kid. But he’s been excellent. He’s fun to watch and fun to be a part of, seeing him grow as a man. We’re going to continue to push him because he’s not there yet. But he’s definitely made some strides,” said Sturm. “Look at him. He’s looks like a 15-year-old so that means for me that there’s a lot to fill in with his body. But I’ve worked with young kids in the past and I love being part of this.”…

The Leafs had their “mentor’s” trip and Brandon Carlo brought along his 87-year-old grandfather Ed.

“He said ‘there was the mother’s trip and the father’s trip. When is it my turn?’” said Carlo, who was thrilled to be able to bring him along….

Henri Jokiharju was inserted into the lineup for Andrew Peeke. Tanner Jeannot was a game-time decision.