After clinching a playoff spot with Saturday afternoon’s loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Boston Bruins don’t have too much to play for in the final two games of the regular season. However, first-year head coach Marco Sturm’s announcement to reporters before puck drop against the Columbus Blue Jackets gives Bruins fans plenty to watch for.
Sturm confirmed that 2025 first-round draft pick James Hagans would be taking the ice for his NHL debut on Sunday afternoon.
“He will play his first NHL game today,” Sturm said with a smile. “He is very excited. Hopefully, he is going to have a good first game.”
He then shared the advice he has given the 19-year-old New York native.
“Just, probably, keep it simple,” Sturm said. “It’s not going to be easy. I think that’s the message he just received. They’re (Blue Jackets) in the hunt. They’re going to come out hard… because they need to win these two games.
“So that’s why he has got to keep it simple, right off the start, and let his instinct and skill take over.”
Marco Sturm confirms that James Hagens will make his NHL debut this afternoon 👀 pic.twitter.com/4SrjZZgJP0
— NESN (@NESN) April 12, 2026
Hagens’ debut will no doubt be the story of the day as Bruins fans are eager to see what last year’s seventh overall selection can do at the highest level.
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