The Boston Bruins are two games deep into the 2026-27 season, with a promising stretch of hockey as the newly retooled lineup gels.
In the last two games, the Bruins have played the Winnipeg Jets and the New York Rangers, scoring seven goals and getting meaningful contributions in all positions. While this is something fans expect to happen, you never know when a breakout will happen with prospects.
In his first game this season against the Rangers, rookie James Hagens performed in a limited, albeit useful, scope on the third line. In 13:27 minutes played, he had one shot on goal, two blocks, one takeaway, and one giveaway. His line had a 55.88 Corsi-For percentage in 20:40 minutes over two games. However, the Bruins will have to continue to build upon this ability to control the puck, as they created only three high-danger chances on the ice in that time, per Natural Stat Trick.
Hagens’ Three-Game Stretch As a Rookie
Drafted seventh overall in 2025, Hagens’ role in the Bruins organization has heightened as a rookie.
Boston Bruins center James Hagens (Russell LaBounty-Imagn Images)
In the last three games, Hagens has recorded one point, which was his first NHL goal against the Jets in a 4-3 victory, although the Jets were missing Connor Hellebuyck.
Nevertheless, the Bruins took advantage of this shortcoming, and Hagens scored his first NHL goal, 15:20 into the first period, with assists from defenseman Nikita Zadorov and forward Mark Kastelic.
Scoring by committee is how the Bruins will have to approach the upcoming season, as superstar talent in the lineup is limited to David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy, and Jeremy Swayman in the crease. While it seems like it could be a major handicap, Hagens found a way to overcome that obstacle and work toward becoming a regular in the NHL.
When he made the leap to the league in 2025-26, Hagens played two games at the end of the season, contributing one point (one assist) before he was assigned to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL). Instead of letting him get more seasoning, the Bruins have promoted him and goaltender Michael DiPietro.
2026-27 Outlook for Hagens
Per the Last Word On Sports’ Chase Windsor, Hagens is projected to be a first- or second-line center in the NHL. It’s still early in his career to get a thumb on how he will finish the 2026-27 season in Boston as a Bruin for a full 84-game complement.
If we were to use historical data as evidence that Hagens is capable of growth as a forward, we can use his stats from his second year as a forward at Boston College. He added ten points to his production during the 2025-26 season, recording 23 goals and 47 points, not an insignificant jump from his 37-point season as a freshman.
Is International Play a Better Gauge of Skill?
Hagens played 12 games total in 2025 and 2026 for Team USA in the U-20 World Junior Championships. Competing against his peers, he recorded a total of 16 points (seven goals, nine assists).
This season, he’s played only three games as a Bruin and scored one goal. A slow start for someone who has been able to thread passes and be a successful playmaker throughout his career from the United States Hockey League (USHL) to the NCAA.
His last game against the Minnesota Wild was mildly disappointing, with a minus-1 rating, three shots, and one hit in 13:43 played.
Fans shouldn’t be frustrated and should view these obstacles as steps toward his long-term growth into a first- or second-line center in the Bruins system.
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