{"id":543046,"date":"2026-04-06T01:55:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T01:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/543046\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T01:55:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T01:55:01","slug":"it-might-be-time-for-slumping-bruins-team-to-call-up-james-hagens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/543046\/","title":{"rendered":"It might be time for slumping Bruins team to call up James Hagens"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston Bruins\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\tWith the Bruins scoring just three goals in its last three games, James Hagens could give Boston a jolt with the playoffs just weeks away.<\/p>\n

\"James
\n\tJames Hagens could be a late-season spark for the Bruins. Ken McGagh for The Boston Globe\t<\/p>\n

COMMENTARY <\/p>\n

The good news? The Boston Bruins are inching closer and closer to a playoff berth.\u200b<\/p>\n

After banking a point in a largely disheartening overtime loss to the Flyers, Boston\u2019s playoff hopes currently sit at 97.3 percent with just four games left in the regular season (per MoneyPuck<\/a>).<\/p>\n

The bad news? Those favorable odds have masked an ugly stretch where Marco Sturm\u2019s club has dropped three games in a row \u2014 sullying the positive momentum that Boston secured by beating four legitimate opponents over the previous week.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

As ugly as Sunday\u2019s overtime period was against the Flyers \u2014 due in large part to some careless play from two leaders in David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy \u2014 Boston\u2019s issues run deeper than that.<\/p>\n

A prevailing theme in Boston\u2019s recent slide has been rooted in a stagnant offensive performance, with some painful regression across several spots on the depth chart giving Sturm\u2019s team little margin for error.<\/p>\n

In Boston\u2019s last three games, they have only scored three goals. Over those nine periods in regulation, the Bruins landed 10 or more shots on goal just three times.<\/p>\n

Even with Pavel Zacha securing Boston\u2019s lone goal on Sunday via a power-play goal, Boston\u2019s man advantage has been mired in a slump since the return from the Olympic break.<\/p>\n

Over the last 20 games, the Bruins\u2019 man advantage is only cashing in on 15.6 percent of its opportunities \u2014 ranking 28th in the NHL over that stretch.<\/p>\n

With the playoffs right around the corner, Boston is in desperate need of a jolt up front.\u200b<\/p>\n

Could James Hagens be that sought-after spark?<\/p>\n

The Bruins had a front-row seat to what a blue-chip prospect can do for an ascending team on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n

Porter Martone \u2014 taken one pick before the Bruins drafted Hagens seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Draft \u2014 made his presence felt for the Flyers at Xfinity Mobile Arena.<\/p>\n

In his fourth game in the NHL ranks, the 19-year-old Martone had the primary helper on the Flyers\u2019 lone goal in regulation before scoring his first pro tally in overtime to help Philly bank two critical points in their late-season playoff push.<\/p>\n

Martone \u2014 who thrived in his lone season at Michigan State this winter (50 points in 35 games) \u2014 made the jump right to the NHL after the Spartans\u2019 season came to a close, with the Flyers adding the pugnacious power forward to their roster in hopes of a late-season push.<\/p>\n

The Bruins have opted for a more conservative approach with Hagens, who posted 47 points in 34 games with Boston College as a sophomore.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old forward is currently on an AHL amateur tryout contract<\/a> (ATO) with the Providence Bruins, giving him some experience and an extended runway to acclimate to the pro game.<\/p>\n

Boston still has the option to sign Hagens to his entry-level contract \u2014 adding him to the NHL roster for the stretch run and a (likely) playoff appearance at TD Garden.\u200b<\/p>\n

Hagens hasn\u2019t exactly stuffed the stat sheet in the AHL with four points (one goal, three assists) over six games.<\/p>\n

But, the former BC star\u2019s passing ability, passing capabilities, and power-play skills have all popped for the P-Bruins over his limited stint against AHL competition. All skills that would seemingly bolster Boston\u2019s lagging offense as of late.<\/p>\n

Awesome sequence by James Hagens here. <\/p>\n

Hagens fights through coverage, enters the zone and hits Georgii Merkulov for a goal: pic.twitter.com\/sR7ljSDNQv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Evan Marinofsky (@EvanMarinofsky) March 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u200bSigning Hagens to his ELC would prevent him from rejoining Providence for a potentially fruitful Calder Cup playoff run. Still, there\u2019s a lot to like about what the skilled forward could offer the Bruins as an on-ice adrenaline shot over the next few weeks.<\/p>\n

Slotting Hagens on a third line with a laboring Morgan Geekie and Elias Lindholm might be the next contingency plan Boston needs to embrace in order to get several segments of the lineup firing again.<\/p>\n

Simply put, a reworked top line of Geekie, Lindholm, and Pastrnak has not worked this season.<\/p>\n

In their 294 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time together, the Bruins have been outscored, 14-12 (per Natural Stat Trick<\/a>). Not what you want to see out of your supposed top line.<\/p>\n

By putting a gifted playmaker like Hagens on a line with Geekie and Lindholm, it would allow Sturm to keep Pastrnak stapled to the \u201cKid Line\u201d with Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov \u2014 a forward trio that has outscored the competition, 15-6, in their 188 minutes of 5-on-5 reps.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

At this point, Sturm needs to exhaust all of his options to try to get Geekie rolling again. Following Sunday\u2019s loss, the Bruins\u2019 34-goal scorer has not lit the lamp in 17 straight games \u2014 and has done so just two times in his last 22 games.<\/p>\n

It should come as little surprise that Boston\u2019s power play has also been sapped of its potency when Geekie\u2019s blistering one-timer has been neutralized.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s to be expected for there to be some growing pains for Hagens at hockey\u2019s highest level. But, the skating talent and hockey IQ in his toolkit are already pretty evident, while a third-line spot gives him an ideal landing spot to earn his stripes without being exposed to heavy minutes.<\/p>\n

Another example of high-end agility and stick handling from James Hagens, No. 12 in white, as he goes 1-on-3 for a zone entry in his debut. Hagens had the first defender flat-footed, second defender burned and third reaching with his stick while trailing. #NHLBruins<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/0iPMwHmrjm<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) March 26, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

A poised puck-carrier and passer ike Hagens might be the best option remaining for Boston to help get Geekie out of his rut \u2014 while his knack for generating clean entries would also give the Bruins a boost on their lagging power play.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no guarantee that Hagens will be able to replace Martone\u2019s immediate success in the NHL ranks.<\/p>\n

\u200bAnd sure, the Bruins might be kicking themselves if Hagens is ruled out of an extended Calder Cup run this spring.<\/p>\n

\u200bBut, cutting one\u2019s teeth over four to seven games of NHL playoff hockey might serve Hagens better in the long run, as opposed to 15-plus games against AHL competition.<\/p>\n

\u200bAnd, if Hagens does give Boston a shot in the arm? This club could be playing a bit more than just one round of postseason hockey.<\/p>\n

\t\t\"Profile\t<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign up for the Today newsletter<\/p>\n

Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t