Last Friday, James Hagens finished his sophomore season with Boston College after a loss to the University of Connecticut in the Hockey East Tournament. From there, the decision for Hagens was to either return to Boston College or sign with the Boston Bruins. What ensued was a three-day period of anticipation of what Hagens would do. Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney reported that the team and Hagens were seeking a “pathway to the pros” for the 5-foot-11, 195-pound forward. Many Bruins fans assumed Hagens would sign a three-year, entry-level contract and join the Bruins for the last 12 games of the regular season. However, as one day became two and two became three, it was becoming clearer that Hagens and the Bruins were working on some sort of compromise. The result is an Amateur Tryout Contract with the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League and a debut for Hagens on Wednesday against the Springfield Chiefs.
Providence Coach Ryan Mougenel announced on Tuesday that Hagens would play on the top line for Providence with veteran center Patrick Brown and forward Matej Blumel. The question now becomes whether Hagens is in Providence for a few games and then recalled or if the Hobey Baker candidate will wait until the end of the season to sign an NHL contract. There are a few things that can happen from here.
Hagens can only return to Boston College if he does not play a professional game, which is not going to happen. The seventh overall draft pick in 2025 can stay in Providence through a Calder Cup run and then sign. The other likely scenario is a three to four-game stint with Providence and then a contract signing with the Bruins that leads to his NHL debut. Currently, the Bruins have a set lineup that is relatively healthy, and with the addition of 23-year-old Lukas Reichel, there are two forwards, Michael Eyssimont and Alex Steeves, who are healthy scratches. It could be that an injury to a top-six offensive forward would have to suffer an injury or ineffective play to summon Hagens.
Regardless of what happens in the coming weeks, Hagens is now beginning his pro career, and Boston Bruins fans can start to get excited for their best forward prospect in about a dozen years.
