Boston Bruins
“That was something right away we noticed – this is not college anymore.”
When James Hagens fell to the Bruins with the seventh pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, Boston felt it had found its next dynamic, fleet-footed menace in the offensive zone.
But through 12 games this season, the gifted Bruins rookie is operating more like a bruising power forward than a playmaking assassin on the perimeter.
The Bruins will welcome offense in any capacity from the 19-year-old Hagens — who is now tied for the NHL lead in rookie scoring (four goals, five assists) with Sharks winger Ivar Stenberg.
But Hagens’ third-period tally in Saturday’s 6-4 win over the Sharks — a gritty rebound strike jammed home from the blue paint — is another encouraging sign that his offensive skill set is deeper than many initially envisioned, at least at this stage of his young career.
“That was something right away we noticed – this is not college anymore,” Marco Sturm said of Hagens’ avenue for offense. “I think he realized pretty soon, and we’re pushing him pretty hard, getting more to the paint, more to the inside. That’s where you score the goals, so good for him that he realized that.”
At 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, the fresh-faced Hagens isn’t necessarily the second coming of Cam Neely. But three of his four goals this year have come within seven feet of the net, per NHL tracking data —with the lone outlier being a banked-in goal from behind the net against Ottawa on Oct. 5.
Hagens — who also leads all NHL forwards in blocked shots this season with 16 — wasn’t exactly drafted to be a netfront menace or bottom-six grinder.
But whether it’s picking the corner off a breakaway or knocking home a greasy goal in the crease, the end result matters more to Hagens than the manner in which he’s lighting the lamp.
And right now, the results are pouring in for the rookie forward.
“It’s not easy to score in this league,” Hagens said. “I just feel like if you keep going to the net, hopefully good things will happen … “It’s crazy how loud the crowd was tonight. It was a super cool feeling. That’s something that I will be able to remember for the rest of my career and the rest of my life.”
Here are some other observations from the Bruins’ win over San Jose:
Shutting down Celebrini
It was a rough night for the Bruins away from 5-on-5 play — with San Jose’s four goals coming off two power-play tallies, one shorthanded strike, and a goal at 4-on-4 action.
But when the sin bins were empty, the Sharks were toothless against a smothering Bruins club.
In 41 minutes of 5-on-5 play, the Bruins outscored San Jose, 4-0, and held a whopping 18-4 edge in high-danger scoring chances.
Negating San Jose’s top line – anchored by superstar pivot Macklin Celebrini — is no easy feat.
But Sturm seems to have struck gold with a forward trio of Hagens, Elias Lindholm, and Casey Mittelstadt as Boston’s de facto shutdown line.
In that group’s 7:16 of 5-on-5 ice time against Celebrini, the Bruins outscored San Jose 2-0 and held a 10-2 advantage in high-danger scoring chances.
Mittelstadt was quick to credit the defensive acumen of Lindholm, who seems to have found his second wind after getting pushed down the depth chart as Boston’s 3C.
In eight games since joining Hagens and Mittelstadt, Lindholm has eight points and has often tilted the ice in the Bruins’ favor at 5-on-5 action.
“Lindy does a heck of a job in all three zones,” Mittelstadt said. “Me and Hages are there to support him and help him when he needs it. But thankfully, I don’t think he needs it that often.”
Results paying off
Mittelstadt’s ramped-up pace has been evident this season—with the 27-year-old forward’s refined board work now complemented by a renewed ability to win foot races to pucks.
Mittelstadt placed a premium on skating this offseason, with the winger fittingly potting home his 100th career goal on Saturday after a frantic forechecking shift.
“He always had good hands, and [his] brain, but I think he worked on it over the summer — the skating part … You can see it already,” Sturm said. “I think he’s quicker, he’s faster, and he’s been rock solid all year long.”
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