James Hagens concluded his NCAA career Friday when Boston College lost to the University of Connecticut in the Hockey East Tournament semifinals. Rich Gagnon / Getty Images
March 24, 2026 7:33 am EDT
James Hagens, the No. 7 pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Boston Bruins. Hagens will report to Providence to start his pro career and practice Tuesday with the P-Bruins. The AHL club plays next on Wednesday against Springfield.
It remains to be seen how long Hagens will play in the AHL. The Bruins went this route with Charlie McAvoy in 2017. The 2016 first-rounder was expected to stay with Providence for the remainder of the season. However, McAvoy was needed with the main club for the playoffs because of injuries. McAvoy made a rapid transition to the NHL after four AHL games, and appeared in all six of the Bruins’ first-round games against the Ottawa Senators.
The 19-year-old Hagens concluded his NCAA career Friday at the Garden when Boston College lost to the University of Connecticut in the Hockey East Tournament semifinals, 4-3 in overtime. Hagens had two assists in the loss, both on power-play goals by fellow Bruins prospect Dean Letourneau.
Hagens is following the path set by Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, his linemates last year. Leonard (Washington Capitals) and Perreault (New York Rangers) signed their entry-level deals and played for their NHL teams after BC’s 2024-25 season ended.
Hagens projects to be an offensive-minded NHL forward who uses his speed, skill and puck-transporting ability to create chances for himself and his linemates. As a BC sophomore, Hagens scored 23 goals and 24 assists in 34 games. The natural center and Beanpot MVP played mostly left wing. BC coach Greg Brown credited Hagens for developing his game away from the puck while maintaining his offensive presence.
While Hagens’ long-term future may be in the middle, playing left wing could ease his NCAA-to-NHL transition. The most likely starting spot for Hagens is No. 3 left wing next to Elias Lindholm and Morgan Geekie.
Lukas Reichel, acquired from the Vancouver Canucks at the trade deadline, made his Bruins debut as the third-line left wing Thursday against the Winnipeg Jets. Like Reichel, the left-shot Hagens plays with pace and touch. Neither Mikey Eyssimont nor Alex Steeves, who have also taken recent shifts at No. 3 left wing, has made an offensive impact.
Mar 24, 2026
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