Bruins rookie James Hagens ties for second in NHL rookie scoring with six points
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The gist
Bruins rookie James Hagens has two goals and four assists in nine games, tied for second in NHL rookie scoring.
The 19-year-old's early production is helping Boston's young scorers lift the team atop the Atlantic Division.
Background
James Hagens is a 19-year-old forward for the Boston Bruins, taken seventh overall in the 2025 NHL draft, in his first full NHL season. He played the previous two seasons in the NCAA (US college hockey) with Boston College, where games came about twice a week on Fridays and Saturdays. He has moved to three to five NHL games a week with air travel, steeper competition and limited practice time, and the Bruins' postgame recovery routine has become part of his adjustment.
How it unfolded
- Oct 13, 2026Hagens prepares for warmups before the Bruins' game against the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center in San Jose, California.
- Oct 16, 2026Hagens records two assists, including one on the power play, plus two shots on goal and two blocked shots in a 4-2 Bruins win over the Anaheim Ducks; he assists on Matthew Poitras' goal.
- Oct 18, 2026Hagens, described as a 19-year-old rookie, discusses postgame recovery and off-ice work in Dallas.
- Oct 20, 2026Hagens has two goals, four assists, six points and a plus-2 rating in nine games, tied for second in scoring among NHL rookies; the Bruins are 7-2-0 and top the Atlantic Division.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Causeway Crowd writer Nate Duffett argues the Bruins should make one lineup change to unlock Hagens' potential, suggesting a line of Hagens, Fraser Minten and JJ Peterka.
- Caution
- Duffett notes the argument against combining Hagens, Minten and Peterka is how that line would look in the defensive zone, and that Khusnutdinov has moments where he looks overmatched in second-line minutes.
- Player
- Hagens says the schedule is a lot on the body and that recovery means taking a deep dive on what his body needs, including eating and gym work.