James Hagens says Elias Lindholm has taught him plenty, and the Bruins rookie is soaking it up while Boston keeps winning.
That comes on a Saturday when the Bruins beat the Blackhawks 5-4 in overtime at home. It was the kind of night that rewards a young centre for paying attention.
Hagens, 19, is 14 games into his season and sitting at 5 goals and 5 assists. He's a +6, which says plenty about how he's handled the defensive side of the job.
Maybe that's the point of the lesson. Asked what he's learned from Lindholm, Hagens pointed straight to the defensive side of the game, according to Jack Studley.
"I've learned a lot, especially defensively," Hagens said. He called Lindholm "such a good player" who is "great all around."
Hagens also described Lindholm as a guy "you want on your team if you want to win." And he said the veteran shows that every single night.
That's high praise for a 31-year-old who has spent a long career as a complete center. Lindholm has 11 points through 14 games this season, with 2 power-play goals among his 4.
Why Lindholm's example matters for Hagens
The Bruins drafted Hagens seventh overall in 2025, and the pressure on a lottery-range pick is usually about offense. Hagens is putting up points, but the first thing he credits is how to play away from the puck.
Boston doesn't need him to be a finished product. It needs him to keep his game clean while Marco Sturm leans on a veteran core, and Lindholm is the one setting the template.
James Hagens thanking Bruins vets after scoring in St. Louis already showed how quickly he's found his place in that room.
The timing matters too. Sturm wasn't pleased with the effort in Marco Sturm's criticism of the Bruins' effort after the 4-1 loss in St. Louis. Boston answered by beating Chicago, and it now sits at 10-4-1.
Hagens had a clear picture of what Lindholm brings, and Jack Studley shared the full thought:
Next up is a Monday home date against the Golden Knights, with the Bruins 6-1-0 at home. Whether Hagens keeps absorbing those habits will show up in how he plays without the puck.
