James Hagens is settling in fast with the Bruins, and the 19-year-old centre knows exactly who to thank in the locker room.
The rookie scored in Thursday night's 4-1 loss in St. Louis, one bright spot in a night Marco Sturm was not happy about.
That goal gave Hagens 5 goals and 5 assists through 14 games this season. He's also sitting at +6, a number that stands out on a team that has now lost two straight.
According to Conor Ryan, Hagens said the early routine is helping him feel more comfortable and settle in earlier. He also said he has to give all the older guys all the credit.
That's a message aimed squarely at the veterans in the Boston room. Young players don't always get that kind of guidance, and the Bruins' first-year forward clearly noticed it.
Hagens finished Thursday with 2 shots on goal in 15:42 of ice time. Casey Mittelstadt logged 15:58 and picked up an assist, so the minutes were nearly identical.
The table above shows how the production has arrived over his last 10 games. It's a steady build, not a one-night burst.
Why Hagens' fast start matters for the Bruins' slide
Boston still sits first in the Atlantic Division at 9-4-1, and the Bruins are 7-2-1 over their last 10. Two straight losses haven't erased that cushion.
But the sloppiness is real. Sturm made that clear after the game, and you can read more in Marco Sturm's criticism of the Bruins' effort.
Here is how Hagens put the credit on his teammates in the post from Ryan:
It's a good look for a seventh overall pick from 2025. Plenty of top picks arrive and look for the spotlight. Hagens is handing it out.
Boston's goal differential is +18, and the Bruins have scored 50 goals while allowing 32. A rookie contributing at this rate gives Sturm lineup flexibility on nights when the veterans struggle.
Chicago arrives Saturday for a game at home, where Boston is 5-1-0. Can Hagens keep it going while the team looks to stop a skid?
