Jack Studley just reported that Bruins coach Marco Sturm has no update on James Hagens after the 6-2 win in Pittsburgh.
The Bruins took care of the Penguins tonight, but the story in the room is the rookie center who left the game early in the third period, according to Gino Hard.
Studley relayed what Sturm told reporters, and it was short on answers.
Sturm said he called Hagens up and the player was not there, so he never saw what happened. "So we'll see tomorrow," the coach said, adding: "Hopefully he will be ok."
That is a coach who simply hasn't had the chance to look at his player yet. No diagnosis, no timeline, no word on whether Hagens will even skate.
Conor Ryan reported that Hagens showed some discomfort on the bench before heading to the room. Ryan also noted that Samuel Girard delivered a crosscheck to Hagens' lower back, which was visible on the subsequent replay.
Hard flagged the same sequence and said he hopes it's nothing serious.
The Bruins have not said anything about Hagens' condition, and nothing is confirmed about his status for Sunday against the Panthers. Anything beyond that would be a guess.
Hagens' breakout season now waits on tomorrow's update
The timing stings because Hagens has been one of the best stories in Boston. The 20-year-old has 6 goals and 6 assists in 16 games, and he sits at +7.
We covered how Marco Sturm keeps preaching patience with James Hagens just a day earlier, even as the rookie exceeded expectations. That production has kept him in the Calder conversation.
Boston had a lot going right before tonight. The Bruins were 11-4-1 and first in the Atlantic Division, and Sturm had asked for a cleaner effort after Marco Sturm's call for better road play. Tonight's win in Pittsburgh answered that.
With that cushion, the Bruins can afford to be careful if there's any doubt about Hagens. Nobody should be rushing a top-line piece back for one game.
The next update should come tomorrow. Boston hosts the Panthers on Sunday, November 8, and Florida plays at Washington on Saturday first.
