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James Hagens will make highly anticipated Bruins debut vs. Blue Jackets
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- James Hagens will make highly anticipated Bruins debut vs. Blue Jackets
The wait for James Hagens ’ debut is over.
Marco Sturm confirmed to reporters that the 2025 first-round pick will be in the lineup when the Bruins play their final road game of the regular season on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets .
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“He’s very excited,” Sturm said . “Hopefully he’s going to have a good first game.”
Sturm said his message to Hagens is just to keep things simple.
“It’s not going to be easy,” he said. “I think the message he just received is, ‘(The Blue Jackets) are in the (playoff) hunt. They’re going to come out hard ... because they need to win those two games. So that’s why he’s gotta keep it simple, let his instict and skill take over.”
Hagens will play on a line with Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov .
The Bruins clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on Saturday despite losing 2-1 to the Tampa Bay Lightning . Regulation losses from the New York Islanders and the Detroit Red Wings helped Boston punch its ticket the postseason.
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Hagens signed his three-year, entry level contract with Boston on April 8. Sturm said the 19-year-old “just needs time” to get acclimated with the Bruins ’ system.
“We’re not going to throw that kid in and fail,” Sturm said. “I don’t want to do that. He’s on the right track. That’s our next step. We will take it day by day and find the right time.”
Hagens had a strong sophomore season at Boston College with 23 goals and 24 assists. He spent six games in AHL with the Providence Bruins and had one goal and three assists.
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