Bruins GM explains decision to start James Hagens in AHL

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Bruins GM explains decision to start James Hagens in AHL

Matt Vautour · MassLive

Wed, Mar 25, 2026 ·

2 min read

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BOSTON — Don Sweeney said the Bruins wanted James Hagens to be playing, but he has to prove he’s ready to be thrown into a playoff race before putting him in that spot.

Hagens, the team’s top prospect and No. 1 pick from the 2025 NHL Draft, turned pro on Monday night. He signed an amateur tryout agreement to join the Providence Bruins in the AHL.

That gives him a chance to acclimate himself to playing against men while working on his game.

Sweeney didn’t want to downplay or promote the possibility that Hagens could reach the NHL this year.

“He’s excited to be able to play right away,” Sweeney said. “I think this presents that opportunity right away. And then we just get to explore options as it goes along. He gets acclimated to the pro game. It’s a big step coming from college, and it just allows him to jump right into the lineup.

“This just gives him the opportunity. He was ready to leave school, he wanted to leave and have the opportunity to play pro,” Sweeney added. “This provides the immediate opportunity to be in the lineup and take what a lot of people think are necessary steps.”

Sweeney admitted that if Hagens can address the concerns in his game — adapting to pro physicality, playing without the puck — that his already advanced offensive skills would be welcomed.

“James believes in his skillset,” Sweeney said. “The speed and skill that we can add to our lineup and complement our lineup, we would like to. But it has to be at a stage where you can trust a player. And that’s what James is going to start to go through here.”

Sweeney expressed confidence in Hagens’ long-term, but was concerned about what negatives promoting him too fast could have on the Bruins’ playoff chances and Hagens’ development.

“We identified some things, and our development staff worked with him. And he’ll apply that while in games, real early on in pro, and see if it translates,” Sweeney said. “If it doesn’t translate this year, it’ll translate next year, and we’ll just go down the normal path a player takes. But the skill and the offensive acumen that he has are exciting for us.”

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