Hagens signs 3-year, entry-level contract with Bruins, could debut Saturday

James Hagens signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins on Wednesday and could make his NHL debut as early as Saturday in opposition to the Tampa Bay Lightning (12:30 p.m. ET; ABC, SNW).

The contract begins this season and has a mean annual worth of $975,000.

The Bruins (43-26-10) enter Wednesday as the primary wild card into the Stanley Cup Playoffs from the Eastern Conference, 4 factors forward of the Ottawa Senators. They have misplaced 4 in a row (0-2-2) and have three regular-season video games remaining.

Hagens was chosen by Boston with the No. 7 decide within the 2025 NHL Draft. The 19-year-old ahead joined Providence of the American Hockey League on an beginner tryout settlement (ATO) on March 24 and has 4 factors (one objective, three assists) in six AHL video games.

Prior to signing his ATO, Hagens had a team-leading 47 factors (23 objectives, 24 assists) in 34 video games in his second season with Boston College. He additionally led the staff with six game-winning objectives and two hat methods. Hagens was named to Hockey East’s All-Rookie Team final season, when he had 37 factors (11 objectives, 26 assists) in 37 video games.

Prior to his collegiate profession, Hagens performed two seasons (2022-24) with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP), the place he had 187 factors (72 objectives, 115 assists), the fifth most in program historical past.

A local of Hauppauge, New York, Hagens has represented the US internationally in two IIHF World Junior Championships (2025, 2026) and two IIHF U-18 Men’s World Championships (2023, 2024). He received gold on the 2025 WJC and the 2023 U-18 tournaments and holds the IIHF U-18 males’s World Championship single event document with 22 factors in 2024, incomes event MVP honors and serving to the US take dwelling the silver medal.