19-Year-Old Heigens Joins Boston Bruins Before Regular Season Ends

The Boston Bruins have signed forward James Hagens to a three-year entry-level contract, according to an announcement by General Manager Don Sweeney on April 8, 2026. The contract begins with the 2025-26 season and carries an annual NHL cap hit of $975,000.

The 19-year-old Hagens was selected by Boston with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Following the signing, Hagens is expected to join the Bruins immediately and could make his NHL debut on April 11, 2026, in a game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Collegiate and Professional Transition

Before signing the NHL contract, Hagens spent two seasons with Boston College from 2024 to 2026. During his collegiate tenure, he appeared in 71 games, recording 34 goals and 50 assists for a total of 84 points.

In his sophomore season, Hagens led Hockey East skaters in scoring, producing 47 points consisting of 23 goals and 24 assists across 34 games. His performance included two hat tricks and six game-winning goals. He was also named the MVP of the Beanpot victory, where he recorded two goals and three assists to help Boston College win the tournament for the first time in a decade.

Hagens had previously been named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team during the 2024-25 season after posting 37 points, including 11 goals and 26 assists in 37 games.

The forward transitioned to professional play on March 24, 2026, when he joined the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League (AHL) on an amateur tryout agreement (ATO). In six AHL appearances, Hagens recorded one goal and three assists for four points.

International and Junior Career

Prior to his time at Boston College, the Hauppauge, New York, native spent two seasons from 2022 to 2024 with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). He recorded 187 points, comprising 72 goals and 115 assists, which ranks as the fifth-highest total in the program’s history.

Hagens has also represented the United States in several international competitions:

• Two IIHF World Junior Championships (2025, 2026), winning gold in 2025.
• Two IIHF U-18 Men’s World Championships (2023, 2024), winning gold in 2023.

During the 2024 IIHF U-18 Men’s World Championship, Hagens earned tournament MVP honors and helped the United States secure a silver medal. He currently holds the single-tournament scoring record for the IIHF U-18 Men’s World Championship with 22 points.

Bruins Playoff Context

Hagens joins the Bruins at a critical point in their regular season. The team currently holds the first wild card position in the Eastern Conference for the Stanley Cup Playoffs, leading the Ottawa Senators by four points.

Boston enters the final stretch of the season with 96 points and three regular-season games remaining. Despite their standing, the team has lost four consecutive games, recording a 0-2-2 mark in those contests.