theathleticuk
In the Boston Bruins' 3-2 shootout victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Monday, rookie James Hagens logged a career-high 17:27 of ice time. The 19-year-old opened the scoring in the first period with a seven-foot shot from the net front, giving Boston a 1-0 advantage. That marker was Hagens' sixth of the season, the most among all NHL rookies, and it highlighted his knack for finding dangerous areas on the ice.
Hagens' line, centered by Casey Mittelstadt with Elias Lindholm on the wing, was tasked with matching up against Vegas' top unit of Ivan Barbashev, Jack Eichel, and Mark Stone. The Golden Knights' first-liners were held without a five-on-five goal. "I do like that now he's facing the big boys," Bruins coach Marco Sturm said. "Those are big steps for him. Moving forward, how to play behind them, manage pucks, not give away pucks. He can't do things overnight. It has to be step by step. Sometimes it's just playing games."
The performance came just one game after Hagens was benched for the third period against the Chicago Blackhawks on Oct. 30. With Boston trailing 3-2 and fewer than eight minutes remaining in regulation, Hagens attempted a pass from the left-side wall to Hampus Lindholm at the point, but the puck struck Connor Bedard's skate, sparking a Chicago counterattack. Hagens tried to bat a subsequent pass out of the air but deflected it off his leg and onto Bedard's stick, and Bedard buried a backhander to make it 4-2. It was Hagens' final shift of the night.
Rather than dwell on the miscue, Hagens has impressed his coach with his response. "What I like about Hagens is that he knows. A lot of times," Sturm said. "Not just about (against Chicago), but even the nights before. When he makes a mistake, he owns it. A lot of kids don't. He's willing to come in and watch it over again. It's a learning process for him as well. What I like about him is he's willing to get better and he realized a big mistake. Good for him."
Part of Hagens' development includes one-on-one sessions with assistant coach Chris Kelly, reviewing shifts and specific plays. Kelly, a former responsible center trusted for penalty kills, late-game faceoffs, and key matchups, serves as an ideal mentor. Sturm is taking a patient approach with the teenager, insisting on foundational habits and refusing to tolerate giveaways or casual puck play. Hagens is learning that every touch matters.
"Puck management is a huge thing," Hagens said. "You have to know when you can and can't make a play. You've got to know if it's high-danger and low-reward or if it's the right time to do it. It's asking questions when you make a mistake. The older guys, they've been so great at giving me feedback and talking to me."
While Hagens may already possess top-end speed, skill, and creativity on the Bruins' roster, he is also earning respect for his willingness to do the dirty work. His first-period goal came from the crease area, where he accepted Lindholm's pass. "We all see the heat map as players in here where all the goals are scored," forward Morgan Geekie said. "It's right around the crease. We see the skill he has and the difference he can make on the power play, the half-wall, stuff like that. It doesn't go unnoticed by us. You see him on the scoresheet and you think he's scoring highlight-reel goals. But nobody asks how they go in, just how many you've got. To see him step into that role and grind his way there is a testament to how he's been playing and his mindset. Obviously he's getting rewarded for it."
Key Analysis
Hagens is in a favorable situation, learning from veterans Mittelstadt and Lindholm, taking on matchup shifts, and quarterbacking the second power-play unit from the half-wall. While greater things are expected, all parties are exercising patience. "There's still a lot to grow," Sturm said. "But he's getting it. He's getting it. That's the biggest thing. He knows now. As soon as he screws up, he's the first one that admits it. That's a good thing. You've just got to give him time. He's doing just fine."
Originally reported by theathleticuk.