boston
When the Boston Bruins selected James Hagens with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft, they envisioned a dynamic, fleet-footed offensive threat. But through 12 games this season, the 19-year-old rookie has surprised many by playing more like a bruising power forward than a perimeter playmaker.
Hagens is currently tied for the NHL rookie scoring lead with four goals and five assists, sharing the top spot with San Jose's Ivar Stenberg. His third-period goal in Saturday's 6-4 win over the Sharks—a gritty rebound jammed home from the blue paint—served as the latest evidence that his offensive repertoire is more diverse than initially thought.
"That was something right away we noticed—this is not college anymore," Bruins coach Marco Sturm said of Hagens' scoring approach. "I think he realized pretty soon, and we're pushing him pretty hard, getting more to the paint, more to the inside. That's where you score the goals, so good for him that he realized that."
At 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, Hagens may not resemble the second coming of Cam Neely, but three of his four goals this season have come from within seven feet of the net, according to NHL tracking data. The only exception was a banked-in goal from behind the net against Ottawa on October 5. Additionally, Hagens leads all NHL forwards with 16 blocked shots.
While he wasn't drafted to be a net-front presence or a bottom-six grinder, Hagens cares more about results than style. Whether it's picking a corner on a breakaway or scoring a dirty goal in the crease, the rookie forward is finding ways to produce.
"It's not easy to score in this league," Hagens said. "I just feel like if you keep going to the net, hopefully good things will happen. It's crazy how loud the crowd was tonight. It was a super cool feeling. That's something that I will be able to remember for the rest of my career and the rest of my life."
Shutting Down Celebrini
While the Bruins struggled on special teams against San Jose—allowing two power-play goals, one shorthanded tally, and one at 4-on-4—they were dominant at even strength. In 41 minutes of 5-on-5 play, Boston outscored the Sharks 4-0 and held an 18-4 advantage in high-danger scoring chances.
Neutralizing San Jose's top line, centered by superstar Macklin Celebrini, is no small feat. But Sturm appears to have found a reliable shutdown trio in Hagens, Elias Lindholm, and Casey Mittelstadt. In 7:16 of 5-on-5 ice time against Celebrini's line, the Bruins outscored the Sharks 2-0 and had a 10-2 edge in high-danger chances.
Mittelstadt credited Lindholm's defensive prowess, noting that the veteran has found new life after being bumped down the depth chart to 3C. In eight games since joining Hagens and Mittelstadt, Lindholm has eight points and has often tilted the ice in Boston's favor at 5-on-5.
"Lindy does a heck of a job in all three zones," Mittelstadt said. "Me and Hages are there to support him and help him when he needs it. But thankfully, I don't think he needs it that often."
Results Paying Off for Mittelstadt
Mittelstadt's improved pace has been noticeable this season, with his refined board work now complemented by a renewed ability to win foot races to pucks. The 27-year-old forward prioritized skating in the offseason, and it paid off on Saturday when he scored his 100th career goal after a relentless forechecking shift.
"He always had good hands, and [his] brain, but I think he worked on it over the summer—the skating part. You can see it already," Sturm said. "I think he's quicker, he's faster, and he's been rock solid all year long."
Originally reported by boston.