What James Hagens starting in Providence means for top prospect and Bruins originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston
James Hagens is starting his pro career with the AHL’s Providence Bruins, but that doesn’t necessarily mean Boston Bruins fans won’t see him play in the NHL at some point this season.
The Bruins signed their top prospect to an AHL amateur tryout contract (ATO) late Monday night.
“We’re very excited to have James join the Bruins organization and take this next step,” Bruins general manager Don Sweeney said in a press release.
“James is an important part of our future, and this is a great opportunity for him to get immediate experience at the professional level in Providence and continue his development, while keeping all options open.”
Hagens was selected by the Bruins with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He is their best prospect in at least a decade and is coming off a stellar sophomore year at Boston College during which he tallied a career-high 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 34 games.
Some fans might be disappointed that Hagens hasn’t yet signed his entry-level contract to join the Bruins. And that’s understandable. The hype around Hagens is immense. But there’s no harm in getting him some AHL experience, and the B’s still have the option to sign him to his ELC and elevate him to the NHL before the end of the season if they want.
What does it all mean, and how could Hagens find himself in the NHL this season? Let’s break it down.
What happens now?
Hagens practiced with Providence on Tuesday and likely will make his AHL debut Wednesday when the P-Bruins play Springfield. Providence also has games scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.
Hagens is essentially in tryout mode. If he plays well in Providence, the chances of him reaching the NHL this season improve (more on that shortly).
What are the Bruins’ options?
Hagens signing an AHL ATO gives both the Bruins and Hagens more options than if he just signed his ELC right off the bat.
New NHL contracts signed after the trade deadline prevent players from playing in the AHL that season. Therefore, by going to Providence first, Hagens is eligible to play for the Providence Bruins and in the AHL playoffs.
The P-Bruins are No. 1 in the Eastern Conference standings and expected to make a deep run in the Calder Cup Playoffs. The intensity of the AHL playoffs is a step up in competition from NCAA hockey, so those reps would be beneficial for Hagens.
The Bruins can also sign Hagens to his ELC if they want him on the NHL roster this season. Signing his AHL ATO doesn’t prevent him from going to the NHL at some point this year.
Keeping Hagens in the AHL through the remainder of the 2025-26 campaign would ensure that his ELC does not begin until next season. If he signed his ELC this season, he’d burn one of its three years. In that scenario, his ELC would end after the 2027-28 season, instead of after the 2028-29 campaign.
How Hagens could make it to NHL this season
The AHL-to-NHL path is pretty common, even for prospects of Hagens’ caliber. The transition to minor league hockey is obviously easier than the NHL, especially in the Bruins’ current situation where they are fighting for a playoff spot.
The B’s, with 12 regular season games remaining and a slim two-point lead in the wild card race, are not in a position to develop young prospects and allow them to make mistakes. The stakes are too high in Boston right now. Every point in the standings is critically important.
That said, Hagens could still find himself wearing the spoked-B if one or more of a few different scenarios unfold, including…
1. Injuries test the Bruins’ depth
Similar to Hagens, Charlie McAvoy began his pro career with an AHL amateur tryout agreement and reported to Providence after his Boston University season ended in 2017.
McAvoy could have remained in the AHL the rest of that season, but the Bruins’ blue line was so decimated by injuries entering their first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators that they pretty much had to call up McAvoy. He didn’t look out of place, either. McAvoy played very well in the six games versus the Senators.
If the Bruins were to be hit by injuries at center or on the wing between now and the playoffs, the best player in Providence to call up would be Hagens given his impressive offensive skill set.
2. Hagens forces Bruins’ hand by dominating in AHL
If Hagens is lighting up the stat sheet and making a huge impact offensively for Providence, it’s possible the Bruins just call him up and hope he can carry that success to the NHL level.
The Bruins need to play with more speed, and there is a lack of high-end playmaking and goal-scoring talent throughout their roster. Hagens has the skill set to address all three of those concerns in the near future.
Expectations for Hagens if he reaches NHL this spring
Hagens has enormous talent and potential, and many experts (including yours truly) project him to be a top-six forward for a long time.
However, there are several recent examples of forwards who were a first-round pick and joined their NHL team soon after leaving college and did not produce at a high level that season. It doesn’t mean they won’t be great NHL players; it just shows how hard it is to make the transition to the NHL immediately after ending your college career.
- Cole Caufield, Wisconsin (No. 15 overall, 2019 draft, MTL): 4 goals, 1 assist in 10 games played
- Kent Johnson, Michigan (No. 5, 2021, CBJ): 0 goals, 3 assists in 9 GP
- Matty Beniers, Michigan (No. 2, 2022, SEA): 3 goals, 6 assists in 10 GP
- Ryan Leonard, Boston College (No. 8, 2023, WSH): 1 goal, 0 assists in 9 GP
- Matthew Wood, Minnesota (No. 15, 2023, NSH): 0 goals, 1 assist in 6 GP
- Gabriel Perreault, Boston College (No. 23, 2023, NYR): 0 goals, 0 assists in 5 GP
Two of those examples are Hagens’ former linemates at BC, Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault.
Leonard joined the Washington Capitals late last season after BC’s campaign ended. Leonard, like Hagens, was a top-10 pick and played two years for the Eagles before turning pro.
Leonard scored one goal with zero assists in nine regular season games for the Capitals, then tallied one assist in eight 2025 playoff games with Washington. He wasn’t productive offensively, but the experience did help him make a jump this season. Leonard has 36 points (15 goals, 21 assists) in 64 games so far.
Perreault also made the transition to the NHL late last season and went scoreless with five shots in five games for the New York Rangers.
What would be fair expectations for Hagens if he does join the Bruins this season? Don’t get exposed defensively, create scoring chances and push the pace in transition. He would also need to prove he can win 50-50 puck battles and not be overmatched physically.