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New York Times
03-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Bruins' James Hagens vows to remember ‘every team' that passed on him, and why Sean Kuraly came home
BRIGHTON, Mass. — In the Boston Bruins' best-case scenario, James Hagens will arrive for good in approximately nine months. By then, if he has checked every box, he will have helped Boston College win an NCAA title, improved from his point-per-game freshman pace and added another layer of muscle to his 190-pound frame. Advertisement It's not out of the question. Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, Hagens' most recent BC linemates, said goodbye to the Eagles after their sophomore seasons. Both first-round picks (Leonard was No. 8 in 2023, Perreault No. 23 the same year) reported directly to the Washington Capitals and New York Rangers, respectively. Leonard played in nine regular-season games and eight more in the playoffs. Perreault made five appearances. Hagens would like to make this a trend. He has a point to make to himself, the Bruins and the six clubs that said no thanks to calling his name at the 2025 NHL Draft. 'I'm really glad I ended up being a Boston Bruin,' the No. 7 pick said. 'I'm really excited to prove every team that passed on me wrong. I'll remember every kid, every team that passed on you. It's something that'll drive you, that'll push you. I'm excited to be able to show that on the ice.' Leonard parachuted into a first-place team. He was ready for it. The sturdy right wing was physically and mentally primed for the opportunity. If Hagens is similarly ready at the end of his sophomore season, chances are he will not be entering an environment like Leonard did this past April. By the time Hagens wants to collect his first NHL paycheck, the short-on-skill Bruins could be playing out the string for the second straight season. It will likely be the case, then, that the Bruins will not be counting on Hagens to prime them for the 2025-26 playoffs. It is clear that Hagens will arrive on his schedule. A potential No. 1 NHL center is too critical of a commodity, especially considering the Bruins' shortcomings, to accelerate. So for the Bruins to bring Hagens on, he will have to prove beyond a doubt that staying in school for his junior year would stall his development. 'He'll know he can take command, take control and really help be a leader, even as a sophomore,' BC coach Greg Brown said of being BC's go-to player without Leonard, Perreault and goalie Jacob Fowler. 'Help be a leader of driving our team and driving our offense. I'm sure that excites him.' Advertisement Part of the reason Hagens was available for the Bruins was his 11-goal, 37-point freshman line. The year before, Will Smith exploded for a 71-point freshman season while centering Perreault and Leonard, his U.S. National Team Development Program linemates. As Smith's replacement, Hagens was projected by NHL clubs to approach his predecessor's total. Hagens had his standalone pedigree too: 102 points with the Under-18 team in 2023-24. In hindsight, it might have been unrealistic. 'Whether it was the public or the media, they just built up such a high expectation that I don't know if anyone could achieve that level of play,' Brown said. 'He played great. For any young freshman who really should have been a senior in high school, he had a great year for us.' Brown and the Bruins are expecting Hagens to take a big step in two areas that are required of professionals: consistency and competitiveness. Hockey East rivals will train their sights on Hagens because of how much more he'll be asked to do offensively. Hagens should be counting on nightly dogfights. He can't wait. 'I want to be a Boston Bruin,' Hagens said. 'I want to be a Boston Bruin really bad.' In 2021, Sean Kuraly said goodbye to the Bruins when he signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets. He left behind, among others, Patrice Bergeron, Charlie Coyle, Brandon Carlo, Jake DeBrusk, Taylor Hall, Brad Marchand and Tuukka Rask. Four years later, Kuraly knows he is returning to something completely different. 'I think it's pretty clear how this group is going to have to win games,' said the two-time Bruin during a Wednesday Zoom call. 'How awesome is that to have a fairly clear objective of how we're going to have to do it? We're going to have to be hard on the forecheck, skate, play hard, be detailed and do things the right way.' Advertisement The team Kuraly is rejoining, in other words, cannot compare to the talented clubs — he was part of the 2019 roster that was one win short of the Stanley Cup — he used to know. One reason Kuraly received Columbus' four-year, $10 million offer was his Bruins experience. The rebuilding Blue Jackets wanted Kuraly's on- and off-ice presence, touched by playing with Bergeron and Zdeno Chara, to lead a turnaround. It didn't happen. Kuraly never played a single postseason game with his hometown Blue Jackets. It left a mark. 'We went through some tough years in Columbus,' the 32-year-old said. 'I think you can learn a lot in those tough years, just trying to stay within yourself when the team is struggling and can't win games. You learn a lot about not trying to do too much or not trying to do more than you're capable of.' It's possible Kuraly's streak of non-playoff qualification will continue. He joins a crowd of fourth-liners on a team that is desperate for second- and third-line punch. While Kuraly might like being the No. 3 center, that would not necessarily be a good indication for his employer. Kuraly, however, is eager to reintroduce himself to David Pastrnak, Charlie McAvoy and Jeremy Swayman, his only remaining teammates from 2021. Kuraly knows his role as a straight-line support player who understands the peak to which the Bruins aim to return. 'It seems like a fun challenge to do all we can to start a new chapter of this,' said Kuraly. 'Kind of cool to be coming back with that opportunity and with a group that seems to have a lot of potential and a lot of good players that have been around.' The Milan Lucic signing did not work out. The Bruins traded Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers. Jeffrey Viel, the organization's most willing fighter, has 54 career NHL appearances. Advertisement Supply and demand, then, led to the Bruins signing Tanner Jeannot to a five-year, $17 million contract. Jeannot knows his job. 'I try to make other guys know I'm on the ice and make them feel uncomfortable,' said the enforcer. 'Maybe that makes them get rid of pucks a little bit quicker and put their teammates in a tougher spot. That tends to create more turnovers and gets pucks into my team's hands a bit more often.' Jeannot fought eight times in 2024-25, according to HockeyFights. He was credited with 211 hits. If he plays with Mark Kastelic (218 hits), it will not be a fun night for depth defensemen tasked with puck retrieval. 'We're going to be a team that teams aren't going to want to go against,' Jeannot said. 'When they are going to see the Boston Bruins coming into town, they know it's going to be a fight.' Andre Gasseau considered leaving BC after his junior year and signing with the Bruins. Gasseau, the team's seventh-round pick in 2021, was coming off a career-best 30-point season. The opportunity to return as one of BC's captains pulled Gasseau back toward campus for his senior season. He will be in charge of, among others, five Bruins picks: Hagens, Dean Letourneau, Oskar Jellvik and Will Moore. 'He's continued to develop physically to now where he's going to be very ready when he does turn pro for the size and strength of professional hockey players,' Brown said of Gasseau, who projects to be a bottom-six NHL wing. 'He's increased his speed and his playmaking ability each season and really honed in to what his identity needs to be.' Letourneau took a good step during the Bruins' development camp. The 2024 first-rounder, playing right wing, was physical when necessary and stronger on the puck than he was at last year's camp. The 6-foot-7 forward could be leaning toward more of a rugged wing than playmaking center. Advertisement 'I was really happy with Dean this week,' said director of player development Adam McQuaid. 'He really showed how much stronger he's gotten and more physical. He's using his frame, wanting to get to the net, doing things quicker.' Letourneau has been training at BC and at Warrior Ice Arena this offseason. (Top photo of James Hagens: Bruce Bennett / Getty Images)
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘He has that fire:' Meet James Hagens, Boston College's top NHL draft prospect
On Friday night, a lifelong dream will come true for James Hagens. The only question is how early. The 18-year-old from Boston College is a no-doubt first-rounder in the NHL Entry Draft. The No. 3 ranked North American skater according to NHL Central Scouting, Hagens falls between No. 2 overall and No. 5 in most pre-draft rankings. In a poll at The Athletic, evaluators were unanimous in voting Hagens as the 'best hands' in his entire class. Advertisement No matter where Hagens goes, he's going to relish the moment. That's the advice he's received from Boston College teammates like Ryan Leonard, Gabriel Perreault, and Jacob Fowler, all of whom have been drafted in the early rounds over the past two seasons. 'They all say the same thing: Just be grateful. Take it all in,' Hagens said. 'It goes by quick. This summer is a little crazy, but this is something you'll remember for the rest of your life. So these are all really special moments that you have to make sure you cherish with yourself and your family. It's just something to be grateful for.' Hagens has a chance to be drafted the highest of the bunch. 'I've had to work for everything' The son of two teachers, Hagens grew up on Long Island in Hauppauge, NY. His father, Michael, played defenseman for Division III SUNY-Brockport (1997-2000), and was quick to get the family hooked on hockey. Advertisement He built a backyard rink and all three of his children took to it. Hagens' older brother, Michael, is also a defenseman at Boston College, while his younger sister Emma plays at the Portledge School. Growing up they ventured to Islanders games at Nassau Coliseum and Hagens had a picture with Matt Martin on his bedroom wall. A playmaking forward on the smaller side, he liked watching clips of Blackhawks star Patrick Kane. After being coaching by his father on the Long Island Royals, Hagens starred at Rhode Island powerhouse Mount St. Charles and the US National Development Team Program before landing at Boston College as a 17-year-old last fall. Feeling he'd accomplished enough after two seasons of juniors, he was ready to raise the bar. 'I wanted to be challenged at the college level,' Hagens said. 'I wanted to join Boston College and I wanted to be pushed every day, playing against guys that are older and stronger that will push you and get you ready for the NHL... I knew that it would be the best step in getting me ready.' Advertisement Though it all, Hagens has carried a work ethic his parents instilled in him at a young age. When he attended the NHL Combine in June, he was hopeful that it stood out to teams. 'Just how high my compete level is,' Hagens said. 'I love winning. I will do anything to win. Something that's helped me get to the point where I am today is just how hard I've been able to work my whole life. 'Nothing has ever come easy. I've had to work for everything that I've ever gotten before. And that's something I'm super grateful for. That's something that's just within my family. That's something I was raised up, taught from my parents and my coaches. So going into those meetings, just really expressing how hard I compete and how badly I want to be on a team and hopefully win a Stanley Cup someday.' 'He has that fire' When Hagens arrived at Conte Forum, his new coach Greg Brown was struck by his demeanor right away. Advertisement 'He's a happy kid,' Brown said. 'He comes into the rink every day with a smile. Just excited to be there. You can feel his positive energy when he comes into the locker room.' As a teenager playing in rough-and-tumble Hockey East, Hagens acclimated to the competition quickly. He was named the Rookie of the Month in November, and once he returned from an exceptional World Juniors tournament — five goals, four assists en route to a Gold Medal — in January, Brown saw Hagens raise the bar even higher. 'You could see when games were tight, that he would elevate and really want to assert himself and try and take over the game,' Brown said. 'Or (have) a major impact in the game. So he has that competitiveness. He has that fire.' Hagens wound up with 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games as a freshman. The goal total wasn't huge, but Hagens was centering a line with NHL-bound wingers in Leonard and Perrault. He was happy to make the right play to set a teammate up. Hagens just wanted the 27-8-2 Eagles to win games. Advertisement Though it wasn't a Macklin-Celebrini-style explosion, he was pleased to be producing at a point-per-game rate given the level of competition he was facing. 'You're playing against guys that are 25, 24-year-olds every night,' Hagens said. 'It's tough. It's hard hockey, but I'm super grateful to be able to have the year I was able to have with the group of guys we did have.' Away from the rink, there was one other thing that stood out to Brown. 'He cares,' Brown said. 'He cares about his teammates. He wants to do the right things. He wants to learn. There's a lot of — it's not just going out there to show off his skill package. He wants to play the right way within the frame of the game and that's not always easy for guys who grow up always being the best guy on the ice. He wants to understand the big picture of how it all works and then be able to be as big a factor as he can within that framework.' 'Getting drafted has been my dream' Now comes the uncertainty for Hagens. Advertisement After earning spots on the US Development Team and at Boston College, he won't have agency in where he's drafted. It could be his hometown Islanders at No. 1 overall, the Bruins at No. 7, or anywhere from East Coast to West. If he slides to Boston, Hagens said he'd be embrace being a Bruin. 'I love Boston,' Hagens said. 'Being at Boston College, we're right in the middle of Boston there. So it's a beautiful city. Only great things to say about it. I love it there.' After the draft, Hagens said he doesn't know if he'll be back in Chestnut Hill for another season. That's a conversation he'll need to have with the team that drafts him and his family. NHL teams retain the rights of their draft picks throughout their college careers, so there's no rush for most selections. Advertisement Brown would certainly welcome him back with open arms. 'He's a driver on our team,' Brown said. 'A key guy. All over the ice, but especially in offensive situations. He's able to create offense where there seems to be none, and that's not an easy thing to do. I also think he would grow his leadership in the locker room and on the ice coming back as a sophomore.' Over the past year, there's been plenty of speculation about where he'll land next, but Hagens is doing his best to embrace the noise. Sooner or later, he knows his name will be called, and he'll be one step closer to the NHL. 'Honestly, you just kinda have to be grateful about it,' Hagens said. 'Being able to hear your name in those conversations and obviously leading up to the draft now, being allowed the opportunity to get drafted into any organization in the league, it's something you have to be grateful for. It's one step in your process, but you just have to be ready. Advertisement 'Getting drafted has been my dream my whole entire life. That's why I started playing hockey. That's why I still play. I'm really just grateful for everything right now. The noise will always be there, but you just have to make sure you're living in the moment.' Read the original article on MassLive.
Time of India
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
James Hagens continues to shine despite quieter season at Boston College
James Hagens continues to shine despite quieter season at Boston College (Image Source: Getty Images) James Hagens was the name to watch as one approached the 2025 NHL Draft . Everybody believed he was going to be the first pick. Having his whole career centered on Long Island, New York, the player did brilliantly at any and all levels. In the 2023-24 season, he amassed 102 points in 58 contests while also representing the USA Hockey National Team Development Program . Operation Sindoor India-Pakistan Tensions Live Updates: India hits back after Pakistan violates ceasefire; Nagrota sentry hurt in brief gunfire Operation Sindoor Live Updates: Drones shot down at multiple places in J&K as Pakistan violates bilateral understanding Pak drones enter Indian airspace, explosions heard just hours after truce deal That shall keep him among the nine who have collectively surpassed the 100 points plateau during a program season. James Hagens played with Ryan Leonard and Gabriel Perreault at Boston College After that phenomenal season, James Hagens committed to Boston College for the 2024-25 season. He played on a line with two of the top NHL prospects : Capitals' Ryan Leonard and Rangers' Gabriel Perreault. His fans were waiting to see him dominate again. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trending in in 2025: Local network access control [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo He did not score as much as everyone wanted him to, but he still had 37 points in 37 games. That's one per game, which is still good. He also helped Team USA win gold at the World Juniors with five goals and four assists. James Hagens struggled at college. He was shorter than many of the older heavier players. Because of his longer height, it was harder for him to get to the net. Most of his shots were from far away, and his goal numbers dropped: 2022-23 (NTDP): 26 goals in 43 games (27.5%) 2023-24 (NTDP): 39 goals on 58 games (18.5%) 2024-25 (Boston College): 11 goals in 37 games (7.9%) James Hagens' playmaking and skating continue to show elite NHL potential With fewer targets to work with, James Hagens continued to look like an NHL star in the making. He is an extremely talented skater. He is quick, able, and able to make such sharp cuts that other offensive players benefit from them. For instance, he can drive to the top of the slot during the power play and pivot off a smart pass to a teammate who's open. He also has good puck control, and it's hard to get him on one. If there isn't a passing lane, he can shoot himself. He is worried about his size, but he plays hard and can defend himself. He compares several times to the New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes. Like Hughes, James Hagens can be a great offense if he gets bigger and plays on a first line in the first few years of his NHL career. James Hagens didn't score as many goals this year, but he played great nonetheless. He has been one of the best up-and-coming hockey players for years. With more time to hone his craft, he still seems like a top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. Also Read: James Hagens Leads Powerful Trio To Golden Season With Smart Plays
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
'Tom Wilson owns the entire city of Montreal': Old-school hockey brawl on the bench while Ryan Leonard and Lane Hutson just hold hands
(Image via Getty: Tom Wilson and Josh Anderson) The most exciting, adrenaline-rush-inducing incident occurred on the ice hockey rink of Game 3 of Round 1 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs. A bench brawl ensued between Canadian professional ice hockey right winger and alternate captain for the Washington Capitals , Tom Wilson , and Canadian professional ice hockey winger for the Montreal Canadiens, Josh Anderson. Some fans thought the Capitals were losing it because they had won Game 1 and Game 2, but couldn't work their magic for Game 3! While some fans loved revisiting the good old days of Old School Hockey where brawls were regulars. Peace among chaos - Ryan Leonard of the Washington Capitals and Lane Hutson of the Montreal Canadiens hold hands while watching their teammates engage in a brutal bench brawl by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas Prices In Dubai Might Be More Affordable Than You Think Villas In Dubai | Search Ads View Deals Undo While Thomas Wilson and Joshua Anderson were busy fighting, two of their teammates were so frightened of their passion that they kept their distance. The two opposite teammates observed them holding each other's hands. We are talking about - an American professional ice hockey right winger for the Washington Capitals, Ryan Leonard - and - another American professional ice hockey defenseman for the Montreal Canadiens, Lane Hutson. Ryan Leonard and Lane Hutson stood away from the bench brawl and pacified each other. On one side, a bench brawl ensued between the two teams, and on the other hand, support and friendship ensued between the same two teams! Two classic moments were captured on the X (formerly Twitter), and we would like to give you the reactions these two incidents received from all over the world! Fans loved the bench brawl between Tom Wilson of the Washington Capitals and Josh Anderson of the Montreal Canadiens but found Ryan Leonard and Lane Hutson's hand-holding funny 'Tom Wilson owns the entire city of Montreal' 'Did Ovi already go to the room? ��' 'That was pretty entertaining, to be fair. Awesome game.' 'i've been on this planet for nearly three decades watching a LOT of hockey but i've NEVER seen a fight on the bench itself' 'Best match up in the nhl right now' 'Shocker. Caps losing so they have to start fighting. Typical' 'Anderson started it, Wilson finished it' 'just holdin hands' 'Leonard an Hutson hahahah' 'Gotta love it. Old time hockey.' 'It was 70's night' 'Ryan and Lane just 🧍♂️🧍♂️' 'Finally good hockey, it's been missing for the past 25 years!' 'Leonard and Hutson just chillin' 'On Washington's bench? How did Anderson get there' 'We got bench clearing brawls in 2025 NHL before GTA6' 'Game Misconduct and 1 Game suspension - each.' 'That's good old fashion brawl.' 'Nothing beats playoff hockey' 'Greatest sport on earth' 'love it, hockey as I remember it' 'Woah emotions! They could surely use a mindfulness coach right about now. 🤣🧘🏻♀️ 🫶🏼' 'Isn't this like a multiple game suspension? lol' 'Throwback rockem sockem hockey' 'I like how the 2 rookies are just away from it all chatting about what's going on with the boys today ��' Also Read: 'I was afraid, I was excited, I was emotional, I was crying at the end': rookie goaltender Jakub Dobes shone in Game 3 of the Montreal Canadiens | NHL News - The Times of India
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New NHL 25 Roster Update, Ryan Leonard, Gabriel Perreault, Jimmy Snuggerud, And Oliver Moore Added
EA SPORTS NHL 25 - A new roster update is live in NHL 25 with new rookies being added to the game. New York Rangers forward Gabriel Perreault, Washing Capitals forward Ryan Leonard, St. Louis Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud, Chicago Blackhawks forward Oliver Moore and Blackhawks defenseman Sam Rinzel all received new playable characters in-game. Advertisement Leonard received medium elite potential, while the other three were given medium top 6 potential. Rinzel is a medium top 4 defenseman. Montreal Canadiens prospects Jacob Fowler and Ivan Demidov should be added once they appear in their first professional games in North America. All players were assigned to their respective teams and are playable in play now, franchise mode, shootout mode, and all other offline modes. All four new rookie forwards are pictured below EA SPORTS NHL 25 EA SPORTS NHL 25 EA SPORTS NHL 25 EA SPORTS NHL 25 Check out HUT Corner Stones Event Week 2, April Fools' content release and Team of the Season Week 1. For more NHL 25 news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site or follow our Google News Feed. For gaming discussion check out our forum.
