Bruins Urged to Resist Rushing Top Prospect to NHL

Experts caution against prematurely promoting 19-year-old James Hagens from AHL to solve Boston's offensive woes.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:08pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting in muted blues, grays, and whites, with splashes of red and yellow, depicting the action and intensity of a hockey game in an abstract, deconstructed style.A cubist interpretation of a tense late-season hockey game, reflecting the Bruins' offensive struggles and the need for careful player development.Boston Today

The Boston Bruins are struggling to score goals amid a tough late-season stretch, leading some to call for the team to promote top prospect James Hagens from the AHL to the NHL. However, analysts warn that rushing the 19-year-old forward, who has just one goal and four points in six AHL games, would be unwise and could stunt his long-term development.

Why it matters

The Bruins' offensive slump comes at a critical time, with the team fighting for playoff positioning. While Hagens has shown promise in the minors, experts caution that the NHL level may be too much too soon for the young player, and that prematurely promoting him could backfire and hurt both the team and the prospect's long-term future.

The details

The Bruins have managed just one goal in each of their last three road games, a stretch that has seen them take only one out of a possible six points. Despite their struggles, the team remains in a strong position to clinch a playoff spot as a wild card team. However, the offensive woes have led some to suggest the Bruins should call up Hagens, their 2025 first-round draft pick, to provide a spark. Hagens has shown flashes of skill in his brief AHL stint, but analysts caution that the jump from college to the NHL may be too much for the 19-year-old at this stage of his development.

  • The Bruins have scored just one goal in each of their last three road games.
  • Hagens has posted one goal and four points in six AHL games since signing an amateur tryout agreement.
  • The Bruins are fighting for playoff positioning with about a month left in the regular season.

The players

James Hagens

A 19-year-old forward who was the Bruins' first-round draft pick in 2025. He has shown promise in the AHL but experts caution against rushing him to the NHL too soon.

David Pastrnak

A veteran Bruins forward who has acknowledged the team's offensive struggles and the need to find a way to generate more goals.

Marco Sturm

A Bruins player who praised the team's effort in a recent overtime loss, saying they battled back to secure an important point.

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What they’re saying

“'It's tough to be positive right now. The trip is going tough, you know, and we're not getting the wins. We're not playing good hockey and the offense is struggling right now. We just need to turn it around.'”

— David Pastrnak, Bruins forward

“'I thought that was a huge point for us. I know everything wasn't smooth for us, but guys battled back. [It was] unfortunate a little bit in OT [with the penalties], but I will take that point.'”

— Marco Sturm, Bruins player

What’s next

The Bruins will look to get their offense back on track when they take on the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.

The takeaway

While the Bruins' offensive struggles are concerning, experts advise against rushing their top prospect James Hagens to the NHL level too soon. Developing young talent carefully is crucial, even in the midst of a playoff push.