Boston Radio Host Rips Bruins Rookie Ahead of NHL Debut

Michael Felger expresses low expectations for 19-year-old forward James Hagens despite his strong college career.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:21am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a hockey game broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of muted blues, greys, and whites, conveying the pressure and criticism young athletes like James Hagens must navigate in the Boston sports landscape.A cubist interpretation of the intense scrutiny young athletes face when joining the Boston sports market.Hauppauge Today

Boston radio personality Michael Felger harshly criticized new Boston Bruins signee James Hagens on his show, saying he expects the 19-year-old forward to "suck" despite Hagens' impressive college career. Felger admitted he has never actually watched Hagens play, but still expressed extremely low expectations for the Bruins' 2025 first-round draft pick.

Why it matters

Felger's comments highlight the intense scrutiny and pressure young players face when joining the Boston sports market, where media personalities can be highly critical even without direct knowledge of a player's abilities. Hagens will need to prove himself quickly to win over skeptical fans and pundits in hockey-mad Boston.

The details

On his 98.5 The Sports Hub radio show, Felger said he is "just prepared to be disappointed" in Hagens, the Bruins' recent signing from Boston College, where he nearly led the NCAA in points this past season. Felger admitted he has "watched zero James Hagens" and has "never seen him at BC" or Providence, but still declared the 19-year-old "is gonna suck."

  • The Bruins announced the signing of James Hagens to an entry-level contract on Wednesday, April 9, 2026.

The players

Michael Felger

A radio host on 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston who is known for his harsh criticism of local sports teams and players.

James Hagens

A 19-year-old forward who was recently signed by the Boston Bruins after a strong college career at Boston College, where he nearly led the NCAA in points this past season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“I'm just prepared to be disappointed on James Hagens. I am. Call me defeatist or whatever. I think the kid's gonna suck.”

— Michael Felger, Radio Host

“This is worse than Mazz and … Cooper Flagg. (Mazz) watched him for two minutes on YouTube and said 'This kid doesn't have it.' I haven't watched that on James Hagens. I've watched zero James Hagens. Zero, zero, zero. I never saw him at BC. I didn't watch him at all at Providence. I haven't watched a clip.”

— Michael Felger, Radio Host

What’s next

Hagens will look to prove Felger wrong as he makes his NHL debut with the Bruins later this season.

The takeaway

Felger's harsh criticism of Hagens, despite admitting he has never actually seen the player perform, highlights the intense pressure and scrutiny young athletes face when joining the Boston sports market. Hagens will need to quickly win over skeptical fans and pundits with his on-ice play to silence the doubters.