Boston Bruins
Hagens finished his sophomore season at Boston College with 47 points in 34 games.
James Huggins scored 47 points in his second season at BC. (Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff)
As “Dirty Water” blared over the speakers at TD Garden, Boston College forward James Hagens stared straight ahead at a pile of UConn skaters celebrating along the boards.
As Hagens’ sophomore season at BC came to a crushing end, he embraced his brother, BC defenseman Michael Hagens, on the ice before officially making his way down the tunnel.
Next time he goes out into the ice, he might be on this same frozen sheet of paper on Causeway Street. Except next time, he might have a B engraved on his jacket.
UConn’s 4-3 overtime victory in the Hockey East semifinals didn’t just punch the Huskies’ ticket to the conference title game against Merrimack on Saturday.
With the BC season coming to a close in late March, the waiting game begins now when it comes to Hagens and his path to the pro ranks.
Barring a seismic shift, the writing on the wall is that Hagens will turn pro in the coming days — signing his entry-level contract and giving the Bruins a much-needed boost in the team’s final stretch of the regular season.
Speaking to reporters after the NHL trade deadline passed on March 6, Bruins GM Don Sweeney acknowledged that Boston is leaving all options on the table when it comes to bringing in prospects this spring.
“We will have those open discussions at the appropriate time with all of our players who make this decision,” Swinney said. “In conjunction with our coaching staff to figure out where the player fits in. They won’t know it and neither will the scouts and guys in development.
“They’re going to have to have a little faith if this is actually the path we’re going down. But we’ll have an honest conversation with each of them in due course.”
The Bruins’ quiet approach at the deadline — beyond the simple trade that brought in Lucas Reichel — was rooted in several steadfast positions by Boston’s top brass.
Given the exorbitant prices set in a seller’s market, Sweeney and Co. were not willing to give up valuable investment capital and future prospects in search of immediate reinforcements. Boston’s playoff lineup also took another roster sell-off out of the equation.
Instead, Boston opted to stay put, with Hagens potentially arriving in the spring as the Bruins’ de facto late-season addition.
The outlook for Hagens in his first foray against professional competition should come to fruition in the coming weeks.
The 19-year-old striker’s speed, outstanding workmanship and stability make him a threat when the ball is on his stick.
However, the path Hagens manages to carve through the no-man’s land at the Conte Forum will be far more dangerous with TD Garden moving forward.
At 5-foot-11 and 193 pounds, Hagens’ ability to retrieve pucks from plate battles will be an uphill battle at first.
But the upside for Hagens is clear, as the seventh pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is still projected to be among the top six in Boston’s lineup going forward.
Even if that cutting-edge production doesn’t reveal itself this spring, Hagens’ body of work last season at BC should have Bruins fans excited for what’s to come.
Hagens recorded two assists in Friday’s loss (both on goals from fellow Bruins prospect Dean Letourneau) — he finished his sophomore campaign with 23 goals and 47 total points over 34 games.
Speaking after the loss, BC coach Greg Brown praised Huggins for his progress after a promising freshman campaign in which he scored 37 points in 37 games.
“He’s got a lot of dimensions to his game,” Brown said of Huggins, who has played primarily on the wing this season. “The defensive side of the puck. The details. He can always carry the puck. Unbelievable offensive ideas, the vision. You see the ideas coming out of his head as he carries the puck through the neutral zone. So that part has always been there.”
“But he’s added to his offensive game. But he’s really added to his complete game. … He’s not just a talent. He’s a student of the game. So it’s great to see him grow in so many areas.”
Even if the Bruins envision Hagens as a long-term center, converting him to a winger this season should benefit him when he makes the jump to the professional ranks.
Boston should have a center pipeline set for at least this season between Pavel Zacha, Fraser Minten and Elias Lindholm. Boston also doesn’t tackle Sean Kuraly and throws Hagens to center on the north-south fourth line.
Having a spot on the left wing opens up possibilities for Marco Sturm and his coaching staff now that Hagens is in the equation.
Hagens’ obvious playmaking and transition game will be useful on a third line currently anchored by Lindholm and Morgan Geekie.
This duo could also use a quick-moving playmaker to their left to help stem an extended scoring slump (1 point 5-for-5 in last 12 games).
If Reichel — who scored two points in his Bruins debut Thursday while skating on that line — continues to impress, Boston could also trade away Marat Khusnutdinov and slot in Hagens on the top line with Minten and David Pastrnak.
Wherever Huggins lands in Boston’s lineup, the Bruins will welcome any potential dilemma that presents itself.
After all, it’s not often that potential franchise talent comes knocking on the door of a team in the midst of a playoff race.
“He will determine when he is ready to come in and make an impact and where he will make an impact,” Swinney said of Huggins. “Ability to play both positions, while still generating attacking opportunities from the wing. He still attacks from the middle of the ice, doesn’t change his style on the power play, his insertions and where he plays on the power play.
“So it’s just about being a better player in all areas and understanding that…. They’re determining when they’re ready to play in the NHL and the opportunity will be there for them.”
Get the latest Boston sports news
Get updates on your favorite Boston teams, straight from our newsroom to your inbox.