Hagens strengthens early Calder case with Bruins
Boston Bruins rookie James Hagens scored in a 3-2 shootout win over Vegas on November 2, extending a strong start to his NHL season and bolstering his early Rookie of the Year case.
Hagens, 20, has collected 12 points in 16 games, with six goals and six assists. He ranks third in scoring for Boston, which began the season 11-4-1, and leads NHL rookies in goals, points and points per game, at 0.75. The Calder Memorial Trophy goes to the league’s top rookie; Boston’s most recent winner was Andrew Raycroft in 2004.
In Monday’s win over the Golden Knights, Hagens scored in the first period and played alongside Elias Lindholm and Casey Mittelstadt against Vegas’ leading forward line. During 10:37 of five-on-five play when Hagens shared the ice with Jack Eichel, Boston outscored Vegas 1-0 and had a 3-0 edge in high-danger chances. The Bruins have scored seven goals and conceded two across 113 minutes with the Hagens-Lindholm-Mittelstadt line on the ice at five-on-five.
Coach Marco Sturm said Hagens was performing well and developing, while emphasizing that improvement would take time. Hagens averages 13:26 of ice time per game, ranking 31st among rookies, and played a career-high 17:27 against Vegas. Sturm said the coaching staff is working with him on managing the puck and continuing to grow, including in matchups against top players.
Hagens’ five-on-five scoring rate is 3.58 points per 60 minutes, seventh among eligible NHL players with at least 100 minutes in that situation. His production currently projects to 64 points over an 84-game season, though the pace may change. He said he is focused on the team and appreciates how his teammates have welcomed him.