Marco Sturm’s reason for delaying James Hagens’ debut

The Boston Bruins are on the precipice of clinching a playoff spot in Marco Sturm’s first 12 months as head coach. Last 12 months, they traded franchise icon Brad Marchand amid a trade deadline fire sale, but this 12 months has been a special story. They might be adding a top prospect to the club soon, but he will not be quite ready yet. Sturm explains why James Hagens’ Bruins debut won’t come Saturday against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“He just needs time to get used to our system. We’re not gonna throw that child in and fail. We’ll take it day-to-day and find the fitting time,” Sturm said, per Ty Anderson of 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Hagens was the seventh overall pick within the 2025 NHL Draft and returned to Boston College for his sophomore season. After scoring 47 points in 34 games for a disappointing Eagles squad, he signed an Amateur Try Out offer with the Windfall Bruins. This gave him a while to rise up to pro speed before joining the NHL squad.

In Rhode Island, Hagens scored once and added three assists in six games. The Bruins saw enough then to call him up and sign him to his entry-level deal, but his debut can have to attend. Boston’s final two games are on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets and on Tuesday against the Recent Jersey Devils.

Sturm doesn’t need to put Hagens able to fail, but a few of his first skilled motion will are available the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Boston will play either the Carolina Hurricanes or the Atlantic Division champion – whoever finishes with the more serious record of the division champs – which might be a tricky matchup. That would even be the Lightning as they give the impression of being to get to their fourth Stanley Cup Final of the last decade.