In a revelation that has left Boston Bruins fans both stunned and wistful, rising hockey prodigy James Hagens has openly admitted he believes he “should’ve been a Bruin.” The confession, made during a candid interview earlier this week, sent shockwaves throughout the NHL community and ignited a firestorm of emotion among Boston faithful who are now left wondering what might have been if the franchise had landed one of the most electrifying young talents in recent memory.
Hagens, a top 2025 NHL Draft prospect who has drawn comparisons to the likes of Connor Bedard and Jack Hughes for his dynamic skating, vision, and offensive creativity, pulled no punches in speaking about his admiration for the Bruins organization and the regret he now feels over how things played out during his draft eligibility process.
The declaration has caused a whirlwind of speculation, frustration, and heartbreak among Bruins fans and analysts alike. For a team that’s long prided itself on a tradition of gritty excellence and character-first players, Hagens’ skillset and mentality would have been a perfect match. His words now serve as a bittersweet reminder of a major opportunity that slipped through the team’s fingers.
When the 2025 NHL Draft took place, many fans believed Boston was positioning itself to make a bold move to climb up the board and select Hagens. However, the stars never aligned. The Bruins didn’t have the draft capital to trade into the top three, and Hagens was quickly scooped up by another franchise—one that has since drawn criticism for not optimizing his immense talent in his rookie season.
Hagens’ slow integration into the NHL, including sporadic playing time and inconsistent line assignments, has only heightened the sting for Bruins fans. Many now argue that Boston, with its experienced locker room and legendary development pipeline, would have provided the stability and mentorship needed to unlock his full potential from the outset.
Boston has remained a competitive force in the Eastern Conference, but they’ve struggled to find an elite young playmaker to fill the void left by Patrice Bergeron’s retirement. While David Pastrnak continues to perform at a superstar level and the team’s defense remains formidable, the absence of a franchise center or dynamic top-line pivot has become glaring.
On social media, the response has been swift and emotional. Bruins fan accounts flooded Twitter and Reddit with nostalgic posts and fantasy line combinations, imagining Hagens centering a line between Pastrnak and Marchand in a packed TD Garden. Hashtags like HagensToBoston and ShouldveBeenABruin began trending regionally.
While Hagens’ comments were clearly heartfelt and not intended as a direct criticism of the Bruins’ front office, they’ve nonetheless led to renewed scrutiny of Boston’s recent draft strategy. Critics argue that Boston has failed to swing for the fences in recent years, playing it too safe in the draft and failing to build a young core around Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy.
While unlikely in the near term, some fans are now hoping Hagens’ declaration might lay the groundwork for a future trade or free agency signing. Hagens remains under contract with his current team, but as we’ve seen time and time again in the NHL, star players who feel discontented can eventually force a move.