What we learned at James Hagens' first Bruins practice

Thursday was an exciting day at Warrior Ice Arena, as top Bruins prospect James Hagens hit the ice for the first time as an NHLer.

Hagens signed his three-year entry-level contract with Boston on Wednesday, and will now spend the rest of the season in the NHL after a six-game stint with AHL Providence.

Here are some of the key takeaways from the day:

– Bruins coach Marco Sturm was not yet ready to commit to Hagens making his NHL debut on Saturday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Thursday was just an optional practice, so Sturm wants to get him into a full practice on Friday before making any final decisions.

"We'll see," Sturm said. "I always say I go with my gut a little bit, and if I feel like James can help us, I have no problem. But again, just gotta – there's a lot of different reasons and not decided yet what I'm going to do. But as of right now, I just want him to have a good day today, because it's his day, and it's a big day for our organization to have him back. And then tomorrow, we should have a really good practice, and then we go into more the details, the role, whatever it is. I think we still have enough time to set that."

If I had to guess… Hagens plays Saturday.

– Sturm also wasn't ready to reveal what line Hagens might start out on, although he did credit our own Bridgette Proulx for trying to get it out of him (good job, Bridgette!).

Sturm did, however, acknowledge that Hagens will be a winger for now. That was expected. Hagens is a natural center, but actually played more wing at Boston College this season, and played wing exclusively during his six games in Providence. Wing is an easier entry point for a 19-year-old, since it doesn't demand as much in the defensive zone.

Longer-term, Sturm sounds like someone who believes Hagens can be a center.

"It's probably wing for sure," Sturm said. "Because right now, we feel very comfortable with our centermen, and it's not fair to put him in as a centerman, because he didn't play all year long. So I think he's in a safe spot here as a wing. Moving forward, I would love to see him as a centerman, because he has that speed and ability to move pucks. But again, definitely not this year."

Hagens said he just wants to contribute any way he can.

"I want to be able to give them my all in whatever spot they need me to," Hagens said. "Like I said, it's a day-by-day process. So right now, I'm just worried about today, just worried about where I am right now, and I don't want to look too far into the future."

As for where Hagens actually will slot in, third-line left wing looks pretty natural given the revolving door the Bruins have had there of late. We'll learn more on Friday when the Bruins actually have their full roster on the ice.

– A lot was made over just how valuable playing in Providence would actually be for Hagens, but Sturm, for one, loves that Hagens started there.

"Having him playing games in Providence was awesome," Sturm said. "He decided to go there and have that experience. Soon as I hear that, 'This is great.' Having a kid like this wanting to play and having that experience, I think that was the right thing for him as a player, and I think as an organization. Now we want to get him to the next step."

Hagens also said his two weeks in Providence were valuable as he makes the transition from college hockey to the pros.

"It taught me a lot," Hagens said. "The guys there, just being around that type of culture as well. Something it felt like we had a Boston College, too. Just seeing a winning culture, guys that want to show up to the rink, guys that love to be there, it's something that makes it so fun. So, it was great to be around."

– Hagens said he has been welcomed with open arms in Boston in his first 24 hours here as well, citing several Bruins veterans by name.

"Honestly, everyone has been so warm and welcoming here," he said. "It's been awesome. All the way from McAvoy, Pasta, Zacha, Zadorov, all these guys. You can go around the whole roster and everyone's been so welcoming. It's been really cool just to be here."

Hagens previously shared that McAvoy was one of the first texts he got when he signed his ATO with Providence – the same path McAvoy followed when he turned pro back in 2017. The two skated together a bit at Warrior last summer.

– Hagens will wear No. 44 with the Bruins. That came as a bit of a surprise given that the two numbers he's worn in recent years (at BC, in Providence, and for Team USA at World Juniors) were 10 and 12, and both were available in Boston.

Hagens explained that 4 was his number with the Long Island Royals growing up. With 4 retired for Bobby Orr, Hagens liked the idea of doubling up and going with 44.

– There were approximately 25-30 media members waiting in the Bruins locker room to talk to Hagens when he got off the ice, a significantly larger contingent than is usually present at Bruins practices. Shoutout to defenseman Andrew Peeke, who walked in and jokingly said, "Oh s***, is this for me?"