Written by Maria Kaczmarek
The Boston Bruins’ rookie players are finding more than their footing in the NHL. They are finding each other.
Through shared dinners, road trips, and time spent adjusting to the demands of professional hockey, Boston’s emerging talent is building connections that extend beyond the rink. Those relationships are becoming part of a larger story: a Bruins team competing in the present while giving its next generation meaningful opportunities to grow.
Through their first 12 games of the 2026-27 season, players age 24 or younger scored nine of Boston’s 16 goals during a four-game road trip. With 17 different goal scorers overall, the Bruins have spread their offensive contributions throughout the lineup rather than relying on the same familiar names, according to NHL.com’s feature on Boston’s young players.
For 19-year-old rookie James Hagens, that opportunity has come with a steep learning curve. The seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is adjusting to the league’s speed and physicality while learning how to make an impact against its best players.
“It’s crazy to be able to go out there, and you’re out on the ice against some of the best players in the world,” Hagens told NHL.com. “It’s an honor, but at the same time, you’ve got to be able to really take responsibility in defense and try to create offense when you get the chance.”
That responsibility extends beyond scoring. Veteran teammate Casey Mittelstadt has also noticed Hagens’ willingness to compete away from the puck.
“As a player, I think obviously you see the skill and the shot definitely stands out to me. But I feel like he’s done a heck of a job on the forecheck. I feel like he’s taking pucks away all the time and that’s not easy to do as a young kid,” Mittelstadt said.
For Hagens, mastering those details is part of the adjustment to NHL hockey. He has also found support in teammates who understand the challenge of earning a place in Boston’s lineup. Fraser Minten, 22, recorded 35 points in his first full NHL season last year and is now helping Hagens navigate the transition without dictating how he should play.
“I’m there if he has questions, but I’m not really trying to tell him how to do it,” Minten said in a September interview with NHL.com. “It’s different for everyone. I’m here if he needs anything, but just hoping to play well and help him play well.”
That support goes beyond camaraderie. Young players must learn to handle mistakes, adapt to new responsibilities, and compete for opportunities in a league where a single difficult shift can change a game. Having teammates facing similar challenges can make the adjustment less isolating, while meaningful minutes give them opportunities to demonstrate that they belong.
Matthew Poitras, 22, knows how quickly an opportunity can change. After spending most of last season in the American Hockey League, the forward returned to Boston’s lineup in October and began making an impact. His connection with Hagens also appeared on the scoresheet, as the two combined for a goal in Boston’s 4-2 win over Anaheim.
“It’s fun to be with the young guys. Just something to do, and we hang out on the road, too,” Poitras told NHL.com. “The older guys, they have families and stuff, so I guess for us it’s just sticking together.”
That chemistry is beginning to translate into trust on the ice. Against Anaheim, head coach Marco Sturm used Hagens and Poitras late in a one-goal game, placing two young players in a situation where every decision mattered. Rather than waiting for his prospects to develop before giving them greater responsibility, Boston is allowing them to help determine games now.
Sturm’s confidence in the group was evident again against San Jose, when Hagens and his linemates faced a demanding matchup against Macklin Celebrini’s line. The assignment required the young Bruins to contribute defensively while looking for opportunities to generate offense.
“We need all three of them, pretty much, including our defensive pair, so we need five guys to just be alert,” Sturm said after the game. “But overall, I thought the guys did a good job, and they got a lot of trust, and they scored a few goals, so good for them,” according to Boston Hockey Now’s postgame report.
That responsibility is as important as the early scoring. Boston’s young players are being asked to defend, make decisions under pressure, and earn the confidence of their coaching staff. The progress also extends beyond the forwards.
Rookie defenseman Frederic Brunet scored his first NHL goal in October and has worked to establish himself on Boston’s blue line. He views the group’s connection as a way to help players manage the demands of a long season.
“I don’t think every team has the chance to have a group of young guys like that,” Brunet told NHL.com. “I think being together all the time just helps to get through the season and stuff.”
Sturm has emphasized that development takes patience, particularly when young players are contributing to a team focused on winning. Boston’s veteran leadership remains important, but its younger players are adding depth throughout the lineup and creating competition for larger roles.
That collective approach may be the clearest measure of Boston’s youth movement. Hagens is learning to produce against NHL competition, Minten is growing into a larger role, Poitras is making the most of another opportunity, and Brunet is establishing himself on defense. Each is developing at a different pace, and none is expected to become the finished product overnight.
The Bruins’ next generation still has plenty to learn, but its influence is already extending beyond individual development. By building trust, embracing different responsibilities, and supporting one another through the demands of an NHL season, Boston’s young players are helping shape the team’s identity while giving the Bruins more ways to win today.
