Bruins’ Marco Sturm reveals plan for young players in 2026-27

The Boston Bruins will be heading into the 2026-27 season looking to build on some of the things they were able to accomplish last year. They’ll have some new players joining the roster, one that includes 19-year-old James Hagens, who was selected seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

Though Hagens has experience playing in different leagues, he’ll be heading into his first NHL training camp, which could be a different beast. That’s where he’ll show what he’s really made of, and head coach Marco Sturm has a plan set in place for Hagens, as well as the other young players who want playing time this season.

“They have to show me first. The player for me always dictates how much they want to play in certain situations… and if Hagens shows me that he’s ready for that next step, I will give him that. I’m not that dumb. It’s tough to explain a little bit and it’s just again with my experience working with young kids and being through it and now being here and acutally being through it with the Khus and Mints and these guys it’s just helps me and Hagens will be another guy,” Sturm said Bruins on CLS.

Marat Khusnutdinov and Fraser Minten happened to be two players that fought their way into the rotation last season, and they did it by playing hard and showing up. The hope is that the same can happen with Hagens, as he has the talent to be on the ice, but he has to apply it.

It sounds like Sturm will give him every opportunity to earn his playing time, but he has to take it and own it.

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