Top prospect James Hagens signs ATO with AHL’s Providence Bruins

The Boston Bruins announced Monday they signed forward James Hagens to an amateur tryout agreement (ATO) and that he will report to the team’s AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, on Tuesday.

The deal keeps the possibility open for Hagens to sign an NHL entry-level contract with Boston before the end of the season.

Hagens was taken by the Bruins with the No. 7 overall in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. He just finished his sophomore season with Boston College, where in 34 games he scored 23 goals and recorded 24 assists for 47 points. In two NCAA seasons, he posted 34 goals and 50 assists for 84 points in 71 games.

Before enroling in college, Hagens spent two seasons with the United States National Team Development Program, where he recorded 72 goals and 115 assists for 187 points. His 187 points are the fifth-most in program history.

Hagens, a Hauppauge, N.Y., native, represented the U.S. at the 2025 and 2026 World Junior Championships, helping the Americans win gold in 2025. In 2024, he set the IIHF Under-18 men’s World Championship single-tournament scoring record with 22 points, earning tournament MVP honors and helping the U.S. earn silver.

The Bruins are 39-23-8 with 86 points in 70 games in 2025-26, fourth in the Atlantic Division and he holds the No. 1 Wildcard spot in the Eastern Conference.

Forward David Pastrnak has 28 goals and leads the team in both assists (58) and points (86). Morgan Geekie has a team-leading 34 goals. Charlie McAvoy leads all Boston defenders in points with 53 (nine goals and 44 assists).

Jeremy Swayman has a 28-14-4 record with a .908 save percentage (SV%) and 2.71 goals against average (GAA) in 47 games this season.