Boston Bruins
“I’m not going to throw that kid in and have him fail. I don’t want to do that.”
James Hagens may be up with the Bruins, however Boston’s high prospect gained’t take to the ice for Saturday’s matinee matchup towards the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Speaking to reporters on Friday at Warrior Ice Arena, Bruins head coach Marco Sturm stated that Hagens gained’t play towards Tampa as Boston tries to clinch a playoff berth towards one of many high groups within the Eastern Conference.
A win in any capability towards the Bolts would punch Boston’s ticket to the postseason after a one-year hiatus.
A talented playmaker like Hagens may conceivably assist Boston recover from the end line towards Tampa, however Sturm preached persistence with the 19-year-old ahead.
“It’s his first time up here,” Sturm stated. “[Thursday] was a very exciting day. [Friday] was the first time where, OK, this is about hockey. We could see it in practice.
“He just needs time and to get used to our system. That’s the biggest thing. I’m not going to throw that kid in and have him fail. I don’t want to do that. So he’s on the right track. That’s our next step and we will take it day by day and find the right time.”
The Bruins have three extra regular-season video games left on their docket, together with a highway sport towards the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday night. A win towards Tampa would conceivably open the door for Sturm to relaxation a few gamers and incorporate some youthful skaters into the lineup to play out the stretch.
But Sturm didn’t assure that Hagens will play in any of these three video games earlier than the postseason begins.
“I’ve got to feel comfortable doing it,” Sturm stated. “I’m trying to do the best I can to make the right decision for this team, first of all, for this organization and, of course, for James. I do want him to play, so I’m just going to take it day by day.”
During Friday’s apply, Hagens skated on a “fifth” line with a few different scratches in Alex Steeves and Lukas Reichel. Reichel was despatched to Providence on Friday afternoon.
Based on Friday’s line rushes, Mikey Eyssimont will draw again into the lineup on a third line alongside Fraser Minten and Marat Khusnutdinov. Hagens did earn some reps on Boston’s second power-play unit as properly.
As Bruins fans await Hagens’s debut, Sturm pressured that the blue-chip prospect’s presence also needs to gentle a fireplace beneath different forwards who’ve been caught in a rut over the previous couple of months.
“I was wondering how they’re thinking, and they’re probably thinking ‘Holy Moly, there’s another guy coming up and that’s going to be a spot.’ It should motivate them,” Sturm stated. “Not be like ‘Here we go again.’ No, they should fight for that spot.”
“And that’s good. That’s what we want. We’re not going to hand it to anyone. Not James, either. He has to earn it, too.”
Even if Hagens gained’t be counted on to attempt to defeat the Bolts on Saturday, Bruins ahead Morgan Geekie believes that the younger ahead will get his alternative briefly order.
“He’s a great player — a lot more skill than I have,” Geekie stated of Hagens. He’s going to be nice for a very long time. When you see a participant with that sort of ability are available in, it speaks for itself and also you don’t need to see a lot to know that he’s good with the puck.
“We’re happy to have him here and excited to see him get in a game, whenever that may be. Everybody’s here for him and to try to put him in the best position possible.”
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