Sweeney on whether or not James Hagens performs for Bruins this season

“It would be Marco’s determination when it comes to who goes in and who comes out of the lineup.”

James Hagens is predicted to play his first sport with the Windfall Bruins on Wednesday. (David L Ryan/ Boston Globe Workers

James Hagens made the bounce from the collegiate ranks to the professional sport late Monday night time.

However the Bruins’ prime prospect and future top-six fixture’s arrival in Boston this season is way from a assure as Marco Sturm’s membership tries to cement its standing within the playoff image.

Hagens signed an AHL beginner tryout settlement (ATO) on Monday, with the 19-year-old ahead beginning his profession with the Windfall Bruins.

Although the Bruins may signal Hagens to an entry-level contract at any level shifting ahead this season (together with the playoffs), Boston GM Don Sweeney acknowledged on Tuesday night time that the Bruins aren’t going to hurry their greatest prospect in over a decade if he doesn’t acclimate to the professional sport within the coming days.

“He’s excited to have the ability to play straight away,” Sweeney mentioned of beginning Hagens’ professional reps within the AHL. “And I believe this presents that chance straight away. After which we simply get to discover choices because it goes alongside. He will get acclimated to the professional sport. It’s a giant step coming from school, and it simply permits him to leap proper into the lineup.”

Hagens took one other step ahead in his growth throughout his sophomore season at Boston Faculty — posting 47 factors (23 objectives, 24 assists) over 34 video games whereas serving to the Eagles win their first Beanpot title since 2016.

Hagens’ playmaking capabilities and edge work make him the kind of participant who may conceivably present a late-season jolt in Boston, particularly inside the membership’s transition sport and laboring energy play.

However Sweeney confused that the Bruins’ present playoff push — with factors at a premium in these logjammed Jap Convention standings — additionally signifies that Boston isn’t going to show Hagens free in these high-stakes video games straight away.

Not with out Hagens displaying that he can deal with the trials of the professional sport first.

“This workforce, as we mentioned on the [trade] deadline, has scratched and clawed to be within the place they’re in, and in the end, it’d be Marco’s determination when it comes to who goes in and who comes out of the lineup, and James could or will not be a part of that.

“However deep down, this simply provides him the chance. He was prepared to depart college, he needed to depart and have the chance to play professional, and this gives the instant alternative to be within the lineup and take what lots of people suppose are vital steps.”

Hagens, anticipated to make his professional debut on Wednesday night time when Windfall takes on the Springfield Thunderbirds on the street, may get the call-up to the NHL if he stuffs the stat sheet with the P-Bruins.

However Sweeney confused that the Bruins aren’t going to speed up Hagens’ timeline based mostly on simply his draft pedigree or potential as a top-six expertise.

“James believes in his ability set,” Sweeney mentioned. “Marco has even pointed it out, the velocity and ability that we establish can add to our lineup and complement our lineup, and we wish to. However it needs to be at a stage the place you may belief a participant. And that’s what James goes to begin to undergo right here.

“He’s been doing it for the remainder of the second a part of the yr, specifically, once we recognized some issues, and our growth workers labored with him. And he’ll apply that whereas in video games, actual early on in professional, and see if it interprets. If it doesn’t translate this yr, it’ll translate subsequent yr, and we’ll simply go down the conventional path a participant takes. However the ability and the offensive acumen that he has are thrilling for us.