5 observations from final day of Bruins development camp

Boston Globe

03-07-2025

James Hagens is elite … and would benefit from another year at BC
Most of the fans in attendance were there to see the Bruins' top 2025 draft pick James Hagens — a dynamic playmaking center who has the means to be a future franchise stalwart down the middle.
Even though the 18-year-old didn't light the lamp during Thursday's scrimmage, it's easy to see why the Boston College product entered this past season as the projected top pick in his draft class.
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Hagens was noticeable in just about every shift during the four-day camp, and made a good first impression by opting to take part in Monday's on-ice session
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Hagens's ability to dominate in the NHL ranks will largely depend on just how well he can withstand the punishment at the pro level at 5 feet 11 inches.
But even at his floor, Hagens should be a dynamic, playmaking top-six talent. The edge work and hands are elite, and he's always operating with his head up while carrying the puck into the offensive zone.
He's the type of talent who — just by relying on his strengths alone — is going to make things happen offensively at the NHL level with the puck on his stick.
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What remains to be seen is just how high his ceiling can be with the Bruins (an offensive-first top-two line center? A legitimate franchise center?), as well as when Hagens will make the jump to the NHL ranks.
'I want to be a Boston Bruin,' Hagens said earlier this week. 'I want to be a Boston Bruin really bad. That's the conversation that I have to have with the staff and management. . . . But, just to be able to get the draft over and know what team that you're putting your heart and soul into, it's a lot better.'
Hagens noted Thursday that he is ready to meet with Bruins management now that camp has finished to discuss his plans for next year — namely, whether he plans to return to BC or make the jump up to the pro game.
Even if Hagens's offensive skillset is already impressive, the wise choice would be for Hagens to return to the Eagles as a sophomore. Another year at Chestnut Hill would give him more time to both build up some muscle and his confidence — while also earning heavy minutes as the Eagles' top player.
Even with his two BC linemates in Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault now in the NHL, Hagens will likely be tasked with being more of a puck-dominant, assertive player as a sophomore, while his talents alone should have him primed for a standout year.
'I think in some ways it's going to benefit him,' Bruins player development coordinator Adam McQuaid said of Hagens playing with new linemates next season. 'Continuing to ramp up the compete level and the consistent impact that he's capable of having. I think that's the big thing for a lot of young players, is just bringing consistency night in, night out.
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'It's not always going to be perfect, but just bringing the effort and wanting to be a driver and a difference maker, like he wants to be — and [we're] just going to help him along in that process.'
For the Bruins, the best-case scenario for Hagens likely involves him returning to BC in 2025-26, dominating in his second go-around in Hockey East, and then join Boston for the final stretch of the year after the Eagles' season wraps.
Vashek Blanár is a project worth investing in for Bruins
Next to Hagens, the other standout during development camp among players picked in the recent NHL Draft was fourth rounder Vashek Blanár.
Considering a reach at that stage of the draft, the
But Boston banked on Blanár's mix of size and playmaking capabilities from the blue line as a worthwhile flier in the fourth round.
And even though Blanár is a few years away from the NHL, one can see why the Bruins were enamored with a prospect with such a unique skill set.
Fourth-round pick Vashek Blanár had a strong camp but the 6-foot-4-inch defenseman is still a raw talent.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
Blanár's frame might be the first thing that stands out when he's on the ice, but his offensive game is similar to Mason Lohrei — with the Czech product more than willing to activate off the blue line and drive down low in search of a quality chance.
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He had arguably the best scoring chance of the scrimmage, as he spun off Ethan Whitcomb at the blue line, slipped past Ty Gallagher and drove all the way down the slot before lofting a puck that hit off the cross bar and nearly crossed the goal line.
Blanár is going to need a few more years of development before he becomes a viable pro option. He needs to put on some weight, his processing ability with the puck was a bit behind on some passes, while his defensive game will have to be ironed out.
But it's hard to ignore the upside.
'A kid at his age that can move as well as he does at his size,' McQuaid said. 'He's pretty raw, like even in talking to him, but he has good instincts as a D-man for for defending.
'He even admitted himself, like, I haven't spent a lot of time focused on defending. It's been more of an offensive minded game for him, but he's showing the willingness to want to defend, and I'm excited to work with him.'
Cooper Simpson could follow a similar trajectory as Will Zellers
Hagens might be the new crown jewel of Boston's prospect pipeline, but winger Will Zellers is also a talent worth keeping tabs on
After being named USHL Player of the Year last season after scoring 44 goals in 52 games with the Green Bay Gamblers, Zellers should be primed for a strong season at the University of North Dakota in the fall.
As the Bruins watch closely to see if Zellers can develop into a legitimate 20-goal regular in the pro ranks, fellow Bruins prospect Cooper Simpson might be cut from the same cloth as a legitimate offensive threat.
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A third-round pick by Boston in the 2025 NHL Draft, Simpson led all Minnesota high school players this past year by scoring 49 goals (and 83 points) in just 31 games with Shakopee High School.
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It should come as little surprise for a player with pro upside to dominate at the high-school level, but Simpson also closed out the year scoring seven goals in nine games with the Tri-City Storm of the USHL.
And after a quiet start during camp, Simpson was a regular threat whenever he had the puck on his stick — peppering the net and finding soft areas of the ice to uncork shots.
'Just trying to bring a different angle, trying to push around people, and also bring it in your feet and try longer releases,' Simpson said of improving his scoring acumen. 'Just stuff like that, changing the angle. I feel like it's the main thing you have to have to score goals at the next level.'
Simpson, like Zellers, is also committed to North Dakota. But he will spend this next year playing with the Storm for a full USHL campaign.
If he can show that his solid start last year with Tri-City was far from a fluke, the Bruins could have two very promising offensive wingers developing in the system between Zellers and Simpson.
Dean Letourneau throws his weight around
For all of the discourse regarding Bruins' 2024 first-round pick Dean Letourneau and his
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The Ontario native spent most of the last month training in Boston before the start of development camp, and was very noticeable during Thursday's scrimmage.
'I was really happy with Dean this week,' McQuaid said. 'I think he showed how much stronger he's gotten, more physical. He's using his frame, wanting to get to the net, doing things quicker.
'Again, he spent the whole month here in Boston. That said a lot about what his commitment level is. So I'm excited for him. I think he's excited as well. He's just itching to get going.'
Dean Letourneau, the Bruins first-round pick in 2024, had a solid showing at development camp.
Jonathan Wiggs/Globe Staff
The production was what it was for Letourneau this past season after making the sizable jump from prep to Boston College (zero goals, three assists in 36 games).
But the skill is there for Letourneau when he's operating in tight spaces — a unique attribute for a player who also measures 6-7.
After operating on the perimeter during extended stretches last season at BC, Letourneau was making the most of his frame on Thursday — at one point knocking over BC commit Kristian Kostadinski (6-6, 220 pounds) while battling for a puck near the end boards.
If Letourneau can play to his size this upcoming season at BC and operate in Grade-A ice, his skill should allow him to be far more productive moving forward.
Once compared to another 6-7 forward in Tage Thompson given his prolific scoring totals at the prep level, Letourneau might end up developing into more of a bottom-six matchup nightmare like 6-7 Brian Boyle if he can continue to refine his game.
Loose pucks
⋅ The Bruins outbid several teams by
⋅ Camp invite CJ Foley would be a nice pickup by Boston next season if he opts to turn pro after his junior year with Dartmouth. The Hanover native and Thayer Academy product is a skilled, puck-moving, right-shot defenseman who will likely attract a long list of suitors after scoring 11 goals and posting 30 points in 33 games with the Big Green in 2024-25.
⋅ Two-way forward
Conor Ryan can be reached at