Boston Bruins suffer major blow as young star forward lands on injured reserve after dirty cross-check

The Boston Bruins have placed rookie forward James Hagens on injured reserve, a move that stings given how quickly he has become one of the league's most productive first-year players.

The team has not revealed the nature of the injury, and the placement means he will miss at least seven days.

The 20-year-old got hurt early in the third period of Thursday's 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Defenseman Samuel Girard cross-checked him in the back as Hagens tried to get around him while attacking the net, and no penalty was called.

Hagens went straight to the bench, was checked by the medical staff and did not return.

Head coach Marco Sturm said after the game he had not yet been able to find out what had happened.

Hagens has 12 points, six goals and six assists, in 17 games, which ties him for the NHL rookie scoring lead.

Boston drafted him seventh overall in 2025 and signed him to a three-year entry-level deal with a $975,000 cap hit last spring, so he is producing well above his price tag.

The Bruins have still found offense elsewhere, with all four lines scoring against Pittsburgh, but a rookie scoring at that rate is not easy to replace.

Boston recalled forward Mikey Eyssimont from AHL Providence to take the open roster spot ahead of Sunday's game against the Florida Panthers at TD Garden, which starts at 1 p.m. ET.

Hagens will be out for that game and beyond, since injured reserve carries a seven-day minimum.

Boston plays Sunday on home ice, so the lineup change shows up immediately.

No timeline past that minimum has been given, so how long he is sidelined depends on how serious the injury turns out to be.

Also read on House Of Hockey :
Tocchet and Michkov are back in the spotlight as Flyers practice video fuels bullying speculation