Bruins' James Hagens Linked With Major Award After Hot Start to Rookie Season

The Bruins are back where they belong, sitting just three points off the Hurricanes for first-place in the Eastern Conference. There are a host of players to credit for their surging start to the year. None are as young as James Hagens, however.

The newly-minted 20-year-old has been a key cog in Marco Sturm's lineup thus far, amassing the third-most points on the roster despite averaging the fifth-fewest minutes. Hagens is a star in waiting. Talking heads are starting to realize it, too.

Here's what you need to know about Hagens' hot start, including how it might land him in award contention come the end of the season.

James Hagens Linked With Major Award After Hot Start

Hagens placed third on the Daily Faceoff's Steven Ellis' Calder Trophy ladder. Ellis writes:

Hagens was a natural center throughout junior and college, but it's never easy for a young player to come in and take on the added responsibility as a rookie. So it's been nice watching Hagens thrive in a third-line role, where he has managed to put up 11 points through 15 games. That's about a 60-point pace, which would be the second-best output by a Bruins rookie of the 21st century.

Ellis cited Hagens' speed, two-way prowess and desire to carry the puck in the middle of the ice as reason for his early success. He ranks tied for first in goals, tied for second in assists and first in points among rookie skaters. He has also proven a formidable asset on Boston's power-play, anchoring a second-line unit that has helped the Bruins convert 20 percent of their opportunities with a man advantage.

Hagens trailed only Canadiens netminder Jacob Fowler and Red Wings winger Michael Brandsegg-Nygard on Ellis' list of Calder Trophy favorites through the opening fifth of the season. He has ample time to scale up that mountaintop — Hagens' two-way sensibilities should help him surge from his third-line post in the coming few months.

In other words, Hagens is already showing signs of stardom in his age-20 season. That could help him compete for some hardware very soon.