Bruins Practice: Hagens Out ‘Few Weeks,’ Forward Line Changes

November 7, 2026 · Yahoo Sports

IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

BRIGHTON – The Boston Bruinsare going to be without James Hagens for a few weeks.

On Saturday morning, the Bruins announced that Hagens has been placed on injured reserve, retroactive to Thursday, Nov. 5. Subsequently, the Bruins called up Mikey Eyssimont from Providence.

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Hagens left the Bruins’ 6-2 win in Pittsburgh on Thursday after a cross-check from Sam Girard. He did not play the last 16:28 of the third period.

“Yeah, it’s definitely going to be a few weeks,” Marco Sturm said after practice on Saturday. “Very unfortunate. It’s not a dirty play or anything like that, just got him at the wrong spot there. So we just need some time to heal, that’s all.”

Marco Sturm says James Hagens will definitely be out for a few weeks.

“It’s definitely gonna be a few weeks. Very unfortunate. It’s not a dirty play or anything like that, just got him in the wrong spot there.”@BOSHockeyNow | #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/qwvSj9QCRI

— Jack Studley (@jackstudley13) November 7, 2026

Hagens is tied for the rookie lead with 12 points (6-6–12).

Eyssimont leads the AHL with 13 goals through eight games. He also leads the AHL with three hat tricks and was named the player of the month for October. He scored three times in a 1:43 span on Friday night, helping the P-Bruins overcome a two-goal deficit against the Hamilton Hammers late in the third period.

Eyssimont was not at practice on Saturday. The P-Bruins were in Hamilton, Ontario, on Friday night.

“Yeah, no, he definitely deserved a call-up, let’s put it that way,” Sturm said of Eyssimont. “We really liked him actually at training camp. He was really good, if you guys remember too, he had a really good camp. But we had a lot of bodies, and I guess he continued his play in training camp into the minors. Was really good, too. He didn’t pout or anything. He worked really hard, and that’s why he deserved the call-up.”

Eyssimont made Sturm’s decision difficult during training camp, and he ultimately made the team’s opening night roster, did not play, and hit waivers on October 4.

Because Eyssimont cleared waivers, he can remain with the Bruins for up to 30 days or play 10 games, whichever comes first, before requiring waivers again.

Sturm also shuffled the forward lines with Hagens out. Marat Khusnutdinov slid to the third line, playing in Hagens’ spot, while Matt Poitras moved up to second line left wing.

“I mean, for the most part, yes,” Sturm said when asked if the lines were the Bruins’ plans going forward. “But we also have Mikey coming in, and then we will decide today or tomorrow how we’re going to have those line combinations. Defense will stay the same.”

The Bruins have used their third line as their shutdown line, pitting them up against the likes of Macklin Celebrini, Jack Eichel, and Sidney Crosby so far this season. The Bruins have options, including Eyssimont, but are starting out with Khusnutdinov, who leads the team in shorthanded ice time.

“We used this line for a shutdown line most of the time. We thought the next guy up will be probably a guy like Khus,” Sturm said. “He’s just one of them. We’ll see. Might give it a try tomorrow, but we do have some options. You guys know him too. He just does a lot of things right, and especially defensively, and that’s why we will try it out.”

Casey Mittelstadt on Marat Khusnutdinov joining the third line:

“Yeah, I mean, I think Khusy knows what he’s doing. I think, you know, kind of the role we’ve been playing, obviously we want to score, but I think first and foremost, we’re trying to shut down the other team’s top… pic.twitter.com/ZxVCAdaD1N

— Jack Studley (@jackstudley13) November 7, 2026

Poitras broke his nose after taking an elbow from former juniors linemate and good friend Braeden Bowman. He practiced on Wednesday, ahead of the Bruins’ game in Pittsburgh, but did not play on Thursday night. Sturm said Poitras could have played on Thursday, but was not 100 percent.

“It’s obviously a different position, different responsibilities, but I feel like I know my game. I can play anywhere, and yeah, comfortable doing what’s asked of me,” Poitras said. “It’s mostly just in the d-zone, and I mean, every guy kind of plays everywhere because when you’re the first guy back, you got to be the center.”

“Everybody’s kind of moving around and doing everything, so it’s not really [like] you have one responsibility. It’s just kind of go out there and read off of each other and just play hockey.”

Bruins Lines

JJ Peterka – Pavel Zacha – David Pastrnak

Matt Poitras – Fraser Minten – Morgan Geekie

Casey Mittelstadt – Elias Lindholm – Marat Khusnutdinov

Tanner Jeannot – Sean Kuraly – Mark Kastelic

Hampus Lindholm – Charlie McAvoy

Nikita Zadorov – Will Borgen

Frederic Brunet – Mason Lohrei

Jonathan Aspirot – Connor Clifton

Jeremy Swayman

Michael DiPietro

TRAVEL: Mikey Eyssimont

IR: James Hagens

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