Meet the ‘Kid Line’ of Minten, Hagens and Khusnutdinov, ‘Able to Play Freely’

Minten and Khusnutdinov bought reps collectively in the course of the 2025-26 marketing campaign, blossoming into versatile and dependable choices for Sturm. Hagens is attempting so as to add to that identification, he mentioned.

​“Fast, hardworking, competitive line that’s going to be in your face on the forecheck and making plays. Just guys that are going to be a tough matchup,” Minten mentioned. “It is fun to play with guys your age. We get along well off the ice; we hang out a lot. It’s fun to get out there and compete together. Khusy and Hags are super fast, super smart, super skilled, so can’t really ask for much more.”

The youth motion is clear. Minten turned 22, and Khusnutidov turned 24, in July; Hagens turns 20 in November. That doesn’t deter Sturm from maintaining the three collectively. Instead, it’s one of many essential causes the mix has been working.

​“It is a lot of fun, especially off the ice getting to know them, being able to crack jokes and whatnot – I think it leads over to on the ice. You’re able to play freely. They’re great players, so it’s just making sure you have your stick on the ice,” Hagens mentioned. “It’s really cool, but wherever [Sturm] puts you, you just have to be ready and prepared to go out there and play. You never know who you’re going to be with or where you’re going to be slotted in, so it’s just really being ready and flexible.”

​The Bruins’ first preseason recreation is on Sunday at 5 p.m. towards the Washington Capitals at TD Garden. Sturm mentioned they’re nonetheless within the technique of figuring out the teams, however it’s “a possibility, yes” that Minten, Khusnutdinov and Hagens will get a take a look at run when the puck drops.

“It’ll be good if we’re out there together. It felt good to play a little more of a game-like thing out there today and kind of feel some game-like reads. It’d be great to get a real one in together,” Minten mentioned. “It’s very thrilling. You get to the top of August, and it’s similar to, ‘Okay, I want to play a game that means something’ and put to make use of these expertise we’ve been engaged on in the summertime.”