BSH 2025 Community Draft Board, No. 3: James Hagens could be special
Next on the annual Broad Street Hockey Community Draft Board is James Hagens, a highly touted playmaking center whose stock has fluctuated throughout his first year at Boston College.
The highly-touted Hagens burst onto the scene with the U.S. U-18 National Development Team in 2023, scoring 102 points in just 58 games, to go along with his USHL output of 47 points in 26 games. At that point, he was largely regarded as the “can’t miss” prospect of this draft, however some scouts have begun to question his long-term viability at the NHL level as he failed to live up to sky-high expectations in his first year with a powerhouse Boston College program.
Hagens is a victim of the lofty expectations that his past play set for himself, and when he in all likelihood returns to Boston College next year, he could light the NCAA on fire and make everyone who doubted his skill ceiling look silly. While this year wasn’t a total banner season, it still showed why Hagens is a tantalizing prospect that will certainly go in the top 5 selections, and has a real NHL future.
Pre-draft rankings
No. 4 by Elite ProspectsNo. 2 by Bob McKenzieNo. 4 by Corey Pronman/The AthleticNo. 4 by Sportsnet/Jason Bukala
Statistics
What’s there to like?
Hagens is a dynamic centerman with a knack for offensive creation, and a skill ceiling that is unrivaled by any other forward in this draft, bar maybe Michael Misa. He is a very cerebral playmaker who finds his teammates anywhere on the ice, and is adept at finding and manipulating space with the puck. He can put the puck wherever he wants, and a lot of the time it leads to easy goals. His hockey I.Q. extends to every aspect of the game, and makes things look pretty easy for Hagens at times.
His 37 points were good enough for second among 18 year old NCAA players, only trailing Washington second rounder Cole Hutson. Hagens also outproduced 2024 first rounders like Michael Hage, Cole Eiserman, and Sacha Boisvert, all of whom have an extra year of seasoning on him.
His point-per-game pace at throughout his first season at Boston College puts him among a pretty select group of NCAA draft-eligible players, and it isn’t hard to imagine those playmaking chops translating to the NHL-level, especially if Hagens was to play with another young stud, like a Matvei Michkov.
There is also a decent chance that Hagens returns to be “the guy” at B.C. next season and lights the world on fire. This past year he was largely stuck in the shadows of blue-chip prospects Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, both of whom took on major roles in their draft+1 years and sort of overshadowed what Hagens was doing.
James Hagens out here chuckin' sauce on the PP🎥: @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/ivzPYOnEGU— Cam Robinson (@Hockey_Robinson) December 28, 2024
But there is a lot to like about his game, and even though he didn’t necessarily light the world on fire, it’s not as if he didn’t play extremely well for long stretches, and kept the mistakes to a relative minimum. He also possesses a sneakily good shot, and a quick release that he can beat goalies with at a standstill. As he predictably puts on some weight to prepare for the NHL, we could see that shot improving further.
Hagens is adept at playing a stop/start game where quick changes of pace keep defenders guessing, and that combination of playmaking ability and slippery movement makes him a surgeon in the offensive zone. Hagens teaming up with elite shooters all around him would be a nightmare for potential defenders, and he should be a power play asset immediately, whenever it is he actually makes his NHL debut. And also, there is still a chance that this season was not his final form, that Hagens was struggling with finding his footing in a new league, with a new team, and didn’t exactly meet the heights he did at a younger age. Yet, he still outperformed a lot of legitimately very good hockey players. There is still a decent chance we look back at this draft and wonder how this guy fell.
What’s not to like?
The reason why Hagens lost his grip on the number one spot has a lot to do with his assertiveness. At times, it seemed like he was content to be a passenger, distribute the puck, and just make the right play to keep the offensive flow moving, instead of taking the game by the horns, and taking it over. He is still a very smart and capable player, and there was a time where Hagens was in conversation for being the #1 overall selection not all that long ago, but that game-breaking ability was lacking at times, and it was clear that Perreault and Leonard were the alpha-dogs on that B.C. team.
He also isn’t huge for an NHL center, at 5 ’11 and just under 180 pounds, Hagens isn’t small, but he will need to bulk up a bit to be a two-way force. And therein lies the other problem, if Hagens’ high-end skill doesn’t translate enough to be a consistent live driver in the NHL, his frame will be somewhat prohibitive to playing a game that requires consistent board battle wins and puck retrievals. He could risk falling into a middle-six role where he isn’t dynamic enough to take on consistent first line minutes, but also struggles to take on a more balanced, two-way role.
Ultimately, Hagens has enough hockey sense and playmaking ability to be a long time NHLer, but he has left some wondering if he is worth the top 3 pick, and if his long-term potential truly stands out amongst a top-5 that includes some other intriguing player archetypes, like Porter Martone and Anton Frondell.
How would he fit in the Flyers’ system?
Does he play center? Yes. Is he good at the sport of hockey? Also yes. Ok then.
The Flyers could definitely use Hagens, and he would fit perfectly as a supplement to the young talent that the Flyers are already bringing through the ranks. He should be a power play weapon immediately, which is something the Flyers desperately need, and he would provide another element of play driving and plamking down the middle. Hagens isn’t the massive, tough, Eric Lindros-esque hulk of a center that the Flyers would typically try to have as their 1C, but he could definitely be an asset as a top of the lineup player if everything pans out in his development.
And as was mentioned before, Hagens playing alongside Michkov sounds like a match made in heaven, and with names like Tyson Foerster and Owen Tippett likely sticking around in Philadelphia for a long time coming, there is a world where Hagens could wind up centering what would be a very fun and dynamic top line.
Could the Flyers actually get him?
Hagens could very well fall right into the Flyers lap at a perfect time. He is currently projected to go somewhere between picks three to six, and the Flyers pre-lottery are projected to pick at number 4. Hagens is definitely one of the players that the Flyers will be focused on, especially since it seems that Michael Misa will remain locked in as a top two pick.
It wouldn’t exactly be the biggest draft shock if Hagens was to go before the 4th selection, but as long as the lottery balls are friendly, the Flyers should have a shot to take him.
What scouts are saying
“At No. 2, Boston College freshman pivot Hagens played well for Team USA en route to a gold-medal performance at the WJC. He got off to a bit of a slow start at BC this season. Hagens is not quite 6 feet tall (5-foot-10 1/2, 177 pounds), which is probably why the scouts are projecting him more as a second-line centre than a first liner in the NHL. But he’s a smart and skilled player, probably a better playmaker than goal scorer, but he certainly has the ability to finish.” – Bob McKenzie, TSN
“Hagens is always in motion. He’s exceptionally difficult to check and contain. On the power play he floats around the offensive zone in an attempt to find open ice and get pucks to the net.” – Jason Bukala, Sportsnet
“Hagens’ game is about skating and playmaking. He’s extremely breezy as a skater, making his patterns look easy out there. To use a hockey cliché, he’s on top of the ice, he’s agile and his stride and edges are dynamic, light, mobile and adjustable, with legitimate speed and quick acceleration through his crossovers and cuts (he often beats guys on angles and loses them on cutbacks).” – Scott Wheeler, The Athletic
One player comes off the board, so one needs to be added! Welcome Victor Eklund from Djurgardens IF onto the poll.
The younger brother of Sharks first-rounder William Eklund, Victor gets above-average grades for his smarts, skill and skating, but he’s also a standout competitor who works and plays hard for a 5-foot-11 winger. He wins races. He keeps his feet moving. He gets inside body positioning. He can play the bumper or the flank on the power play. He finishes his checks. He’s got great edges and handles, and a quick and accurate wrister. And he plays an intuitive, heady game on and off the puck. I think he’s got the tools to develop into a nice top-six player in the NHL..” – Scott Wheeler – The Athletic
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