Bruins NHL Draft live coverage: Bruins select James Hagens with No. 7 pick

Finally, everything is ready for the NHL Draft in 2025.

Boston is hanging onto the No. 7 pick, and the Bruins will choose in the top 10 for the first time in 14 years.

Don Sweeney emphasized that Boston will do all in its power to acquire assets, even if it means surrendering additional draft money (or players), but the Bruins have a great chance to add a blue-chip talent to their system.

The NHL Draft’s first round is scheduled for Friday at 7 p.m., while rounds two through seven will take place on Saturday beginning at 12 p.m.

Here are Boston’s complete draft picks:

Round 1, pick 7
Round 2, pick 51 (from St. Louis via Edmonton from Trent Frederic trade)
Round 2, pick 61 (from Carolina via Colorado from Charlie Coyle trade)
Round 3, pick 69
Round 4, pick 100 (from Philadelphia via Toronto from Brandon Carlo trade)
Round 5, pick 133
Round 6, pick 165

Watch our live coverage to get the most recent information on Boston’s draft haul:

LIVE COVERAGE

11:17: James Hagens will be carrying a grudge going forward:

Having a grudge after slipping in the draft, James Hagens, a freshman at BC, said, “I thought this year was really good.” You simply must go out there the following year and disprove everyone who passed you by.gNscTatBw0 pic.twitter.com/

10:15: James Hagens just had a Zoom conversation with the media.

Here are a few highlights:

Now it’s James Hagens talking to us.Regarding dropping out of the top five: “I wanted to be in a good place.” I’m quite grateful that I become a Boston Bruin. It’s the world’s greatest place.

Hagens says, “I want to play in the NHL as soon as possible.”stated that he will discuss the next course of action with the Bruins’ management. He has already reached 190 pounds, he added.

“A player who has a really good hockey IQ and loves to skate with the puck,” Hagens said when asked what Bruins fans should anticipate from him on the ice. is a thrilling athlete to watch who would sacrifice everything for the team and give it his best.”

8:55: Victor Eklund’s continued availability kind of startled me.

8:23: At No. 9, Radim Mrtka travels to Buffalo. The second D has been removed.

8:15: At No. 8 overall, Jake O. Brien travels to Seattle.

8:07: The Boston Bruin is James Hagens.

Adam Sandler makes the move, and Boston selects him with the seventh overall pick.

Happy day, eh?Which one are we choosing, Mr. Gilmore?https://twitter.com/K62fWGruA #NHLDraftpic

With Hagens selected at No. 7 overall, the Bruins are getting a wonderful deal on a high-end center who was predicted to be the first choice in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Prior to the 2024–25 season, Hagens was predicted to be the first pick in the 2025 NHL Draft class; however, his reputation took a hit on draft night.

During the 2024–25 season, the 5-foot-11 center played in 37 games for Boston College, scoring 37 points with 11 goals and 26 assists and a plus-21 rating. He earned a berth on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team after finishing third among Boston skaters and fourth among NCAA rookies in terms of points.

Hagens’ decline on Friday was caused by two factors: worries about his smaller stature and his mediocre performance in his first season of collegiate hockey.

Hagen’s 37 points fell short of what other players like Jake O Brien (32 goals, 98 points in 66 OHL games) and Michael Misa (62 goals, 134 points in 65 OHL games) produced.

But compared to what phenoms like Misa and Co. feasted on in the Canadian Junior ranks, Hagens’ level of competition, particularly in Hockey East, was far more intimidating.

Scouts, however, probably expected a No. 1 pick like Hagens to replicate the impressive collegiate seasons orchestrated over the past ten years by other generational freshmen talents like Macklin Celebrini (64 points in 38 games), Jack Eichel (71 points in 40 games), and Adam Fantilli (65 points in 36 games).

Hagens expressed his satisfaction with his first year at Chesnut Hill in a statement last month.

I felt like I had a fantastic season. Every night, you compete against men who are between the ages of 25 and 24. “It’s difficult,” Hagens stated. Hockey is difficult, but I’m incredibly thankful that I was able to spend the year with the group of people that we did.

Hagens has a proven track record of taking down rival defenses, even if some talent evaluators thought his freshman year was lackluster.

In 58 games with the U.S. U-18 National Development Program during the 2023–24 season, Hagens scored 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists), which was more than players like Ryan Leonard (94 points), Phil Kessel (98 points), and Matthew Tkachuk (95 points) scored during their respective U18 campaigns.

The only players in that program who, in a single season, equaled or exceeded that score? Gabe Perreault, Will Smith, Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews, Clayton Keller, Patrick Kane, and Cole Eiserman.

At the 2024 World U18 Championships, Hagens also broke the previous scoring record set by Nikita Kucherov by scoring 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in just seven games.

When it comes to Hagens, who is possibly the most dynamic skater and playmaker in this draft class, the game footage doesn’t deceive.

Regarding his strategy on the ice last month, Hagens remarked, “I love making plays.” I believe that finding a person through the back door is a key component of my game and my entire career. Therefore, I wouldn’t say that I ever deflect while I’m trying to shoot the puck. I am aware of when to pass and when to shoot.

The ability to sort of find other guys is just something that really helps me step up my game. Hockey is played at a different level in college. It’s more difficult. Junior hockey isn’t it. It’s difficult to score every night. The games have low scores. To score goals, you must put in effort.

He will probably rejoin the Eagles for his sophomore year, but after his collegiate career is up, he might decide to go up to the NHL.

I enjoy winning. In May, Hagens declared, “I will stop at nothing to win.” The fact that I have been able to work hard my entire life is something that has helped me get to where I am now. There is never anything simple. I am really thankful for the fact that everything I have ever had had to be earned.

That’s something that only exists in my family; it’s something I learned from my parents and coaches as I grew up. I so just really convey to those people how fiercely I compete and how much I want to be a part of a team and, perhaps, win a Stanley Cup someday.

Below is more about Hagens:

8:00: The Bruins can try to:

Hagens, James

Jake O. Brien

McQueen, Roger

7:54: Unexpected. Brady Martin travels to Nashville.

At least one of O Brien, Hagens, Martone, or McQueen will be available to the Bruins.

It’s Philly on the clock now.

Nashville is now on the clock at 7:52. Hagens or even a winger like Porter Martone could be used.

7:41: Caleb Desnoyers goes with Utah. A very strong two-way player, could be a great 2C behind Logan Cooley.

7:35:Anton Frondell goes to Chicago at No. 3. A pro-ready center. So far, no surprises in this draft order.

7:31:This draft is going to take some time.

7:28:Michael Misa goes to San Jose at No. 2. The best forward in the draft, IMO. San Jose has a stacked forward corps moving forward.

7:20:Yeah, this format ain t it. Legitimately feels like a COVID-era system.

7:15:Indeed, it s Matthew Schaefer going No. 1 to New York. He s going to be a great pro.

Matthew Schaefer puts on a@NYIslandersjersey for the very first time: 2025 Upper Deck#NHLDrafton@espn,@ESPNPlus,@[email protected]/Ke1Ky8B81L

7:05:The NHL Draft is about to begin. Sure feels like Matthew Schaefer is going first overall to the Isles. After that, it could be chaos.

6:46:A team worth watching now is the Islanders especially with numerous reports noting that they want to trade up into the top-10 once again to select James Hagens. If Hagens is there at No. 7 for Boston, would you accept a sizable return from New York?

Personally, if a player of Hagens caliber is there at 7, you take him and you don t think twice.

6:33:It s already been a busy day across the NHL before Round 1 even begins:

Charlie Coyle traded to Columbus

Trent Frederic signs an 8-year deal with Edmonton

New CBA struck with NHL/NHLPA

Sam Bennett signs an 8 8 contract with Florida

Islanders trade Noah Dobson to Montreal for Picks No. 16 and 17

6:29: As we wait to see how the draft board shakes out, here s a few NHL Draft previews of some possible targets for Boston at No. 7.

Jake O Brien a poised, playmaking center.

James Hagens the former projected No. 1 pick who could be a steal if he slides.

Roger McQueen a 6-foot-5 center with high upside, but with injury concerns.

Brady Martin a pugnacious forward whose ceiling might raise doubts about his validity as a top-10 pick.

6:20:Greetings from TD Garden! The first round of the NHL Draft will begin at 7 p.m., while Don Sweeney will speak to the media after the first round wraps.

Back at it.pic.twitter.com/NtSDuCmD4D

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.