There may be a future top-line center for the Boston Bruins.
The Boston College center James Hagens was taken by the Bruins with the seventh pick of the 2025 NHL Draft. Adam Sandler announced the Boston selection:
Happy day, eh?Which one are we choosing, Mr. Gilmore?https://twitter.com/K62fWGruA #NHLDraftpic
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.
Checking in at inpic.twitter.com/mF2LsY1dV7, James
Since 2023, Conor Ryan has worked as a staff writer for Boston.com, covering the Boston Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox.
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