Name: James Hagens
Position: Center
Height: 5’ 10.5’’
Hometown: Hauppage, NY
Current Team: Boston College
Draft Projection: Hagens entered this season — as an underager in the NCAA — in contention to be the first overall pick. Yet for several reasons (of varying fairness), his stock has seemed to slide a bit towards the second half of last season into the offseason. His season was by no means a failure, as he averaged a point per game while centering both BC and the USA World Juniors teams’ top lines. Nevertheless, he has been especially nitpicked for a lack of size. The third-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, Hagens will likely be taken in the first 5-7 picks.
Prospect Preview: Hagens is obviously a name BC fans are well-acquainted with after his freshman season with the Eagles. He features high-level hockey IQ, slick hands and smooth skating. He’s also shown a competitive edge. Where he goes following the draft is a bit unclear. Hagens still projects as a top-line, play-driving center in the NHL — scouts have compared his game to some combination of Jack Hughes and Logan Cooley — but given his age and size, another season at BC could potentially help his game develop. Should he return, Hagens would be BC’s featured player and would likely shoulder more offensive play-driving responsibilities. We’ll gain more clarity once he’s been drafted.
Fun Fact: Hagens is sponsored by Chipotle.