Hagen Burrows

September 2024 – Drafted 128th in 2024 by the Tampa Bay Lightning. The second pick by the Lightning in 2024, Hagen is a very toolsy forward with a skill set you don’t find in the fourth round. The clear limiting factor for Burrows is his poor skating. It is terrible, with minimal knee bend, lousy posture, and incomplete strides. The skating slows Burrows down, playing very slowly, even for the junior level. Burrows’ other skills show that he has an accurate and fast shot, adept playmaking, and good offensive positioning, always lurking in high-danger areas. His defense isn’t great, and his lack of skating is a big reason. He is not afraid to use his body, but his lack of weight is still an issue to utilize his size fully. He is committed to the University of Denver for this season. Likely to spend three years in the NCAA, Burrows has most of the tools to be a middle-six player. Still a long way out from the NHL, Burrows’ progression in the NCAA over the next few years, especially skating, will be pivotal to his future. – Markus Roach