James Hagens

June 2025 – While he had a strong collegiate season at Boston College, Hagens didn’t produce at the level most scouts expected. He didn’t put the puck in the net as often as anticipated—partly due to his shot not being as effective as many believed and partly because of difficulties getting to the tougher areas of the ice where most goals are scored. Although he had a solid season overall, the calculus for Hagens’ projection has shifted slightly, which is reflected in his drop in the rankings compared to our initial list, where he was the top-rated player. Still, he has the potential to be a point-per-game playmaker in the NHL, but whether he plays at center or on the wing remains to be seen. Luke Sweeney

January 2025 – After finishing the World Juniors with nine points in seven games—including two goals in the semi-finals and the game-opener against Finland in the final—Hagens enters 2025 boasting a strong draft eligible season. Hagens has used his speed, quickness, creativity, and heady playmaking to provide and excellent complement to NYR prospect Gabe Perreault at Boston College. While he initially struggled to find the back of the net, Hagens has started to break out of his shooting slump, bringing back another element of his game. Despite reservations from critics early on, James Hagens still looks like a potential NHL first-line centre and a strong candidate to go first-overall.  Luke Sweeney