James Hagens was in the running to be a top pick in the 2025 NHL Draft for a while until this past season. Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa are the top two prospects in this year’s class, and the consensus is leaning toward Schaefer being taken first overall.
With Hagens now unlikely to be selected in the top two, a team out of that range will be walking away with a potential phenom on draft night.
James Hagens
Hagens comes in at 5’11” and around 185 lbs, so he’s a bit shorter than some of the other top centers in the draft class, but his upside looks substantially higher. During the 2024-25 season, Hagens completed his freshman year at Boston College, scoring 37 points (11 goals, 26 assists) in 37 games played.
His most noteworthy seasons came when he was part of the USNTDP. With the U.S. National U18 Team during 2023-24, Hagens posted 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) in 58 games. At the 2025 World Junior Championship, Hagens finished eighth overall in points with nine (5 goals, 4 assists) in seven games while helping the United States to back-to-back gold medals.
Hagens is ranked third overall among North American Skaters in the NHL’s Draft Prospect Rankings.
Strengths
Hagens is a one-stop shop for skill in the offensive zone; he can do it all. He possesses elite vision, passing, shooting, deking, and play driving. His numbers with the USNTDP speak to his offensive gifts.
He’s quick on his feet and can be a threat every time he’s on the ice. Hagens’ speed allows him to zip by defenders to create scoring chances and also open the ice up for the rest of his teammates. His speed, combined with his vision, allows him to create gaps in the play that other players can’t. Hagens constantly pushes the opposing defenders back when carrying the puck.
Hagens can score goals, but he’s a true playmaker. He takes a lot of shots coming off the rush when entering the offensive zone, and his shot is powerful, but not always blazing. He’s a trusted two-way player but is prone to playing on the perimeter instead of deep in the defensive zone, kind of similar to Matvei Michkov.
Weaknesses
The most glaring weakness in Hagens’ game is his size. He had a dominant season as a freshman at Boston College by scoring at a point-per-game clip, but the difference in size between NCAA players and those when he was playing for the USNTDP was obvious.
He did seem overwhelmed at times due to the size of some of the opponents, but it’s also hard to say that with the numbers he put up. Hagens tends to get pushed off the puck when along the boards and takes a lot of contact. The size disadvantage does cause him to hesitate with the puck, which can cause turnovers and loss of space on the ice.
In the NHL, the physicality and toughness will only ramp up. Hagens held his own in his freshman year in the NCAA, but the NHL is a whole different universe.
NHL comparisons
A fair NHL comparison for Hagens is Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. Hughes is also 5’11” and weighs around 175 lbs. He’s always been at a height and strength disadvantage, but he’s made his size an asset.
Hughes is a quick skater with shifty stickhandling and elite playmaking. He did struggle during his rookie year, but already has 351 points (141 goals, 210 assists) in 368 games played in the NHL.
The NHL gets faster and faster every year, and the game has changed from what it once was. Players with smaller frames are making huge impacts, and Hagens has a path to succeed at the highest level.
A fit with the Flyers?
James Hagens is a no-brainer fit for the Philadelphia Flyers. Again, the only issue is if he is drafted before the Flyers pick at 6th overall. Some mock drafts have Hagens slipping to the Flyers, and some don’t. The Nashville Predators are a team to watch out for in regards to Hagens since they need a potential top-line center. The Predators pick one ahead of the Flyers.
Hagens would be a foundational piece down the middle of the Flyers’ lineup if he is selected.
Mandatory Credit: David Reginek-USA TODAY Sport
