Five things to know about Bruins' first-round pick James Hagens

Boston Globe

a day ago

Hagens is coming off of a freshman season at Boston College in which the skilled playmaker compiled 11 goals and 26 assists in 37 games — while posting a plus-21 rating.
The 5-foot-11-inch, 177-pounder ranked fourth among NCAA freshmen in points, while earning a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Team. He skated on a BC team had three other Bruins draft picks: Oskar Jellvik, Dean Letourneau, and Andre Gasseau.
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Hagens is the third Bruins' first-round pick from BC or Boston University — joining Charlie McAvoy (No. 14, 2016) and Craig Janney (No. 13, 1986).
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'I love the city. I love being in Boston,' Hagens said. 'I grew up playing so many hockey tournaments in Boston, so I knew the area. I'm super grateful it worked out, and then I'm in this spot now.'
Hagens said he wants to go to the NHL as soon as possible, but will consult with Bruins management about his next steps.
Hagens entered this season as the consensus No. 1 pick
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Entering the 2024-25 season, Hagens was considered the top prospect in this draft class — earning the No. 1 spot on TSN's Bob McKenzie's preseason rankings in September.
'It wasn't a particularly difficult choice [to make Hagens No. 1 on the preseason list],'
Hagens's standing was warranted, given the Hauppauge, N.Y., native's track record of shredding defenses the last few seasons.
Before his arrival at BC, Hagens recorded 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) in 58 games with the US National Development Program in 2023-24.
That 102-point output bested the likes of Ryan Leonard (94), Phil Kessel (98 points), and Matthew Tkachuk (95 points) during their under-18 seasons with the USNTDP.
The only U18 players to match or surpass Hagens's 102 points were Patrick Kane, Cole Eiserman, Clayton Keller, Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews — and BC products Will Smith and Gabe Perreault.
Hagens also dominated international competition — setting a scoring record at the 2024 World U18 Championships with 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in just seven games. The previous record-holder? Nikita Kucherov.
Even with his smaller frame, Hagens is a dynamic playmaker with the puck — with evaluators unanimously awarding him with the 'best hands' in his draft class
'I love making plays,' Hagens said last month. 'I love being able to find a guy back door, that's something that I feel like is a big part of my game, my whole entire career. So I wouldn't say that I ever deflect away from shooting the puck. I know when to shoot and when to pass.'
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Hagens saw his stock slip the last few months
Despite Hagens's track record, that smaller frame might have been one of the reasons he was available at No. 7.
Hagens's playmaking acumen would seemingly thrive in an NHL that prioritizes speed and skill.
But questions have arisen over whether Hagens's smaller frame might stunt his production.
Even with his point-per-game line with the Eagles, his raw numbers paled in comparison to recent Hockey East freshman phenoms such Jack Eichel (71 points in 40 games) and Macklin Celebrini (64 points in 38 games).
Hagens might have been leapfrogged by Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa on the draft board, but his high-end talent make for great value at No. 7. The case could be made that Hagens would have replicated the production of Misa (134 points in 65 games) or Jake O'Brien (32 goals, 98 points in 66), had he also played against younger competition in Canadian juniors.
'I thought this year was really good,' Hagens said. 'And you just got to go out there next year and prove everyone that passed on you wrong. I'm in a spot where I want to be. I want to be a Boston Bruin, and I'm really excited to get things going.'
Hagens grew up as an Islanders fan
It should come as little surprise that the crowd at the Islanders' draft party groaned when the Bruins selected Hagens.
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The
— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski)
Hagens grew up less than 30 miles from Nassau Coliseum.
'His favorite player as a kid was John Tavares, he has a picture with Matt Martin on the wall in his room and has playoff memories — and towels from Nassau Coliseum,' Islanders staff writer Rachel Luscher wrote in a draft profile.
With the Islanders adding the No. 16 and No. 17 picks after trading Noah Dobson to Montreal,
But with Hagens on the board at No. 7, the Bruins did not bite on any offers with the skilled center up for grabs.
'I stayed away from all that stuff,' Hagens said of trade rumors. 'I had no idea where it was going to end up. I'm so grateful that I'm ending up at Boston, that I'm a Bruin, and that I'm not leaving the Boston area.'
Hagens is a big fan of 'Happy Gilmore'
It was fitting that Adam Sandler — appearing as Happy Gilmore — was the one to announce Boston's pick.
'My name is Happy Gilmore, how are you?' Sandler said in the video while donning a Bruins sweater. 'Proud to be part of the 2025 NHL Draft. The Boston Bruins select from Boston College, James Hagens. Way to go homie!'
Oh, Happy day.
Who we picking, Mr. Gilmore?
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins)
'I just had the biggest smile on my face because I love 'Happy Gilmore' — it's my favorite movie,' Hagens said. 'So it was just right away, the coolest thing.'
Conor Ryan can be reached at