JAMES HAGENS

Center
5’10/172
Left
Boston College/NCAA

Related: 2025 NHL Draft Way Too Early Top 5

James Hagens of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team is projected to be among the top players eligible for the 2025 NHL Draft. He has the potential to become the No. 1 pick, NHL scouts say. The 17-year-old (5-foot-10, 168 pounds) led the NTDP with 102 points (39 goals, 63 assists) and 1.76 points a game in 58 games. He had 22 points (nine goals, 13 assists) in seven games to help the United States earn a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Finland, setting the U-18 record for points, breaking the mark set by Nikita Kucherov in 2011. James Hagens is a playmaker who looks to make his teammates better and has extremely high processing ability with the puck on his stick, this allows him to completely dictate the play. He can attack the offensive zone with such force and intensity, but it’s his ability to slow the playdown and quickly strike when an opportunity presents itself that stands out in his game. He’s a dual offensive threat as both a shooter and playmaker, leaving the opposition on their heels and second-guessing what he’s going to do next. Not surprisingly, Hagens, who can play center or wing, is a big fan of one of the NHL’s ultimate playmakers, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes. Hagens is committed to play at Boston College next season. In terms of talent, Hagens should be the number 1 pick because he has the ability to be a game-changer and franchise player.

Size/Strength Average
Skating Excellent
Shot/Scoring Excellent
Puckhandling Excellent
Physical Play Below Average
Offensive Play Excellent
Defensive Play Average
Hockey Sense Excellent
Competitiveness Excellent

Strengths

1. dynamic playmaker with terrific skating skills. Speed, acceleration, agility—you name it, he makes it look simple. Pair his high-end puck skills and vision with that skating ability and you’ve got someone who is consistently a danger every time they step onto the ice.
2. He combines skill and skating and he’s easily one of the most dynamic centers to come into the NHL since Jack Hughes.
3. He’s a pretty special player, in terms of his vision and his IQ.

Areas of Improvement

1. He is slightly undersized at only 5’10/172.
2. Will need to work on the defensive end.

Scouting Report

James Hagens is a forward with dynamic skill and playmaking ability, Hagens had 102 points last season playing for the USDP and also set the single-tournament record at the World Men’s Under-18 Championship with 22 points last season as Team USA earned silver. He is so, so breezy as a skater, making his patterns look easy out there. He’s on top of the ice, he’s agile and his stride and edges are dynamic, light, mobile, and adjustable with legitimate speed and quick acceleration through his crossovers and cuts. He reminds scouts of Jack Hughes due to the way he combines skill and skating and he’s easily one of the most dynamic centers I’ve seen in a while. He’ll have a chance to replace Will Smith as Boston College’s top center next year, which will be a big step forward for him. From a style perspective, Hagens is incredibly gifted with the puck. He seems to be always aware of where his linemates are, whether it is Eiserman or even someone else on spot duty. It doesn’t take much for Hagens to get up to speed, and he can use that high velocity to blow past defenders. Hagens is also surprisingly strong defensively, which isn’t always the case for point producers at this age. It wouldn’t be surprising if Hagens is the first American-born player taken with the top pick since Hughes back in 2019. Now one of the best players in the NHL, Hughes had 112 points in 50 games with the USNTDP in 2018-19. Hagens is humming along at a low point-per-game rate of 1.87 compared to Hughes’ 2.24, but that was an exceptionally remarkable season by Hughes. While James Hagens may not be a superstar-level player like Jack Hughes is, he is certainly capable of being a franchise center in the NHL and should be the first player off the board in 2025.

Skill: Dynamic playmaker with terrific skating skills, vision, and IQ

NHL Comparable: Jack Hughes

NHL Potential: Franchise Center

Season	Team	League	GP	G	PTS
2022-23	USA U17	WHC-17	7	8	21
2023-24	USNTDP Juniors	USHL	26	18	47
	US National U18 Team	NTDP	58	39	102
	USA U18	WJC-18	7	9	22