F James Hagens - Boston College, NCAA (2025 Draft) Part 2

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Rather than using using the Team Canada Selection Committee not selecting Misa as an indictment - maybe that's more on that idiot committee than on Misa.

And using your opinion that the USHL is better than the OHL - that's just like your opinion man ...

But seriously - my question was meant for you to describe why you think Hagens is better - things like skating, vision, IQ, puck handling, shooting, physicality, defense, etc.

Okay to start off, nowhere in my post did I claim the USHL is better than the OHL. You might want to re-read what I said. I said it was a similar level league. If I wanted to say it was better, I could've very easily have said that. In fact, I have said many times I think it's worse.

You didn't ask me about who is better. You asked me who has had the better season. As for who does what better, I think Hagens is smarter and has more playmaking ability. I think Misa is like an inch and a half taller and has a better shot. Why is Hagens better? Well, he seems to just produce better in general from year to year and international tournament to international tournament (not every single time, but most). His strengths are likely just stronger and have more of an impact. I don't see anything about Misa that looks potentially elite in the NHL. I don't see Misa as a player that is certain to stick at center, which could decrease his value. I think Misa has real questions about why he was worse in his second season than first. I think Hagens will be one of the best playmaking forwards in the NHL.

And why all of a sudden do all the players who couldn't make the terrible Canadian world junior team this year get extra credit? I don't see how it's a good thing. Schaefer made it. Martone made it. Wasn't an "anti-young players" thing. Maybe if Misa had actually played up to par last year he would've had a better chance to make it this year.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Ok, I won’t try to interpret what the original poster meant by "light the world on fire", but I guess the overarching theme I was trying démonstrate is, even when it comes to Slafkovksy, Power, or Hischier, the consensus opinion around them has increased or become more positive in their draft year. None of them were record breaking, yes, but none of them were d-1 world beaters whose opinions and consensus decreased in their DY.

Actually, I don't think the consensus on Power was any higher from the start of the year to the end of the year. It was pretty much in the exact same place. He went in as the favorite and had a decent year (without being amazing). Sounds like Hagens year.

If someone's opinion of Hagens has decreased, maybe they need to reevaluate their opinion. Nothing about his season is bad. Is there a higher level he could've played at? Sure, I guess he could've been the Hobey Baker favorite and won WJC MVP. But bad? Causing concern? I don't know how someone could review the year he's had so far and been like "there are major red flags and he's not doing well."

 

[HuGort]

I'm still not seeing 1OA when I watch Hagens.

7 goals? No way he goes #1

 

[Kingpin794]

I think Hagens is smarter and has more playmaking ability. I think Misa is like an inch and a half taller and has a better shot. His strengths are likely just stronger and have more of an impact. I don't see anything about Misa that looks potentially elite in the NHL. I don't see Misa as a player that is certain to stick at center, which could decrease his value.

Well it took forever, but you finally made a decent enough analysis on the actual play of these two players instead of talking about stats and pedigree. I can at least respect this take. I agree Hagens has the better play making ability. You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, I don't want to derail the Hagens thread, but why don't you think Misa will stick at center? He has the requisite size. Has the IQ and is solid defensively. Seems comfortable letting the play flow through him. Just overall looks more comfortable at center as opposed to wing.

I think Misa has real questions about why he was worse in his second season than first.

This has been explained multiple times. He was playing injured the majority of the second half of the season. Amazing what happens when you're healthy.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You don't have to answer this if you don't want to, I don't want to derail the Hagens thread, but why don't you think Misa will stick at center? He has the requisite size. Has the IQ and is solid defensively. Seems comfortable letting the play flow through him. Just overall looks more comfortable at center as opposed to wing.

I didn’t say I think Misa won’t stick at center. I said I think there’s a chance he might not. Misa is more of a goal scorer by nature. I don’t want to call him dumb, but I don’t think he’s that cerebral either. Goal scoring forwards often are wingers. That’s because they usually need the puck delivered to them by others and they need to move off a puck distributing center. Center is usually viewed as the position for the distributor. Not always, but that’s usually the typical tropes for a center and winger. And when we’re talking about a player who has moved back and forth between the two positions, winger may just fit better. Other than this season, winger has looked like the better fit to me for Misa.

 

[Favin]

Scoring rates haven't been there for potential #1oa. Some comparisons for other guys through first 26 games of freshman season below. Hagens does do other things...but he's gotta pick it up offensively to hold #1 spot.

Name: ppg (GP-G-A-PTS)

Fantilli: 1.85 (26-19-29-48)
Eichel: 1.77 (26-16-30-46)
Celebrini: 1.62 (26-23-19-42)
Smith: 1.54 (26-15-25-40)
Keller: 1.46 (26-19-19-38)
Cooley: 1.31 (26-13-21-34)
Hagens: 1.12 (26-7-22-29)
Coronato: 0.88 (26-12-11-23)

(not all same conference or year...so not always apples-to-apples)