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

[The Crypto Guy]

Happens

Indeed

 

[Wieters]

Maybe, but Leonard, who some say is a top 5 prospect, has zero points..

Leonard has hit the post multiple times tonight. Has multiple posts in the previous games too. There's really no need for you to come in to a James Hagens thread to advance your pro-Perreault, anti-Leonard agenda.

 

[wickedwitch]

Here's a fun fact: multiple players can be good at hockey at once... even on a single team. Perreault is very good at hockey, but so is Hagens who has had multiple points without Perreault (or Leonard) on the ice.

Hagens has also done well on the PK and on faceoffs.

 

[noncents]

is this now a Gabe Perreault thread?

 

[The Crypto Guy]

is this now a Gabe Perreault thread?

No Leonard.

 

[JotAlan]

On the EP he is listed at 5'10 and 176lbs, on the Boston College website he is listed at 5'11 and 178lbs these are very close measurements to Jack Hughes/Brayden Point, I don't see why he wouldn't be a center at the next level (I saw some people saying that). It's not like he's tiny and he will gain more weight before the draft

 

[Wieters]

Pretty neat stabilized and isolated footage of Hagens meant to showcase that he keeps his eyes up to scan the rink and isn't staring down the puck.

 

[Waterbuf]

Is this guy at the level where he is expected to make the NHL and succeed in his first year post draft?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Is this guy at the level where he is expected to make the NHL and succeed in his first year post draft?

He’ll definitely play in the NHL right away, if he wants. Whether he succeeds, hard to say. Most recent 1OA’s have not been successful NHL players right away.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

He’ll definitely play in the NHL right away, if he wants. Whether he succeeds, hard to say. Most recent 1OA’s have not been successful NHL players right away.

Who do you think is his closest NHL comparable? I think he can put up 40-50 range puts in his rookie season, if he continues to progress as he has been.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Who do you think is his closest NHL comparable? I think he can put up 40-50 range puts in his rookie season, if he continues to progress as he has been.

There’s not a great 1 to 1 comparison. He’s most similar to Hughes between the skillset and draft position and pedigree at a young age, but with some more stylistic elements of Point. A better Catton could be another comparison.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

There’s not a great 1 to 1 comparison. He’s most similar to Hughes between the skillset and draft position and pedigree at a young age, but with some more stylistic elements of Point. A better Catton could be another comparison.

I agree reminded me a bit of Hughes, I haven't watched a ton of him tbh.

 

[seafoam]

The Islanders could really use this kid. Also helps that he’s from the area and grew up an Isles fan.

 

[BKarchitect]

The Islanders could really use this kid. Also helps that he’s from the area and grew up an Isles fan.

He’d be a great fit as the face of the next generation on a stale team. Would love to see him on a team where he can truly be the crown jewel of a rebuild.

You guys aren’t bad enough though. I know some early games have been moribund but it’s the Islanders…you guys will do just enough to compete for the 8 seed or just miss and have virtually no lottery odds at ending up with a pick high enough for Hagens.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

The Islanders could really use this kid. Also helps that he’s from the area and grew up an Isles fan.

Shoot the Flyers too, we're fking atrocious, would be cool to see him play with Michkov.

 

[EXTRAS]

I feel like the 1st overall guys who have succeeded right out of the gate are the ones who have been put in a position to score, whether that helps with their development long term is another question.

 

[Mathieukferland]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1852525954968461627

2A night against St. Cloud State, 1G 7A in first 5 games to start the year

 

[Dominance]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1852525954968461627

2A night against St. Cloud State, 1G 7A in first 5 games to start the year

What a highlight, he sure contributed a ton there.

 

[Wieters]

Hagens is matching Will Smith's production from last year even though he hasn't been on the line with Gabe Perreault/Ryan Leonard until this most recent game.

Smith led the NCAA in points last year, so this is a blistering pace by Hagens with that as the point of reference.

 

[coooldude]

Hagens is matching Will Smith's production from last year even though he hasn't been on the line with Gabe Perreault/Ryan Leonard until this most recent game.

Smith led the NCAA in points last year, so this is a blistering pace by Hagens with that as the point of reference.

Seems like the clear story from counting-stats-only is "Hagens = Smith so far but a year younger, Leonard = Leonard from last year - uh oh?, and Perreault took a huge step up."

I recognize that from watching, Hagens looks better 2-way than Smith, better skating, similarly not large (but not tiny), and maybe just as/more dynamic but maybe also not quite as creative, although lots of hockey left to play.

Since Smith is no longer with BC, I no longer watch but I'll pay more attention the closer in time we get to the Sharks picking 1-3OA again.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Seems like the clear story from counting-stats-only is "Hagens = Smith so far but a year younger, Leonard = Leonard from last year - uh oh?, and Perreault took a huge step up."

I recognize that from watching, Hagens looks better 2-way than Smith, better skating, similarly not large (but not tiny), and maybe just as/more dynamic but maybe also not quite as creative, although lots of hockey left to play.

Since Smith is no longer with BC, I no longer watch but I'll pay more attention the closer in time we get to the Sharks picking 1-3OA again.

I would say that Hagens is better at everything other than being an inch shorter, and the fact that he’s a year and a half younger makes it such that he’s not as close to fully developed as a hockey player and that’s a challenge towards competing in the NCAA.

 

[Wieters]

Seems like the clear story from counting-stats-only is "Hagens = Smith so far but a year younger, Leonard = Leonard from last year - uh oh?, and Perreault took a huge step up."

I don't think there's any cause for concern for Leonard. It has been a point of discussion around him that he has hit a bunch of posts, and if just one of those had turned out differently, then he would be outpacing his production from last year. Leonard has also likely suffered more from a production standpoint with Smith not being there to feed him since for the first few games it was Oskar Jellvik centering him (not Hagens).

Perreault has definitely gone up a level. No one can say he's being carried anymore. He looks fantastic.

I recognize that from watching, Hagens looks better 2-way than Smith, better skating, similarly not large (but not tiny), and maybe just as/more dynamic but maybe also not quite as creative, although lots of hockey left to play.

Smith's standout skill is his creativity. When it works, he creates chances that very few guys on earth would be able to see let alone dare to try. But sometimes it comes across as overly ambitious because that style of play requires that the other guys are not only of a sufficient skill level to convert but also on the same page as Smith on any given play. Hagens probably creates the same net number of chances as Smith did, but he does so in a much more straightforward/decisive manner that translates no matter the other players around him and doesn't result in as many mistakes.

Hagens' skill is subtle and not something that necessarily jumps out at you. But the result is that he always seems to be in full control of himself and defenders. He is a great skater and puck handler, but they seem more due to anticipation/shiftiness as they do quick hands/feet.