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

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Some of his fanboys can't handle that he's getting #1 OA scrutiny. That's all it is really. Questions that weren't asked in his D-1 when he was playing USHL competition are going to get asked now.
There's been 2, 5'10 players in history to be drafted #1OA. Bedard and Hughes, there's your bar. Compare away. He's a better skater than Bedard and much better defensively than either. That's about it, and nobody is drafting a 5'10 center #1 hoping he can one day win the Selke. The race for #1 is wide open this year.

So when you have no argument against him you just call people who disagree with your illogical arguments fanboys?

You can’t even get your facts right either. He is listed at 5’11 this season. He has not even hit the draft combine yet. For all we know, he’ll be taller. This has been something that has been speculated, given his brother is 6’0 and we’ve slowly seen his height trickle up over the years. Bedard and Hughes actually were fairly wire to wire at shorter heights (Bedard was listed at a rounded up 5’10 and Hughes got 5’10 but refused the draft combine measurement like Quinn because it was widely speculated he was shorter), so I’m not sure where you’re going with this. He compares favorably to those players in that area and they didn’t exactly struggle to get picked first at that height.

And what is the scrutiny that you call for? That we question his scoring ability when his shooting percentage is unsustainably low? Well, he has 6 goals on his last 14 shots in official games (don’t know about exhibitions, but he scored in the Slovakia game, for what it’s worth). Seems like he’s went from questionable scoring abilities to the best scoring abilities in the world. Funny how that works. Or maybe that’s just how hockey works? Are you going to be question how he broke the U17 Worlds Scoring record? Or broke the U18 Worlds Scoring Record? Or led the USHL in PPG last year? Or had 4 points in his first World Junior game? Oh yeah, he’s so much worse offensively than those players with those numbers.

It really does come off like some just can’t accept that Canada does not have the best draft prospect this year. They can’t for once let another nation have it. Don’t want to paint all with this paintbrush. It’s not all, but it’s definitely a vocal minority.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

The reality of how math and hockey coincide is that production matters. Offensive production obviously. Maybe somebody in a scouting department somewhere (probably a basement) is calculating Hagens Xgf and xga, and determining what that's worth but the decision makers don't seem to care. Bedard and Hughes were both awful defensively and were #1 picks. Maybe you haven't noticed but Hagens' production is still not that special for an 18 yr old ncaa freshman:

https://www.eliteprospects.com/league/ncaa/stats/all-time-season?age=u19&sort=ppg&from=2000-2001

This is almost impressively lacking awareness. So you bring up the point about small sample sizes and his shooting percentage (certainly relevant), and then ignore that it’s the difference between saying he’s been very good and great so far this season?

Should’ve ignored the first point if you were gonna bring up the latter. It makes you look decidedly against Hagens to be so dishonest in your argument.

Yes, I think his SH% will trickle up over the upcoming months 3-5 points. It’s already started to. 4 goals on his last 9 shots for BC. Almost like this stuff is random, and there’s nothing wrong with his stats. The assist rate has been elite, and the goal scoring was mostly just missing the puck entering the net on the shots he takes.

As has been mentioned by others, BC’s early schedule is extremely difficult, and they have a lot more cupcakes in the upcoming months. They are also more defensive in nature this season. So there’s really nothing wrong with his stats if you understand the context. People who are looking for problems that don’t exist might find a faux-problem though.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Another multi-point game. Two dime assists but robbed of a PPG by Feldbergs. Six points in five periods, but granted, its against Germany and Latvia.

 

[Mathieukferland]

One thing I like about his game that I’ve seen a few times this year at BC and now today on the Buium goal is his ability to freeze the goaltender with his eyes; I’m going to say in the Michigan State game and today, those goals aren’t essential tap ins into empty nets when he forced the goaltending and defence to set to him

 

[Juxtaposer]

This is exactly what I wanted to see from Hagens at this tournament. Now he has to prove it against the good teams.

 

[montreal]

Assist 3:16
Assist 4:58
Close to Point 6:01
Misses One Timer Open Net 6:57
Goalie Steals One 7:14

 

[jtechkid]

Martone is out of the picture for top 2 in my view - doesnt have the skating dynamics and would be high risk pick in my view . Hagens is either complete stud or right below it .

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Those two assists he had today are passes that I don't think any of the other projected top picks (and throw Frondell and McQueen in there to that equation) can do more than once in a blue moon. Hagens maybe can't do that every game (essentially no one can), but he can do it much more often than most where he can pass a player open that isn't open for basically a tap-in. His passing is wonderful and he doesn't get enough credit for it.

 

[mphmiles]

Those two assists he had today are passes that I don't think any of the other projected top picks (and throw Frondell and McQueen in there to that equation) can do more than once in a blue moon. Hagens maybe can't do that every game (essentially no one can), but he can do it much more often than most where he can pass a player open that isn't open for basically a tap-in. His passing is wonderful and he doesn't get enough credit for it.

There's some very talented passers on the US and Canadian teams and he was pretty much the only one in the two games against Latvia that was able to unlock their bunker.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Hagens looked good in spurts today and I believe he sprung at least two breakaways with his passing, but it was just one of those games where Leonard was snakebitten and Perreault had one of his worst performances in maybe two years. The Finns really did a great job today and outplayed the Americans, but converting at least one of those four breakaways probably changes the dynamic and the outcome.

 

[Mathieukferland]

I was there in the building tonight, maybe it was an off night for him but apart from one key defensive stick lift with 5 mins to go he was very quite. He is quick and agile but I was actually surprised at his lack of high end north south speed. Extremely theatrical dive to draw the first penalty

 

[FLAMESFAN]

I was there in the building tonight, maybe it was an off night for him but apart from one key defensive stick lift with 5 mins to go he was very quite. He is quick and agile but I was actually surprised at his lack of high end north south speed. Extremely theatrical dive to draw the first penalty

Pretty sure that was Stiga that did that dive.
But yes, Hagens was a non factor tonight.

 

[Tkachuk Norris]

He’s my top forward but it’s close. There is a certain poster that says it’s anti American bias that he’s not number 1 by a mile (better than Bedard + Celebrini acccording to this poster). I just don’t see him as so elite offensively to make up for some of his other shortcomings.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Hagens was decent tonight. Bumevik must've missed two or three grade A scoring chances Hagens gave him because he has the puck skills of a giraffe.

Hagens wont have to worry about passing to someone like that on the PP in the NHL because that player won't be in the NHL.

Putting arguably your worst forward on a PP unit with all your best players is some genius coaching.

He’s my top forward but it’s close. There is a certain poster that says it’s anti American bias that he’s not number 1 by a mile (better than Bedard + Celebrini acccording to this poster). I just don’t see him as so elite offensively to make up for some of his other shortcomings.

Then why does he break all the tournament records and why have Misa and Martone (and Schaefer for that matter) never matched him at any of these international tournaments?

When will some of you just accept you're wrong?

 

[MichaelFarrell]

Then why does he break all the tournament records and why have Misa and Martone (and Schaefer for that matter) never matched him at any of these international tournaments?

When will some of you just accept you're wrong?

I think Hagens is very close and could end up being the best player of the draft. However, judging this by international tournaments is certainly not fair. The chemistry factor is huge in regard to Hagens’ production compared to Misa and Martone.

While I do feel like he’s a better prospect than Martone, I am not confident that he will have more of an impact than Matthew Schaefer or Misa. If put in Misa’s position on Saginaw, is Hagens on pace for a 126 point season playing with Epperson and Mangone? I’m not so sure of that.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I think Hagens is very close and could end up being the best player of the draft. However, judging this by international tournaments is certainly not fair. The chemistry factor is huge in regard to Hagens’ production compared to Misa and Martone.

While I do feel like he’s a better prospect than Martone, I am not confident that he will have more of an impact than Matthew Schaefer or Misa. If put in Misa’s position on Saginaw, is Hagens on pace for a 126 point season playing with Epperson and Mangone? I’m not so sure of that.

Misa has a 1.93 pace this season. Hagens had a 1.81 pace last year in the USHL. Seems a very logical jump to go from a 1.81 scorer to at least a 1.93 scorer, you don’t think?

 

[clevelandcane]

I love Hagens. I've been watching him since I saw him for his 15O season in Plymouth. Love his game. Love it!

That being said, he did not have his best game against CAN. I'm hoping he steps it up in the next three games.

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

Hagens looked good in spurts today and I believe he sprung at least two breakaways with his passing, but it was just one of those games where Leonard was snakebitten and Perreault had one of his worst performances in maybe two years. The Finns really did a great job today and outplayed the Americans, but converting at least one of those four breakaways probably changes the dynamic and the outcome.

Big fan of your work. Does Hagens end up on the wing ultimately? The face offs were bad against Latvia and the Finns. I don’t think he stacks up to Helenius who arguably is the best center here. I say that meaning Konsta and his linemates who are not first round picks or part of the best line in hockey kept them in check. Bigger and faster centers will dominate the dot and down low on him.

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

Big fan of your work. Does Hagens end up on the wing ultimately? The face offs were bad against Latvia and the Finns. I don’t think he stacks up to Helenius who arguably is the best center here. I say that meaning Konsta and his linemates who are not first round picks or part of the best line in hockey kept them in check. Bigger and faster centers will dominate the dot and down low on him.

you dont move a guy from center bc hes bad at faceoffs lol

 

[PerryTurnbullfan]

you dont move a guy from center bc hes bad at faceoffs lol

Read the entire post

 

[Faceboner]

Read the entire post

I think he will do fine at center once he gets older and his man strength kicks in after several years of pro season conditioning he he is already 179 pounds and commits to a decent two way game and is playing in the NCAA against older and more physically mature players if he could play at 190 he will be fine as he has a really keen iq

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

48.1% on face offs this year in the NCAA as one of its youngest players. Face offs aren’t a problem for him.

 

[montreal]

Hagens Almost Assist Disallowed Goal 6:04
Hagens Shot 6:50
Hagens Accepts & Passes Backwards 10:23
Hagens Shot Pass 11:12

 

[Steve Kournianos]

Two sweet goals today. Now has the exact point totals in five games as Celebrini last year — 4g, 4a

Barring a catastrophe or major injury, there’s no way Hagens is not the first forward off the board in June.

 

[Star Platinum]

Two sweet goals today. Now has the exact point totals in five games as Celebrini last year — 4g, 4a

Barring a catastrophe or major injury, there’s no way Hagens is not the first forward off the board in June.

In a re-draft of 2023-2024 lottery picks, where would you slot Hagens, Misa, and Martone in?