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

[Steve Kournianos]

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

I’m assuming you mean just 2024 and not 2023 + 2024. If so, all of the above definitely rank ahead of Levshunov and Lindstrom. Was bearish on them last year. With help from hindsight:

1. Celebrini
2. Hagens
3. Demidov

4. Misa
5. Sennecke
6. Catton

7. Martone
8. Silayev
9. Iginla
10. Dickinson

 

[wetcoast]

I’m assuming you mean just 2024 and not 2023 + 2024. If so, all of the above definitely rank ahead of Levshunov and Lindstrom. Was bearish on them last year. With help from hindsight:

1. Celebrini
2. Hagens
3. Demidov

4. Misa
5. Sennecke
6. Catton

7. Martone
8. Silayev
9. Iginla
10. Dickinson

I'm guessing Matthew Schaefer isn't listed as the poster didn't ask?

 

[Star Platinum]

I’m assuming you mean just 2024 and not 2023 + 2024. If so, all of the above definitely rank ahead of Levshunov and Lindstrom. Was bearish on them last year. With help from hindsight:

1. Celebrini
2. HagensI
3. Demidov

4. Misa
5. Sennecke
6. Catton

7. Martone
8. Silayev
9. Iginla
10. Dickinson

I did mean 2023 and 2024, but what you posted is informative as well. Thanks for the feedback

I'm guessing Matthew Schaefer isn't listed as the poster didn't ask?

Yeah, I was mostly interested in relative values for the forwards, but he is more than welcome to put Schaefer in there if he'd like.

 

[Steve Kournianos]

I'm guessing Matthew Schaefer isn't listed as the poster didn't ask?

Schaefer would be 2 after Celebrini

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

All I heard coming into this tournament was Hagens needed a big tournament (don't understand why, but anyway).

Okay, well, he's having a big tournament.

How many draft-eligibles have led the WJC in points? He has a real chance to do that.

And the "he's the third best player on his own line" rhetoric is funny when he's leading the line in scoring at this tournament (and is second at BC).

 

[jtechkid]

All I heard coming into this tournament was Hagens needed a big tournament (don't understand why, but anyway).

Okay, well, he's having a big tournament.

How many draft-eligibles have led the WJC in points? He has a real chance to do that.

And the "he's the third best player on his own line" rhetoric is funny when he's leading the line in scoring at this tournament (and is second at BC).

You can also question high scoring OHL league and inflated numbers compared to NCAA and grown men where he plays . In addition , Dickinson is ripping up OHL and doesnt project anything like that in NHL - Hagens is going one and its not close

 

[razor ray]

Best line at the WJC and the best line in college hockey:

 

[JiggsNY]

Best line at the WJC and the best line in college hockey:

View attachment 955316

yeah really cant complain that much. They're producing even if it doesn't feel like theyre maxing out their full potential. Just need a few more moments out of them

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

yeah really cant complain that much. They're producing even if it doesn't feel like theyre maxing out their full potential. Just need a few more moments out of them

They've collectively scored as many goals as Canada did in the entire round robin, with 10 goals in 5 games. Hard to ask for more than 2 goals per game from your top line.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Beyond team accolades, Hagens is playing for an honor that no player has ever accomplished before.

If he can lead the tournament in points (he's currently 1 behind, but I was counting ties when I went through this, so hypothetically even just being tied for first) by the end of the tournament then he'll have been the only player to ever lead the WHC17, WJC18, and WJC20 in points before being drafted.

First two he has the current points record for, by the way. Won't see the WJC20 points record this year, but that's a pretty ridiculous stat if he can complete it.

Only players to lead the WJC20 in their draft year, by the way, in the last 35 years (it gets really fluky once you go back beyond that time period) are Kessel, McDavid, Puljujarvi, and Bedard, so that'd be another big honor. One that would complete an accolade that's never been seen before.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

Come on, you guys are making like he's been a stand out player the tournament. He's been good, but it's Leonard that has been the best US player.
In the game vs Canada, Hagens was hardly even noticeable.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Come on, you guys are making like he's been a stand out player the tournament. He's been good, but it's Leonard that has been the best US player.
In the game vs Canada, Hagens was hardly even noticeable.

Oh so we're making it seem like he's been the leading scorer on one of the final four teams?

Kind of an important part of being a stand out player or the best player on your own team.

Leonard has been good, but he's two points behind Hagens. Those are just the facts. Whether you or I or whoever think Hagens or Leonard has been the best player for the US is a matter of personal opinion, not the facts.

If you want to argue the leading scorer for the Americans hasn't stood out? That's your prerogative, but I personally don't agree.

 

[Zarzh]

Oh so we're making it seem like he's been the leading scorer on one of the final four teams?

Kind of an important part of being a stand out player or the best player on your own team.

Leonard has been good, but he's two points behind Hagens. Those are just the facts. Whether you or I or whoever think Hagens or Leonard has been the best player for the US is a matter of personal opinion, not the facts.

If you want to argue the leading scorer for the Americans hasn't stood out? That's your prerogative, but I personally don't agree.

0 points against Canada and Finland, we'll see how he does in the next 2 games but the tighter checking games is what people care about.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

0 points against Canada and Finland, we'll see how he does in the next 2 games but the tighter checking games is what people care about.

When you say people, specify that it's people that he can't win with. People that don't want him to be picked first.

If he's on the verge of probably the most impressive pre-draft resume when it comes to major IIHF international tournaments (he could also have U17, U18, and U20 Gold with a tournament win, by the way), but he didn't score against probably the 4th best team in the tournament and a team that lost 3 of 5 games (for all we know the 8th best team)! He scored in the wrong games!

And if he did, it'd be something else that he didn't do well enough.

 

[gothegr8]

Nah it's really just how scouting works, NHL scouts value games against better teams.

Hagens is easily my top forward this year, it's totally fine to say he hasn't been impressive in those two games. Not worried at all about him in any way.

 

[FLAMESFAN]

When you say people, specify that it's people that he can't win with. People that don't want him to be picked first.

If he's on the verge of probably the most impressive pre-draft resume when it comes to major IIHF international tournaments (he could also have U17, U18, and U20 Gold with a tournament win, by the way), but he didn't score against probably the 4th best team in the tournament and a team that lost 3 of 5 games (for all we know the 8th best team)! He scored in the wrong games!

And if he did, it'd be something else that he didn't do well enough.

Do you actually think I don't want him to be picked 1st?
I like him as a top prospect, who wouldn't? I have said many times he belongs in that discussion for 1st. It's just not everyone is like you where you think it's a slam dunk case.
There are faults - as has been mentioned him disappearing in physical/tight checking games would be concerning to anyone already concerned about the size.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Do you actually think I don't want him to be picked 1st?
I like him as a top prospect, who wouldn't? I have said many times he belongs in that discussion for 1st. It's just not everyone is like you where you think it's a slam dunk case.
There are faults - as has been mentioned him disappearing in physical/tight checking games would be concerning to anyone already concerned about the size.

He hasn’t disappeared in tight checking games. He plays in way tighter checking games for BC (competition that is on average at least a few years older and way more tactical and physical) and is a top player there.

Maybe the puck just hasn’t went in the net in those games (or it has and then they call goals back). Not sure why people can’t just give the guy credit for playing a good tournament. It truly seems that he can’t win with some people. They always pick apart the most minor of things and never say a good thing about him.

 

[montreal]

Goal 1:18
Goal 8:09

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Thought he had an excellent gold medal game (all the US players minus Augustine were really big). I guess we can finally put to rest the "well, he was only putting up points against German and Latvian farmers" rhetoric. Ended the tournament with 5+4=9 points in 7 games. Two off the tournament lead. More than successful, given his age and the expectations. Now won Worlds Gold at U17, U18, and U20 levels. All before being drafted. Would be curious if that's ever been done before.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

With Schaefer's injury and Martone failing to make an impact, I think Hagens likely did enough to secure the favorite for 1st overall. His two way game really stood out IMO - he led all US forwards in ice time, that's pretty impressive for a draft eligible on such a stacked roster.

 

[WeThreeKings]

With Schaefer's injury and Martone failing to make an impact, I think Hagens likely did enough to secure the favorite for 1st overall. His two way game really stood out IMO - he led all US forwards in ice time, that's pretty impressive for a draft eligible on such a stacked roster.

It would probably depend.. I can't see San Jose passing on Schaefer if they got the 1st OA pick with Smith and Celebrini in house and only Dickinson of major note on the back end.

 

[saintunspecified]

With Schaefer's injury and Martone failing to make an impact, I think Hagens likely did enough to secure the favorite for 1st overall. His two way game really stood out IMO - he led all US forwards in ice time, that's pretty impressive for a draft eligible on such a stacked roster.

I think the one thing we saw was that he was affected a bit by bigger, more physical players. His IQ & sense of timing is undeniable. His positioning in the neutral & defensive zones is also seems extremely developed for a draft eligible player.

As a NYI fan (who would really love for him to be an Islander) I gotta admit that his overpassing, failing to finish the glorious Nelson feed all while wearing #12 had me singing the James Hagens version of the Josh Bailey song.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

It would probably depend.. I can't see San Jose passing on Schaefer if they got the 1st OA pick with Smith and Celebrini in house and only Dickinson of major note on the back end.

I personally hate the idea of drafting for position that high in the draft.

If they think Schaefer is the BPA, they should take him. Otherwise, they should take BPA. It's going to be a few years before they really know what they have with their prospects both up front and defensively. If they find later on that they have a gap on D, you can always flip some of that talented offensive group for help on the backend.

They have a decent stable of 23U D in the system with NHL upside, many of them more offensive minded.

• Dickinson
• Thrun
• Thompson
• Mukhamadullin
• Pohlkamp
• Havelid
• Wallenius
• Cagnoni
• Landen

I think they're better off drafting BPA and then waiting to see if any of these guys. They've also got some decent guys in their mid 20s (Walman 28, Ferraro 26, Liljegren 25), they could choose to extend a couple of them to keep around as vets as the young guys come in.

 

[prongertheman9]

With Schaefer's injury and Martone failing to make an impact, I think Hagens likely did enough to secure the favorite for 1st overall. His two way game really stood out IMO - he led all US forwards in ice time, that's pretty impressive for a draft eligible on such a stacked roster.

As good of a tournament that Hagens had, I’m pretty confident that Schaefer is the consensus #1 now.