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

[montreal]

Not the best game for Hagens or BC in a rare tough night for them, if they won it would have broken their home winning streak with 19 in a row.

 

[montreal]

Hagens Chance 0:17
Hagens Pass 0:31
Hagens Sends Perreault on Breakaway 1:08
Hagens Shot/Perreault Chance 2:18
Hagens Crosschecking/Mixing it Up 5:15
M.Hagens Assist/Ryan Leonard Goal 6:40
Hagens Shot 8:24
Hagens Between Legs Shot 10:10

I've seen almost every game he's played at BC and while I'm not a huge fan of his game for a 1st OA, I thought this was one of his better games despite no points.

 

[Tutu to]

watched a small sample size at the WJC and I don’t really see a first overall calibre player. At least not on the level of Bedard or Celebrini. Was often the third best player on his line.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

watched a small sample size at the WJC and I don’t really see a first overall calibre player. At least not on the level of Bedard or Celebrini. Was often the third best player on his line.

So he was the third best player on a line that probably had the three best forwards at the tournament? Two players that will be in the NHL in April? Two players that are a year and a half older than him and are pretty likely to at least be top 6, if not top line, forwards?

Really don’t understand how this is supposed to be an insult. And I’ll remind you that he had all of one point less than those two players, more average TOI per game, for their college team has the same number of points as Leonard, and scored more than Celebrini in his DY at the WJC who you claim he’s not on the same level as.

He can truly never win with some people.

 

[Tutu to]

So he was the third best player on a line that probably had the three best forwards at the tournament? Two players that will be in the NHL in April? Two players that are a year and a half older than him and are pretty likely to at least be top 6, if not top line, forwards?

Really don’t understand how this is supposed to be an insult. And I’ll remind you that he had all of one point less than those two players, more average TOI per game, for their college team has the same number of points as Leonard, and scored more than Celebrini in his DY at the WJC who you claim he’s not on the same level as.

He can truly never win with some people.

It was an observation not an insult. It is pretty rare that a 1st overall pick is the least effective player on his line.

It’s not about stats though. Like you said he was in by far the best line in the tournament who happens to be his BC line. Celebrini just passes the eye test in a way Hagens does not in addition to having a much more complete game. I don’t have too strong of an opinion because I haven’t seen him enough but he definitely didn’t impress me as much as the past 2 first overalls.

Still a solid chance he goes 1st especially with Schaefers injury.

 

[Juxtaposer]

It was an observation not an insult. It is pretty rare that a 1st overall pick is the least effective player on his line.

It’s not about stats though. Like you said he was in by far the best line in the tournament who happens to be his BC line. Celebrini just passes the eye test in a way Hagens does not in addition to having a much more complete game. I don’t have too strong of an opinion because I haven’t seen him enough but he definitely didn’t impress me as much as the past 2 first overalls.

Still a solid chance he goes 1st especially with Schaefers injury.

Hagens would be a weak 1st overall, no doubt, especially compared to Bedard and Celebrini. But what about compared to Juraj Slafkovsky or Owen Power? James Hagens is better at the same age than Matty Beniers, who almost went 1st overall (several teams, including the Sharks, had him ranked 1st overall on their boards). You can't compare Hagens to guys not even in his draft year to claim that he isn't a 1st overall player. I have Schaefer ranked first but there's plenty of legitimate arguments for Hagens as the top guy in this class. Celebrini and Bedard are completely irrelevant.

It's simply not a strong draft. You have four guys who are in the "below-average to weak 1st overall pick" tier, and then a bunch of question marks who may or may not be worthy of being top-10 picks.

 

[Tutu to]

Hagens would be a weak 1st overall, no doubt, especially compared to Bedard and Celebrini. But what about compared to Juraj Slafkovsky or Owen Power? James Hagens is better at the same age than Matty Beniers, who almost went 1st overall (several teams, including the Sharks, had him ranked 1st overall on their boards). You can't compare Hagens to guys not even in his draft year to claim that he isn't a 1st overall player. I have Schaefer ranked first but there's plenty of legitimate arguments for Hagens as the top guy in this class. Celebrini and Bedard are completely irrelevant.

It's simply not a strong draft. You have four guys who are in the "below-average to weak 1st overall pick" tier, and then a bunch of question marks who may or may not be worthy of being top-10 picks.

Don’t really disagree with anything you said. I also have Schaefer first overall.

 

[WarriorofTime]

So if Hagens falls in-between Kane/Hughes and Beniers/Cooley, Schaefer is "potentially generational" but DMan are inherently a bit riskier of selections, and Schaefer also is gonna end up missing a whole lot of time in his draft year (but not really in a way that would cause lingering injury questions), where does that all land?

Guess we'll see.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

It was an observation not an insult. It is pretty rare that a 1st overall pick is the least effective player on his line.

It’s not about stats though. Like you said he was in by far the best line in the tournament who happens to be his BC line. Celebrini just passes the eye test in a way Hagens does not in addition to having a much more complete game. I don’t have too strong of an opinion because I haven’t seen him enough but he definitely didn’t impress me as much as the past 2 first overalls.

Still a solid chance he goes 1st especially with Schaefers injury.

Okay well, I don’t think he was the least effective player on his line. And it’s also pretty rare that a 1OA scores 9 points at the WJC in his draft year. Also pretty rare to win the WHC17, WJC18, WJC20 before being drafted.

Celebrini passes your eye test because you have a preconceived bias towards him. We’ll see about how they compare in the NHL.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Okay well, I don’t think he was the least effective player on his line. And it’s also pretty rare that a 1OA scores 9 points at the WJC in his draft year. Also pretty rare to win the WHC17, WJC18, WJC20 before being drafted.

Who was the least effective player on the line? I know you're not about to say the tournament MVP.

Celebrini passes your eye test because you have a preconceived bias towards him. We’ll see about how they compare in the NHL.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Who was the least effective player on the line? I know you're not about to say the tournament MVP.

Personally yes, I do think it was Leonard. He took a lot of dumb penalties and he still too often will take a long wrist shot with no chance of converting over passing to an open teammate who may be in a better position to score or keeping possession of the puck and regrouping.

But we’re talking about easily 3 of the 5 or 6 best forwards at the tournament, and arguably the three best, so I’m not sure being the worst is any type of insult.

I don’t hide that I root for American players. You root for Sharks players. A lot of the people who root for Canadian players have been deflating Hagens reputation this year because they want a Canadian to challenge him.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

watched a small sample size at the WJC and I don’t really see a first overall calibre player. At least not on the level of Bedard or Celebrini. Was often the third best player on his line.

What value is this? You watched a bit of him at an international tournament. Okay?

 

[Juxtaposer]

Personally yes, I do think it was Leonard. He took a lot of dumb penalties and he still too often will take a long wrist shot with no chance of converting over passing to an open teammate who may be in a better position to score or keeping possession of the puck and regrouping.

But we’re talking about easily 3 of the 5 or 6 best forwards at the tournament, and arguably the three best, so I’m not sure being the worst is any type of insult.

Right, and I don't think that saying that Hagens was the worst between him and 19 year old star returnees Leonard and Perrault is an insult. Just like I don't think saying that Hagens is worse than Bedard and Celebrini or that he's a below-average 1st overall caliber prospect is an insult.

I don’t hide that I root for American players. You root for Sharks players. A lot of the people who root for Canadian players have been deflating Hagens reputation this year because they want a Canadian to challenge him.

Certainly, there have been some detractors with silly Canadian agendas. I'm not one of them and I have been quite objective in my analysis of Hagens, who may well be a future Shark.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Right, and I don't think that saying that Hagens was the worst between him and 19 year old star returnees Leonard and Perrault is an insult. Just like I don't think saying that Hagens is worse than Bedard and Celebrini or that he's a below-average 1st overall caliber prospect is an insult.

My point is that there's been A LOT of "he's the worst player on his own line" this season. It just gets annoying.

Whether true or not, these comments never come with all the caveats of "well, he's scoring at a pretty similar rate as the others, so maybe it's closer than I think." Or "well, he's a year and a half younger than the other two, so maybe we should compare him to where they were at the same age." Or "well, they are both very good prospects and project as decent NHL'ers, if not better, so maybe the third best player on the line is still very good."

Certainly, there have been some detractors with silly Canadian agendas. I'm not one of them and I have been quite objective in my analysis of Hagens, who may well be a future Shark.

That's fair, and I'm merely responding to your eye-rolling emoji. I know you were asserting I am biased. And to be fair, I make no apologies over the fact that I am a fan of Hagens as an American hockey fan. At the same time, I think he backs up the fandom with his play on the ice, so I'm not sure it's exactly misplaced

 

[Juxtaposer]

My point is that there's been A LOT of "he's the worst player on his own line" this season. It just gets annoying.

Whether true or not, these comments never come with all the caveats of "well, he's scoring at a pretty similar rate as the others, so maybe it's closer than I think." Or "well, he's a year and a half younger than the other two, so maybe we should compare him to where they were at the same age." Or "well, they are both very good prospects and project as decent NHL'ers, if not better, so maybe the third best player on the line is still very good."

Hagens can simultaneously be the worst player on his line at this time and the best prospect on his line. I do get that it's annoying, I just also agree with it. Hagens is much better at the same age than either Perreault or Leonard, obviously.

That's fair, and I'm merely responding to your eye-rolling emoji. I know you were asserting I am biased. And to be fair, I make no apologies over the fact that I am a fan of Hagens as an American hockey fan. At the same time, I think he backs up the fandom with his play on the ice, so I'm not sure it's exactly misplaced

You're entitled to your opinion, certainly. But Macklin Celebrini is putting up nearly a PPG as an 18 year old in the NHL on one of the worst teams in the league. Hagens is barely putting up a PPG in the NCAA on the best line in the nation and is less than 5 months younger than Celebrini. There is simply no argument for Hagens over Celebrini I right now, and if their nationalities were switched, you would not be making one.

 

[wetcoast]

Hagens would be a weak 1st overall, no doubt, especially compared to Bedard and Celebrini. But what about compared to Juraj Slafkovsky or Owen Power? James Hagens is better at the same age than Matty Beniers, who almost went 1st overall (several teams, including the Sharks, had him ranked 1st overall on their boards). You can't compare Hagens to guys not even in his draft year to claim that he isn't a 1st overall player. I have Schaefer ranked first but there's plenty of legitimate arguments for Hagens as the top guy in this class. Celebrini and Bedard are completely irrelevant.

Fair enough.

It's simply not a strong draft. You have four guys who are in the "below-average to weak 1st overall pick" tier, and then a bunch of question marks who may or may not be worthy of being top-10 picks.

I actually think that it's a very strong draft and it has some depth to it as well but of course time will tell.

One thing that makes it look weak is the weak NTDP.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You're entitled to your opinion, certainly. But Macklin Celebrini is putting up nearly a PPG as an 18 year old in the NHL on one of the worst teams in the league. Hagens is barely putting up a PPG in the NCAA on the best line in the nation and is less than 5 months younger than Celebrini. There is simply no argument for Hagens over Celebrini I right now, and if their nationalities were switched, you would not be making one.

And I’d say that’s a slanted version.

He’s outpaced Celebrini at every international tournament barometer over the years. He has the same number of points this year as a year and a half year older Leonard, who won the MVP at the World Juniors. Only had one less point than him at the World Juniors. BC is nowhere near as high scoring of a team this year as people think and not as much scoring as last year either. They’ve played one of the hardest first half of the season schedules ever in NCAA history. Anyone can pick or choose a stat or two that favors or disfavors their conclusion. He’s absolutely doing well.

Celebrini is a good player. I’m not going to get hung up in the “this player from a different draft is so much better than that player from a different draft” rhetoric. I think it’s relatively close, and we’ll see how it gets proven out in the NHL.

 

[Juxtaposer]

And I’d say that’s a slanted version.

He’s outpaced Celebrini at every international tournament barometer over the years. He has the same number of points this year as a year and a half year older Leonard, who won the MVP at the World Juniors. Only had one less point than him at the World Juniors. BC is nowhere near as high scoring of a team this year as people think and not as much scoring as last year either. They’ve played one of the hardest first half of the season schedules ever in NCAA history. Anyone can pick or choose a stat or two that favors or disfavors their conclusion. He’s absolutely doing well.

Celebrini is a good player. I’m not going to get hung up in the “this player from a different draft is so much better than that player from a different draft” rhetoric. I think it’s relatively close, and we’ll see how it gets proven out in the NHL.

Oh brother, not this again.

James Hagens and Macklin Celebrini were born in the same year. Macklin Celebrini is a little over four months older than James Hagens. Internationally, they are the same age. Draft year is not relevant when it comes to international, NTDP, and NCAA play. Birth year is.

At the 2023 U18, Macklin Celebrini put up 15 points in 7 games. At the same tournament, James Hagens put up 5 points in 7 games.

At the 2024 WJC, 17 year old Macklin Celebrini put up 8 points in 5 games. James Hagens didn't play.

In 2023-2024, Macklin Celebrini scored 64 points in 38 NCAA games (1.68 PPG) as a 17 year old. James Hagens scored 102 points in 58 NTDP games (1.76 PPG) as a 17 year old. Hagens destroyed the U18, but Celebrini had graduated out already even though he was eligible to play.

In 2024-2025, 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini has 29 points in 33 NHL games. 18 year old James Hagens has 20 points in 18 NCAA games and had 9 points in 7 WJC games.

Macklin Celebrini has been better than James Hagens every step of the way. If James Hagens were born two months earlier or Macklin Celebrini three months later, there would be no debate that Celebrini would go 1st overall amongst reasonable people.

I'm sure there will be some draft year truthers who disagree, but frankly, I'm tired of arguing with them. I'm more than happy to let their NHL careers play out and do the arguing for me.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Oh brother, not this again.

James Hagens and Macklin Celebrini were born in the same year. Macklin Celebrini is a little over four months older than James Hagens. Internationally, they are the same age. Draft year is not relevant when it comes to international, NTDP, and NCAA play. Birth year is.

At the 2023 U18, Macklin Celebrini put up 15 points in 7 games. At the same tournament, James Hagens put up 5 points in 7 games.

At the 2024 WJC, 17 year old Macklin Celebrini put up 8 points in 5 games. James Hagens didn't play.

In 2023-2024, Macklin Celebrini scored 64 points in 38 NCAA games (1.68 PPG) as a 17 year old. James Hagens scored 102 points in 58 NTDP games (1.76 PPG) as a 17 year old. Hagens destroyed the U18, but Celebrini had graduated out already even though he was eligible to play.

In 2024-2025, 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini has 29 points in 33 NHL games. 18 year old James Hagens has 20 points in 18 NCAA games and had 9 points in 7 WJC games.

Macklin Celebrini has been better than James Hagens every step of the way. If James Hagens were born two months earlier or Macklin Celebrini three months later, there would be no debate that Celebrini would go 1st overall amongst reasonable people.

I'm sure there will be some draft year truthers who disagree, but frankly, I'm tired of arguing with them. I'm more than happy to let their NHL careers play out and do the arguing for me.

Probably the only player who has a chance to be as good as Celebrini is Demidov. Hage may be better than Hagens. He is the leading rookie scorer in the NCAA, is just 6 months older than Hagens, and plays with much worse linemates.

 

[Juxtaposer]

Probably the only player who has a chance to be as good as Celebrini is Demidov. Hage may be better than Hagens. He is the leading rookie scorer in the NCAA, is just 6 months older than Hagens, and plays with much worse linemates.

Okay, Habs fan.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Oh brother, not this again.

James Hagens and Macklin Celebrini were born in the same year. Macklin Celebrini is a little over four months older than James Hagens. Internationally, they are the same age. Draft year is not relevant when it comes to international, NTDP, and NCAA play. Birth year is.

At the 2023 U18, Macklin Celebrini put up 15 points in 7 games. At the same tournament, James Hagens put up 5 points in 7 games.

At the 2024 WJC, 17 year old Macklin Celebrini put up 8 points in 5 games. James Hagens didn't play.

In 2023-2024, Macklin Celebrini scored 64 points in 38 NCAA games (1.68 PPG) as a 17 year old. James Hagens scored 102 points in 58 NTDP games (1.76 PPG) as a 17 year old. Hagens destroyed the U18, but Celebrini had graduated out already even though he was eligible to play.

In 2024-2025, 18-year-old Macklin Celebrini has 29 points in 33 NHL games. 18 year old James Hagens has 20 points in 18 NCAA games and had 9 points in 7 WJC games.

Macklin Celebrini has been better than James Hagens every step of the way. If James Hagens were born two months earlier or Macklin Celebrini three months later, there would be no debate that Celebrini would go 1st overall amongst reasonable people.

I'm sure there will be some draft year truthers who disagree, but frankly, I'm tired of arguing with them. I'm more than happy to let their NHL careers play out and do the arguing for me.

You're getting really defensive.

I didn't say one bad thing about Celebrini. It's just a fact of the matter that unless you're like the best hockey player ever that certain stats and areas are going to be in your favor and others aren't.

Unfortunately for Celebrini, he simply hasn't fared as well as Hagens in international tournaments over the years. Worse WHC17, Worse WJC18, Worse WJC20. Again, that's not to say he's done bad or that's a criticism. Maybe there's a good explanation. Maybe it doesn't mean much. At the same time, he's also fared better than Hagens in certain situations.

When talking about players who are picked in the same range, it's virtually always a mystery who will end up better down the road. I'm more than willing to let the players prove it. I see no reason to die on a hill comparing the eventual careers of an NHL rookie (non-generational) 1OA to the career of an eventual 1OA or 2OA DY player. That's a situation that realistically could go either way down the road.

 

[WarriorofTime]

Oh brother, not this again.

James Hagens and Macklin Celebrini were born in the same year. Macklin Celebrini is a little over four months older than James Hagens. Internationally, they are the same age. Draft year is not relevant when it comes to international, NTDP, and NCAA play. Birth year is.

What? Since when does birth year matter for ncaa? It makes sense why players would want to play ncaa in their draft year regardless of whether they’re early middle or late born within the year.

Birth year is not relevant for anything other than how long you can play junior tournaments. Serious players will structure around their draft year which they all know in advance. The whole “age 17 vs. age 18” thing is a big distraction every draft and it never matters.