The Bruins added a major talent to their prospect pipeline on Friday night when Boston College’s James Hagens, ranked the No. 1 talent in the world before this season, fell to the Bruins at No. 7 and they selected the Long Island native, immediately making him the club’s top prospect.
“I love Boston, I love the area,” Hagens told ESPN.
Hagens seemed every bit as tickled that his name was called by actor Adam Sandler, aka Happy Gilmore.
“I’ll remember that forever,” beamed a smiling Hagens, who said Happy Gilmore was his favorite movie.
There was one uncomfortable moment when the Bruins’ brass on Causeway Street, trying to interface with Hagens at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles via Zoom, could not hear the player and the broadcast had to move on.
Hopefully for the B’s and Hagens’ sake, that will be the only glitch in his development.
Hagens, listed at 5-11 and 177 pounds (he said he’s packed on 13 pounds since those measurements were taken), had a very good year at BC but he didn’t have the same kind of sensational season that last year’s No. 1 pick, Macklin Celebrini, had at Boston University. But playing between Ryan Leonard and Gabriel Perrault, Hagens had 11-26-37 totals in 37 games, which is not bad for a college freshman. Playing with those two future NHLers, he had little choice but to be a set-up man.
Before arriving at BC, Hagens had 39 goals and 63 assists for the U.S. National U18 team in 2023-24. He was also part of the 2025 Team USA that won the World Junior Championships, ranking second among US players with nine points. He was named MVP of the USA’s 2024 silver medal winning team in the U18 World Junior Championships, notching 22 points in seven games.
When it was pointed out that Hagens didn’t have quite the level of production that was expected, B’s GM Don Sweeney took exception.
“I think that’s a little unfair in terms of players going in as freshmen,” said Sweeney. “If you look back at James’ track record, he’s been a prolific point producer…against his peer group he’s been at the upper echelon of production. There have been a few players, and you’re right, who have gone into college hockey at that age and done better overall, but there’s no shame in the type of year that he had, playing on the top line on one of the top teams’ in the country. There’s no concern on our part in terms of him taking a step back.”
Hagens’ strongest asset is his skating ability with which he’s adept at making tight turns and changes of direction. He’s also got excellent vision and is good at anticipating plays. While the loaded Eagles fell short of their goal of a national championship this year, Hagens scored his biggest goal of the season in the NCAA regionals when BC was locked in a 0-0 game late in the third period against upstart Bentley. The young centerman saved the Eagles’ bacon by scoring the only goal of the game on a heads-up wraparound.
One other thing that should work in the B’s favor with the pick is that Hagens should have a healthy chip on his shoulder after falling in the draft.
“I think next year, we’ll hopefully see. I thought this year was really good,” said Hagens via Zoom. “I just have to go out there next year and prove everyone that passed on me wrong. I’m in the spot where I want to be. I want to be a Boston Bruin.”
But Hagens is not known for a powerful shot and, a tad undersized, he will be challenged to get to inside ice.
Hagens will be at Bruins Development Camp on Monday at Warrior Ice Arena, where the Eagles often practice. He said its his goal to be in the NHL as soon as possible, but whether or not he returns to BC is to be determined.
“That’s a talk I’m sure I’ll have with the staff when I see them,” said Hagens, who grew up playing many tournaments in Boston as a kid. “I’m up to 190 now. I’ve been able to put on some weight, get in the gym and get ready. I want to play in the NHL as soon as possible. That’s a conversation with the team, whether it’s now or once the college season is over. That’s a conversation we’ll have to have.”
Sweeney said that that decision will be made incrementally over the summer but he did say that he does not want to rush him. On top of that, Sweeney pointed out that at BC next season there will be opportunities for Hagens to take a more play-driving role after and develop more of a shot mentality now that some of the older players have left the program.
There was some speculation earlier in the day that, after the Islanders had traded Noah Dobson to Montreal for the 16th and 17th picks, that they may make a run at the No. 7 pick with those two picks so that could could add their hometown boy Hagens to a first-round haul that include first overall pick Matthew Schaefer.
Hagens was unfazed by the talk.
“I stayed away from all that stuff. I had no idea where I was going to end up. I’m so grateful that I ended up in Boston and that I’m a Bruin and I’m not leaving the Boston area. I wanted to go to college in Boston and it just turned out that the Bruins picked me. I’m super grateful that it worked out,” said Hagens.
While neither GM got into specifics about who their potential dance partners might have been, Islanders GM Mathieu Darche said he tried to trade the two picks to move up to get Hagens and Sweeney said he did have discussions about moving back.
“We had some opportunities but we just felt when James was there, we had to make the selection,” said Sweeney.
The Islanders made both those picks and they made out pretty darn well, taking right wing Victor Eklund, whom a few prognosticators had moved into the top 10, and defenseman Kashawn Aitcheson, who had also been rising in recent weeks.
The B’s certainly saw plenty of Hagens last season. Not only was he playing in their backyard at Chestnut Hill, but he was also a teammate of Dean Letourneau, the B’s first-round selection (25th overall) last season. Eagles Oskar Jellvik and Andre Gasseau are also Bruin picks.
Hagens is the 27th first-round pick in BC history.
The draft continues on Saturday when the B’s have two second round picks (51, 61). Sweeney said he’s had discussions about moving picks to obtain a player and will continue those talks on Saturday.
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