(Photo Credit: Russell Hons/Cal Sport Media)

By: Eamonn McLean | Follow me on Twitter/X @EamonnMcLean44

The pick is in. James Hagens is staying in Boston. The Boston Bruins selected the Hauppauge, New York, native seventh overall in this evening’s National Hockey League Entry Draft. While Rumors of a potential homecoming to Long Island were swirling, it’s instead Boston, Massachusetts, that he will call his NHL home.

Hagens spent this past season with the Boston College Eagles, where he was teammates with fellow Bruins prospects Dean Letourneau, Andre Gasseau, and Oskar Jellvik. He put up 37 points in 37 games in the NCAA this season and won a Gold Medal at the 2025 World Junior Championships.

While Hagens fell from the favorite to go first overall this season, to out of the top-five entirely, some thought Hagens could go at seven. I wrote about Hagens earlier this week, and why you should be excited about this selection. You can find that article here.