James Hagens – Boston Bruins or Boston College Eagles?

By: Ryan Bosworth | Follow me on Twitter / X @RyanJBosworth

Thanks to an abysmal 2024-25 regular season, the Boston Bruins selected within the top ten of the 2025 National Hockey League Entry Draft for the first time since 2011. With the 7th overall pick, and a little bit of grace from the hockey gods, the Bruins were able to select James Hagens from Boston College.

Hagens, who turns 19 this November, is coming off a point-per-game freshman season at Boston College. Despite his production level, it was a down year from what he was projected to be going into the season. At the beginning of the season, Hagens was projected to be the first overall pick of the 2025 draft, and he slowly trickled down in rankings as the draft approached and the season progressed, which turned out to be a major positive for Boston.

With the drafting of Hagens, the Bruins now responsible for developing the Hauppauge native to reach the highest ceiling attainable, and there are some choices to be made and conversations to be had. Hagens could head back to BC for his sophomore season, as originally planned, or he could sign his entry-level contract with Boston, where he could remain with the big club or be assigned to Providence. What would be best for Hagens, however, is his sophomore season at BC.

At the start of the 2024-25 season, David St-Louis of Elite Prospects released an analysis on Hagens’ game, covering his strengths and weaknesses, as well as when he was projected to be selected in the 2025 draft. Back on September 13th, 2024, St-Louis described Hagens as the “most dynamic prospect of the 2025 NHL Draft.” St-Louis also noted that he’d go into this season “establishing himself as the headliner of this class.”

Hagens didn’t quite live up to the standard initially set, and that’s not an uncommon trend. Hagens is on the smaller-stature side, but sits at 185 pounds, which is heavy for his size. A slightly undersized Hagens, who entered his freshman year at BC at just 17, was essentially against all odds. After a full year of experience and an NHL development camp under his belt, he poised for a much stronger sophomore season.

Along with gained experience from the 2024-25 season, Hagens has a chip on his shoulder for the way the draft worked out, despite being drafted within the top ten. His name has been mentioned in a negative light due to the way his freshman season unfolded.

In a recent episode of Daily Faceoff’s Morning Cuppa Hockey, Jonny Lazarus and Colby Cohen were talking about the likelihood of Matthew Schaeffer signing with the New York Islanders and playing in the NHL next year, and Lazarus mentioned that “it sounds like Hagens might too, in Boston.”

Cohen responds, saying, “Well, Hagens wants to sign, which I think would be a mistake,” going on to add, “Why wouldn’t you go play for BC for six more months until April and then have an opportunity to go right into the National Hockey League?” Cohen mentioned Hagens could “dominate a year of college hockey” before signing with Boston, as well.

Cohen hit the nail on the head. Hagens had an underwhelming freshman campaign, which resulted in falling in the draft. Now that the weight of living up to external expectations is off his shoulders, and with his newly gained experience, he has a great opportunity ahead of him to dominate the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

There’s no reason for him to rush to the NHL, other than wanting to prove everyone wrong. Still, the smartest route would be allowing himself to continue to develop, as the more time he allows himself to develop, the greater potential impact he could have on the Bruins’ roster.