By: Neil Simmons | Follow me on Twitter / X: @NSimmz
When the Boston Bruins drafted James Hagens seventh overall in the 2025 NHL Draft, the organization and fanbase rejoiced after landing their first blue-chip prospect in over a decade. Hagens wasn’t expected to be available when Boston was on the clock, yet fell to the Bruins, who projected him to fill the void at top-line center that had lingered in the lineup since Patrice Bergeron’s retirement.
Hagens had arrived at Boston College the prior Fall with lofty expectations as a potential first-overall pick, akin to previous draft-eligible Hockey East talents like Jack Eichel and Macklin Celebrini. Stepping into an Eagles’ lineup loaded with future NHL players, he delivered a solid freshman campaign, centering the top line with 37 points at a point-per-game pace. However, to NHL scouts, his numbers didn’t jump off the page as expected, and his draft stock cooled just enough for the Bruins to keep him within the Boston city limits.
Starting his sophomore year, Hagens became the undeniable top-dog on Chestnut Hill. The departures of linemates Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault shifted the responsibility squarely onto his shoulders to drive the Eagles’ offense, and to do so without the same pedigree on his wings.
At first, the numbers looked the same; Hagens was still producing at a point-per-game pace with a rotating cast of linemates, proving that he could drive his line regardless of who he played with. But steady wasn’t what the Eagles needed from him. By Thanksgiving, BC sat at 7-5-1, well below the cut line for the NCAA Tournament. There was another gear to his game, and he hadn’t fully found it yet.
On Black Friday, BC Head Coach Greg Brown started Hagens to the left wing with Jake Sondreal and Will Vote for their matinee against Notre Dame, and the Eagles haven’t looked back. Freed from the defensive responsibilities of playing center, Hagens could focus more on generating offense, a move that finally unlocked the extra gear in his game. He recorded his first career hat trick in a 5-3 win over the Fighting Irish, then caught fire, racking up 15 points in his next 10 games on the flank.
The midseason partnership between Hagens, Andre Gasseau, and new arrival Oscar Hemming on the first line amplified his play even further. Since the trio was assembled, Hagens has recorded a point in nine of 10 games, highlighted by five points in the Beanpot against Harvard and Boston University en route to BC’s first title in a decade, which earned him Tournament MVP honors.
A shift to the right wing hasn’t bothered him either. Hagens has seven points in four games on the opposite flank, including a second hat trick against UConn. He now leads Hockey East in goalscoring and points, and has established himself in the Hobey Baker conversation. The James Hagens that was expected has finally arrived, and Coach Brown noted the impact of Hagens’ versatility back in January:
Now, the question has changed: should Hagens stay on the wing, or continue developing as the future top-line center the Bruins drafted? The production has been undeniable; 29 of his 38 points have come in 18 games where he’s started as a winger, a 1.61 point-per-game scoring pace that would lead the nation. Down the middle, Hagens is steady; on the wing, he’s game-breaking.
The shift to the wing has also had a noticeable effect on his two-way game. Hagens was a -3 to start the season while shouldering the defensive load as the top line center, and winning just 44.9% of his faceoffs, down from 45.8% as a freshman. Since handing those duties over to Sondreal and Gasseau, his game has opened up on both sides of the puck, posting a +15.
On the other hand, Hagens’ numbers on the wing are gaudy, but they don’t paint the full picture. As much as the shift freed up his offensive game, he was still producing at a point-per-game pace down the middle. Doing so with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, first-round picks and two of the top forwards in the country, is one thing. Sustaining that level of production with linemates like Teddy Stiga, Ryan Conmy, Landan Resendes, Will Vote, and Jake Sondreal is a VERY different story.
Hagens has also proven himself as a center on the international stage at the World Juniors. In 2025, he centered Team USA’s top line alongside Leonard and Perreault, racking up 5-4-9 in seven games, skating at +9 as they repeated as gold medal winners. This past tournament, Hagens added seven more points, skated at +2, and won 60% of his faceoffs, though the Americans were upset by Finland in the quarterfinals.
Looking ahead, it’s possible we could see Hagens wearing the Spoked B this spring after the Eagles’ season ends. Given how well he’s playing on the wing right now, a similar role would be a natural starting point, and the second line would be an interesting landing spot. With Casey Mittelstadt and Viktor Arvidsson both being the subject of trade rumors, should either of them be moved at the deadline, pairing Hagens with a two-way center like Pavel Zacha could help him acclimate to the NHL game, similar to Gasseau’s presence at BC.
Whether he moves back to center or continues on the wing, James Hagens has tapped into the potential that made him such a coveted prospect. His sophomore season at BC has proven he can drive a line, elevate those around him, and thrive in multiple roles. However way the Bruins choose to deploy him, Hagens has the tools to make an immediate impact, and with his versatility and skill set, he could quickly become a cornerstone of the Bruins for years to come.
Want to check out James Hagens and the Boston Bruins’ College Hockey prospects in person? Consider our partner StubHub for all your sports & concert ticketing needs HERE!
Leave a Reply