Hagens signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Boston Bruins in April 2026. His deal carries an average annual value (AAV) of $975K and runs through the 2028-29 season.

One of, if not the biggest steals of the draft, Hagens fell right into the laps of Don Sweeney & Co. after six teams passed on him, and this could very well alter the near future for the organization for the better. With potential to hear his name uttered with Bruins legends like Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci, Hagens provides the Bruins with a blue chip centre piece down the middle they have lacked since the departure of those aforementioned lifetime Bruins. The organization looked set for a long rebuilding period when those two left the organization, but the selection of Hagens adds a core piece that you normally only have the opportunity to take in the top-five picks

Selected seventh overall, James Hagens is now a member of the Boston Bruins.

While he had a strong collegiate season at Boston College, Hagens didn’t produce at the level most scouts expected. He didn’t put the puck in the net as often as anticipated—partly due to his shot not being as effective as many believed and partly because of difficulties getting to the tougher areas of the ice where most goals are scored. Although he had a solid season overall, the calculus for Hagens’ projection has shifted slightly, which is reflected in his drop in the rankings compared to our initial list, where he was the top-rated player. Still, he has the potential to be a point-per-game playmaker in the NHL, but whether he plays at center or on the wing remains to be seen.

After finishing the World Juniors with nine points in seven games—including two goals in the semi-finals and the game-opener against Finland in the final—Hagens enters 2025 boasting a strong draft eligible season. Hagens has used his speed, quickness, creativity, and heady playmaking to provide and excellent complement to NYR prospect Gabe Perreault at Boston College. While he initially struggled to find the back of the net, Hagens has started to break out of his shooting slump, bringing back another element of his game. Despite reservations from critics early on, James Hagens still looks like a potential NHL first-line centre and a strong candidate to go first-overall.

Hagens checks off all the boxes for the organization:

Hagens posted 37 points in 37 appearances for Boston College last season, just a year removed from vaulting into third all-time in USNTDP scoring. Hagens processes the game at a high speed. His ability to transition with game-breaking speed bodes well considering he could line up with players like David Pastrnak in the near future. All of this is to mention his incredible puck control, great footwork and vision bode well for his future. The organization he landed with is just gravy, despite being a Long Island kid.

Final Ranking – James Hagens’ season at Boston College left many scouts underwhelmed, and for understandable reasons. Scoring at a point-per-game rate as a college freshman is impressive, but not extraordinary. For a player entering his draft season viewed almost unanimously as the consensus first overall pick, his game left a lot to be desired, especially when compared to the dominant draft-year performances of Adam Fantilli and Macklin Celebrini.

However, the foundation of the player remains intact and shouldn’t be overlooked. His skill level is undeniable even to the skeptics, and when combined with his speed and shiftiness, it forms a toolkit that can translate to the next level.

Hagens is a player—like many in this draft class—who drew differing opinions from our scouts. Some on our team are concerned about his play-driving ability, and that’s a fair critique: he struggled in that area, particularly against tight-checking teams. Still, he remains our third-ranked player. The combination of skill and speed—and the potential for added layers with increased strength—makes him impossible to overlook. Whether he becomes a play-driving top-line center or a playmaking second-line winger remains to be seen.—