June 27, 2025

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To Know How College Hockey Does Today, We Need to Know Who’s Playing in the NCAA

by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor (@chn-adam-wodon)

LOS ANGELES — As this year’s NHL Draft begins in Los Angeles, most of the NCAA-related talk in relation has been about a player not even here.

Gavin McKenna — the projected No. 1 overall in next year’s draft — is not in Los Angeles, and no one’s yet sure if he’s going to play in the NCAA this coming season. But it’s presumed he will, and it’s presumed he will get some major money — relatively — to do so.

In the past, of course, it wouldn’t even have been an option. Unlike Macklin Celebrini, another highly-touted player who came to the NCAA in his draft year, McKenna chose to go to Major Junior first. For someone like Celebrini, just a couple years ago, that would’ve ruled out playing in the NCAA. Celebrini went on to have a standout season at Boston University, before getting drafted No. 1 by San Jose and playing in the NHL this past season.

But with the change in rules, opening the door for Major Junior players to then play in the NCAA, it’s not only within the realm of possiblity to play college hockey for McKenna, but it seems like something he’s actively seeking to do.

Combine that with the money now available for NCAA teams to directly pay their players, and it makes for a lot of interesting chatter. Where is he going to play? How much is he going to get? The answers are all over the map, though the consensus is that Michigan State is offering in the $200,000 range, while Penn State, the other likely landing spot, is offering more.

Meanwhile, there’s a 2025 NHL Draft to deal with. On that score, current or incoming NCAA players are not expected to make as big of a splash as some of the recent years. 

Then again, who is an NCAA player? We don’t know. As many as five current Major Junior players projected to be first-round picks tonight, could go to an NCAA school this coming year. A player like Michael Misa, a projected top-three pick, has been reportedly interested in a number of schools, and perhaps also Penn State, after his brother committed there last month. However, at the draft, after being selected No. 2 overall by San Jose, Misa seemed to rule out playing NCAA hockey next year. “My goal is to make the NHL next season, so that’s where my head is at,” Misa said.

As for the ones who do know, James Hagens of Boston College was at one time thought of as a No. 1 overall pick. His draft status has slipped a bit, but he still figures to go in the Top 10.

If he winds up being the only one, however, that would be a dropoff from recent drafts. Last season, Celebrini and Artyom Levshunov went 1-2 overall. In 2023, Adam Fantilli went No. 3, with Will Smith and Ryan Leonard also in the top 10. In 2022, Logan Cooley was No. 3, and in 2021, four of the top five NHL picks went to, or were already at, Michigan.

Still there are plenty of NCAA-connected players projected to go in the first round. That number has increased since the door to Major Junior players opened, with guys like Jackson Smith (Penn State) and Cole Reschny (North Dakota) among the Canadian Major Junior players to commit to NCAA schools in the last couple months.

All in all, like a lot of things in the NCAA right now, it’s the wild west. So hang in there.

The NBA and TNT Sports are parting ways again.

TNT Sports will no longer operate NBA TV and NBA.com as of October 1, CEO Luis Silberwasser said in a Friday memo obtained by Michael McCarthy of Front Office Sports. NBA TV, which will continue to air live games next season, had been run by TNT Sports since 2008.

While TNT’s settlement with the NBA requires it to create content for the NBA’s digital platforms, it is unclear whether there will be any TNT-produced content on NBA TV beyond the end of the current agreement.

The decision is not a surprise, as early reporting that TNT would continue running NBA TV and NBA.com as part of its settlement was immediately walked back. While Silberwasser said Friday that TNT had been in negotiations to continue running NBA TV, it is not clear whether the league was ever receptive.

With NBA TV originating from TNT’s Atlanta studios, the league-owned channel had for all intents and purposes become a part of the TNT Sports family. Most, if not all, of its on-air regulars held other roles on TNT programming — whether the now-concluded NBA package, the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, or in the case of hosts and play-by-play voices, any number of properties outside of basketball.

Prior to the TNT agreement, the network operated out of the league’s Secaucus, N.J., studios.

McCarthy initially reported that MLB Network has held early talks to potentially operate NBA TV, but that was retracted in a later update. The league instead intends to take production in-house.

By The Associated Press

CARROLLTON, Texas — CARROLLTON, Texas (AP) — Patrick Reed and Harold Varner III each shot 5-under 67 on Friday at Maridoe Golf Club to share the first-round lead in LIV Golf Dallas.

Reed eagled the 655-yard, par-5 second hole and had four birdies and a bogey. Varner, Reed’s 4Aces teammate, had six birdies and a closing bogey.

Jon Rahm was a stroke back. Abraham Ancer shot 69, and Dustin Johnson was at 70 with Graeme McDowell, Anirban Lahiri, Richard Bland and David Puig.

Bryson DeChambeau opened with a 72. He lives in Dallas and played his college golf at SMU.

Points leader Joaquin Niemann, coming off a victory at LIV Golf Virginia, shot 78. He had a 10 on the par-5 seventh.

Brooks Koepka withdrew during the round because of illness. He smashed a tee marker with his driver on the ninth hole.

___

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Boston College freshman James Hagens is a competitive, highly skilled center with elite vision, speed, playmaking, and smart two-way play. He’s already collected ample international medals and made a strong NCAA impact in his debut season, earning him a high reputation as a crafty, dynamic center. Although he’s dropped down some draft boards due to his size and a freshman year at BC that was respectable but not necessarily spectacular, Hagens isn’t a contender for the No. 1 overall pick anymore but he’s still one of the best in this class — which is why the Hawks could have an eye on him at No. 3.

Summary

Hagens has long been the top American prospect — sometimes even the top prospect period — heading into the 2025 NHL Draft. He first made a statement during the 2022-23 season as part of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, going a point per game no matter what league he was playing.

First, he lit up the scoresheet with the U17 squad, finishing second on that team with 66 points (26 G, 40 A) in 43 games. This earned Hagens a call-up to the U18 team, where he added another 19 points (7 G, 12 A) in 17 games — quite impressive for a 16-year-old. He also finished with 40 points (17 G, 23 A) in 31 games with the USNTDP Juniors in the USHL.

Hagens carried that momentum into the 2023–24 season: his 102 points (39 G, 63 A) in 53 games gave him the seventh best point-per-game rate (1.61) on the U.S. National U18 Team, just behind Auston Matthews (1.68) and Clayton Keller (1.67) but ahead of players like Patrick Kane (1.58), Matthew Tkachuk (1.46), and Jack Eichel (1.40). He also picked up another 47 points (18 G, 29 A) in 26 games with the NTDP’s USHL team.

After these performances, it’s no wonder Hagens was often considered the the top prospect heading into the 2024-25 season. Unfortunately, his offensive performance as a freshman at Boston College saw him drop from such lofty aspirations. He did produce at a point-per-game rate with 37 points (11 G, 26 A) in 37 games and elevated his two-way play, but after flourishing offensively in other leagues, the lack of production knocked him down a bit.

HAGENS TAKES THE LEAD FOR THE EAGLES WITH ONE MINUTE TO GO!!!!!#NCAAHockey x ESPNU / @BC_MHockey pic.twitter.com/n5nMy2lieq

— NCAA Ice Hockey (@NCAAIceHockey) March 28, 2025

On the international stage, Hagens has worn the red, white, and blue with distinction at every level and has a pretty decorated junior resume. His international breakout came at the 2022 World U17 Hockey Challenge: he dominated the tournament with 21 points (8 G, 13 A) in just seven games, and led Team USA to a gold medal. This performance also set a new tournament record, surpassing the previous mark of 18 set by Colin White in 2014.

In 2023, Hagens suited up for the United States at the IIHF World U18 Championship, adding five points (1G, 4A) in seven games en route to winning gold. Hagens then helped Team USA to a silver medal at the 2024 U18 Worlds, leading all scorers with nine goals and 13 assists in seven games to make him MVP. He also set another new record: his 22 points inched past Nikita Kucherov’s 21-point record from 2011.

James Hagens how ya FEELIN’?#U18MensWorlds pic.twitter.com/yRs3btToTF

— USA Hockey (@usahockey) April 23, 2023

Players with 20+ single-tournament points in the U18 WJC:

1. James Hagens – 22; 2024
2. Nikita Kucherov – 21; 2011
3. Gavin McKenna – 20; 2024
4. Will Smith – 20; 2023
5. Jack Hughes – 20; 2019pic.twitter.com/wMOKcTgm2t

— Justin Giampietro (@justingiam) June 8, 2025

Most recently, Hagens won gold with Team USA at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, recording nine points (5 G, 4 A) in seven games.

Strengths

James Hagens fits the mold of the modern NHL playmaker perfectly — fast, cerebral, and creative — and he has all the attributes to be a dynamic center with legitimate first-line upside.

Hagens has high-end skating that’s about more than just speed, because of how shifty, deceptive and fluid he can be. He sets the pace of play with ease, often catching defenders flat-footed with quick edgework and dynamic puck control. When he hits full stride, he becomes a constant threat off the rush and is capable of blowing past defenders and creating odd-man chances seemingly at will. Hagens is agile, and there’s a degree of dynamism in his skating that he applies in all three zones.

Was talking to a few scouts this summer about what gets a player to that next level. Our answer? The ability to utilize and manipulate space in the OZ

Heres James Hagens with a glorious example. Uses the space between his legs to escape pressure and find an easy assist. @USHL pic.twitter.com/Uvgc44aLTW

— Foley (@NHLFoley) September 24, 2023

Hagens’ high hockey IQ and next-level vision allow him to dissect defenses, threading passes through traffic or creating time and space for linemates. Combined with near-elite hands, Hagens is one of the best playmakers in the class, consistently generating high-danger opportunities for his linemates. He does a nice job of mixing up how he makes plays, too: he can slow the game down when needed but can also accelerate through seams with quick bursts and pinpoint passing.

While he’s widely known for his playmaking chops, Hagens does have a good shot, although it’s the deceptive nature of his shooting that stands out. Despite being smaller, he is willing to drive hard to the net for scoring chances. There are some things about his shooting he needs to work out, but the elements are there to be at least a 20-goal scorer.

James Hagens scores again! #U18MensWorlds #USASUI @usahockey pic.twitter.com/429jO5neCf

— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 2, 2024

Defensively, Hagens has a solid foundation and good habits, which should only improve as he gains more experience. He shows consistent effort on the backcheck and strong positional awareness. Additionally, Hagens’ good anticipation and on-ice vision allowed him to effectively disrupt shooting and passing lanes, and he was quite good at creating turnovers as a result.

Sorting through some James Hagens video today, how’s this for some nifty hand-eye on the assist. pic.twitter.com/BhHRSIRVa0

— jamisonderksen (@jamisonderksen) January 31, 2025

Hagens is also highly competitive and plays with a high-effort tempo that should endear him to many fans.

Weaknesses

While Hagens’ high-end skill set is undeniable, there are a few aspects of his game that have room for improvement.

At roughly 5-foot-11 and under 190 pounds, Hagens’ physical maturity remains a work in progress. For a player with a smaller frame, the margin for error tightens as the competition gets bigger, faster and stronger. He sometimes moves the puck too early under pressure of a hit or hard check, something that would be more exploited at high levels. As he graduates to the pro level, he’ll need to add strength to withstand the rigors of NHL battles, especially along the boards and in front of the net.

Despite being one of the best skaters in the draft class, Hagens did see a dip in his effectiveness in transition and play-driving while in the NCAA. He was elite in those skills previously, so he needs to figure out how to regain that level if he wants to truly be a star in the NHL.

Like many playmakers, Hagens does not always have the best shot selection, preferring to pass and defer to other shooters on his team. His shot arsenal is actually pretty varied and, as mentioned above, he can be sneaky but Hagens just does not shoot enough to be as effective a goal scorer. Increasing shot volume will be key to him becoming an equal threat with both passing and shooting at the professional level.

Another area that could use some refinement is his risk management with the puck. Hagens’ creativity is a hallmark of his game, but at times he can overextend plays, such as forcing passes that result in turnovers. In transition, he can try to do too much, such as attempts to push through opponents. Refining that balance between flair and puck security will be key to his long-term success at the next level.

While Hagens already has a good defensive base, he sometimes is caught puck watching or drifting out of position.

Quotes

Hagens is most often compared to Jack Hughes by scouts, primarily because they’re both smaller centers who skate well and are creative playmakers. Hagens himself stated he’s heard about the similarities between the two and agrees it’s accurate:

I’ve heard a lot of [comparisons to] Jack Hughes, just kind of the way he skates, the way he plays, the way he handles the puck. I think there’s a lot of pieces of his game that I can kind of see in mine.

James Hagens compares himself to @NJDevils Jack Hughes

2025 Draft Preview: https://t.co/smKk3NQdgQ pic.twitter.com/ew1xKVVl1i

— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) June 24, 2025

However, there are some other players that Hagens resembles stylistically. For example, The Athletic‘s Corey Pronman likened Hagens to William Nylander, in terms of his offensive ceiling:

Hagens is a fantastic NHL prospect with the potential to be an impact offensive player. He has the tools to be a consistent 60-80 point forward in the league or better. My NHL comparison for him is William Nylander. He’s a legitimate top-five talent and would be a perfectly reasonable pick at No. 2 or 3.

And Shane Malloy from Hockey Prospect Radio believes that Hagens and Nick Suzuki share similar skating quality and skill sets:

James Hagens is recognized for his resilience and potential despite facing challenges in a demanding college environment. Competing against older, more experienced players, Hagens’ performance has drawn comparisons to Nick Suzuki, with his edge work and adaptability highlighting his skill set. While his point production was limited due to physical constraints and a tough competitive setting, his development of a 200-foot game and potential as a top-end center remain strong. The CHL’s less challenging environment might have boosted his stats, but his ability to adjust and grow in college underscores his long-term NHL promise.