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.

Toward the end of last July, Reuben Seidl and his wife, Liz, noticed that their 2-year-old son Caleb wasn’t quite himself.

He was suffering from chronic fevers and fatigue, so they decided to take him to a medical provider to be evaluated. After getting some labs done, they received the news no parent ever wants to hear.

“We ended up being asked to go to the (emergency room) and he was diagnosed with leukemia a couple of days later,” Seidl said.

Caleb’s specific diagnosis is acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and his dad said that he has been “a trooper through the whole thing.”

Following the initial diagnosis, they spent 33 days in the hospital with their son. Now 3 years old, Caleb is almost at the tail end of the intensive part of his treatment, which is taking a full year, then he has to undergo 18 or so months of additional treatment. His current prognosis is “really great,” Seidl said.

Caleb’s current treatment plan has included visits to the hospital three or four times a week and getting different forms of chemotherapy and medication.

With his form of cancer and treatment plan, Caleb’s social interaction with others is limited — which is why when the opportunity to partner with the Make-A-Wish Foundation came up, the family welcomed the opportunity to uplift his spirits in whatever way they feasibly could, from a health standpoint.

“Make-A-Wish is a fantastic organization, and Caleb qualified for Make-A-Wish and they told us his wish is granted,” Seidl said. “Two of their ambassadors (in Alaska) came to our house and tried to see what a 3-year-old would really wish for because it’s really important that he gets something that he wants.”

Since his son has always loved hockey and the Seattle Kraken are his favorite team, they ultimately decided to partner with the team. The Kraken just so happened to be planning to come to Alaska for the annual Kraken Week youth hockey camp.

Caleb was the honored guest at a meet-and-greet with team officials Thursday morning at the Fly Trampoline Park in Anchorage. He was able to meet and play with Kraken forward John Hayden and team mascot Buoy.

“The timing worked out, they showed up and they’re going to host him at a game and let us do a lot of fun things down in Seattle next season,” Seidl said.

Caleb’s full wish will be granted when he and his family travel down to meet the whole team and tour Climate Pledge Arena this fall during the regular season.

Reuben and his son are regulars at Anchorage Wolverines home games — at least through the second period before it gets too close to Caleb’s bedtime. The only professional hockey game Reuben has ever attended in person was a matchup between the St. Louis Blues and Colorado Avalanche back in 2010. For his next pro hockey experience to be his son’s first makes it all the more special.

“It’s going to be awesome and I am so stoked,” Seidl said. “The Kraken is a great organization, the new stadium that they built is absolutely wild and I’m pumped to see it in person.”

Their family feels fortunate that Caleb has been able to get all the care and treatment he needs within Alaska instead of having to travel out of state, as some parents and families have needed to do.

“We were very lucky with that and were able to get some top-tier new immunotherapy for him that just got passed and out of the clinical trial stage for him a month before he was diagnosed,” Seidl said.

Caleb’s resiliency through this adversity at such a young age has been inspiring to those around him.

“He is the most resilient and happy kid with everything that’s going on,” Seidl said. “He doesn’t want to go and get all these treatments and all these shots and pokes, but he makes the best of it. We play at the places, say ‘hi’ to all the nurses and brighten up their day.”

Inspiring the next wave of Alaska players

This trip marked the first to Alaska for Hayden, who has thoroughly enjoyed himself so far.

“It’s awesome (and offers) a little bit of everything,” he said. “Meeting Caleb today, going to a hockey camp, and yesterday we were on a fishing trip, so it’s been great.”

Coming to Alaska in itself was a treat, but being able to do so for reasons like making a 3-year-old fan’s dream come true and giving back to the next generation of youth hockey players made it even more special and meaningful.

“It’s amazing and very inspiring to see Caleb’s demeanor,” Hayden said. “He’s been through a lot at a young age but all he does is smile and have a good time, so it’s really good perspective to be here and it’s special to be a part of it.”

Growing up in Denver, Hayden recalled attending hockey camps as a youth, skating with college and professional players from that area and how it “definitely had a big impact” on him. He hopes his presence will have a similar effect on the kids he interacted with during Thursday’s camp at Dempsey-Anderson Ice Arena.

“If we can help push and inspire the next wave of Alaskan hockey players, it’d be great, so (I’m) just here to encourage them, have some fun and be out there on the ice with them,” Hayden said.

Blake Kullberg will be a freshman next fall at Grace Christian School and was the youngest coach in the camp.

Getting the chance to share the same sheet of ice as Hayden was a great experience for coaches and campers alike.

“Honestly, if I had this experience as a little kid, I would’ve absolutely lost my mind,” Kullberg said. “I would’ve been up all night and wouldn’t have been able to sleep. Just being on the ice with someone who is at that level of the game is probably so cool for these kids.”

Kullberg opted to assist with the campers instead of being one himself all week despite his dad being the director of Anchorage Hockey Academy. Kullberg said he wanted to have fun with and help develop the younger kids, like his little sister, who was a camper.

She is a big fan of Buoy but was scared of the Kraken sea troll mascot initially when he first got on the ice. She warmed up to him after some encouragement from her big brother and other camp coaches.

Buoy sat down with ADN for an interview, but since he only speaks troll via nose squeaks, Hailey Robinson — an entertainment assistant with the Kraken — served as his official translator.

“Buoy absolutely adores getting out in the community and getting to see the fans,” Robinson said.

Robinson asked Buoy if his favorite thing about working with the Kraken is the number of kids he gets to bring joy to with his appearances. He nodded in approval.

“Especially something like this where (Caleb’s) life isn’t super fun when he’s in treatment, but for a day like today, we get to bring a lot of joy and that’s what Buoy is best at,” Robinson said.

The final event of Kraken Week will be a community skate at the Ice Chalet at Destination Dimond, inside the Dimond Center at 800 E. Dimond Blvd., from 3-7 p.m. Friday.

Senior Year (2009)
Co-Captain with Morgan Covington for her senior season … Appeared in all but one set for the Big Green … Recorded 281 kills, second on the team … Averaged 3.05 kills per set while hitting .203 for the season … Had 18 assists and a team-high 29 service aces … Third on the team in digs with 259 while racking up 34 total blocks … Had 10 double-doubles with a career-high 25 kills against Columbia while tying her career-high with 22 digs versus Yale … Named the team’s most valuable player as well as honorable mention All-Ivy.

Junior Year (2008)
Co-Captain who saw action in all 86 sets for Dartmouth … Averaged 2.59 kills per set and finished with a total 223 kills, second on the team … Had 16 service aces and 183 digs … Recorded 29 total blocks … Second on the team in Ivy games for kills with 119 and had 127 digs … Had a double-double in two matches … Had her best game with a season-high 17 kills against Central Connecticut State … Also notched 11 digs in the match … In a win over Columbia she notched 16 kills and a season-high 20 digs

Sophomore Year (2007)
Played in all 92 games for the Big Green … Averaged 2.71 kills per game with a total of 249 … Tied for team-lead with 42 service aces (0.46 per game … Third on the squad in digs with 285 (3.10 dpg) and had 34 total blocks (7 solo, 27 assisted) … Had eight double-doubles … Recorded a career-high 22 digs at Brown along with a season-high 17 kills in a win over Cornell.

Freshman Year (2006)
Played in all but one of Dartmouth’s 24 matches … Recorded 189 kills (2.19 kpg) with 232 digs (2.76 dpg) … Named to the Ivy League Honor Roll once … Second on the team with 38 service aces along with 22 total blocks … Had six double-digit games as well as notching double-digit digs in 12 matches and double-digit kills in seven.

Before Dartmouth
MacGregor was a two-year letterwinner at La Costa Canyon High School … Volleyball team was CIF Division I Champion in 2004 while compiling a 33-5 record … Her team was also named Palomar League Champ and CIF Division Champion in 2005.

Off the Court
As a senior named to the Union Tribune All-Academic first team and was
first team All-CIF while earning the CIF Sportsmanship Award … She
qualified for a national debate tournament in 2003 and 2004 and placed
12th in 2004.

Personal
Daughter of

Athletes saddened by the postponement of the 2025 Maccabiah Games in Israel, but they agree with the reasons for the decision.

Elle and Sasha Hartje are sisters. Harry Glanz and Sydney Bierwirth are father and daughter.

Each was supposed to compete for the U.S. next month in the 22nd Maccabiah Games in Israel.

But the aptly named Jewish Olympics, held every four years, were postponed until the summer of 2026 last week by the Maccabi World Union because of security concerns and emergency measures created by Israel’s Operation Rising Lion’s offensive against Iran.

The Maccabiah Games were scheduled for July 8-22. More than 8,000 athletes from 55 countries were expected to compete in 45 sports across the country.

Detroit Country Day School grads Elle Hartje, 24, and Sasha Hartje, 26, of Bloomfield Hills and Bierwirth, 30, a Walled Lake Central High School grad and former West Bloomfield resident, are members of the U.S. women’s open ice hockey team. 

Each was a Jewish News High School Athlete of the Year: Bierwirth (then Glanz) in 2012, Sasha Hartje in 2017 and Elle Hartje in 2019.

Harry Glanz, 67, of West Bloomfield, is a member of the U.S. men’s grand masters (age 65 and older) golf team. 

All four athletes plan to compete in Israel next summer.

“It was 100% the right decision to postpone the Maccabiah Games, but I’m still a little bummed because this would have been the first trip to Israel for Elle and myself,” said Sasha Hartje. “I’m not frustrated or mad, just a little bummed.”

Elle Hartje said the trip was marked on her calendar for more than a year.

“We just got our hockey gear in the mail and our flight to Israel was leaving June 28,” she said. “It’s disappointing that we’re not going, but you can’t do anything about things you don’t control.”

The sisters were approached by U.S. women’s open ice hockey coach Justin Levin to be on the team at the 2022 Maccabiah Games — which were supposed to be held in 2021, but postponed by the COVID-19 pandemic — but were unable to work it into their schedules.

The last time they were teammates was when they were in high school (Elle was a sophomore and Sasha was a senior at Country Day). They were on the Little Caesars U19 girls travel hockey team.

Harry Glanz and his daughter each made the Team USA roster for the 2025 Maccabiah Games through tryouts held last year and have been looking forward to this summer’s Games since then.

“We thought it would be cool for a father and daughter to walk out together at the opening ceremony with our USA garb on,” Glanz said. “It would have been a cool moment to share with each other.”

Bierwirth, who lives in Colorado Springs, Colo., said she also was excited about walking with her dad at the opening ceremony, “and when it happens next year, it will be that much more special. 

“It was the right decision to postpone the Maccabiah Games. They’re supposed to be a celebration for Jewish people and the sports they love.”

She should know about the celebration. She’s experienced it.

Bierwirth, who played Division I club hockey for Michigan State University from 2012-16, was a member of the U.S. women’s open ice hockey team at the 2022 Maccabiah Games that won a silver medal. Canada beat the U.S. in the championship game.

She’s an attorney. After graduating from Michigan State, she earned a law degree at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

Her father is a co-founder of Bingham Farms-based Capital Mortgage Funding and a member of the board of directors of the Michigan Jewish Sports Foundation.

Elle Hartje recently completed her first season with the New York Sirens of the Professional Women’s Hockey League after a record-breaking career at Yale University.

Sasha Hartje was a Division I college athlete in two sports. She played four years of tennis at Emory University and one year of hockey at Long Island University.

Because of that experience, she doesn’t think the one-year postponement of the Maccabiah Games will diminish her hockey skills.

“I took four years off from hockey, came back, and was able to compete at a high level against the best college hockey players in the country,” she said. “As the Maccabiah Games get closer next year, I’ll train my butt off.”

Unlike her sister, hockey is not Sasha’s occupation. She’s the manager of the account management team at Fire Rover, a Farmington Hills company that offers remote fire detection and suppression technology.

Send sports news to stevestein502004@yahoo.com.

In Bustle’s The Pregame, we ask women athletes about their pregame rituals. How do they get in the zone? What do they wear for a big meet? Here, gymnast-turned-social-media star Livvy Dunne talks about getting ready for her infamous floor routines.

When you see Livvy Dunne flipping between the uneven bars, where she’s earned impressive high scores like 9.925, it’s easy to see how she became one of the highest-earning female athletes in college sports. Dunne joined the Louisiana State University gymnastics team in 2020 and helped them win the 2024 national championship last April.

After graduating with a degree in interdisciplinary studies that December, Dunne announced her retirement from collegiate gymnastics in April. “Thank you for everything, gymnastics,” she wrote on Instagram. “You were so good to me.”

“It’s very exciting [to retire], because I feel like the world is now my oyster,” the 22-year-old tells Bustle. As any Dunne fan will know, she’s been busy building her online brand, which stems from her star power on social media. Her TikTok following just surpassed 8 million, and she has more than 5 million followers on Instagram, where she shows off her strength, travel pics, and enviable red carpet outfits.

In the few short months since retiring, Dunne has modeled for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit and worked with major brands like Invisalign. “My smile is my favorite part of any outfit,” she says. Dunne also frequents Pittsburgh Pirates games to watch her boyfriend, pitcher Paul Skenes. The two have been dating for three years.

“We met at LSU, and I’ve been with him ever since,” she says. “It’s been pretty crazy being his girlfriend alongside him going through the minor leagues, and now he’s one of the best pitchers in the MLB. Whenever he’s pitching, I try to go and watch the same way he would try to come and support me while I was competing.”

Here, Dunne looks back on her gymnastics career, including how she coped with nerves at big competitions, and the one treat she had to have before every meet.

How did you get in the zone before a meet?

My trick to feeling confident was to calm down. I would listen to chill music, do my makeup alone, and take deep breaths. I would call this my “hourglass.” You have all this outside noise, but you narrow it down to your own little moment before getting back out there.

Did you ever meditate to get in the right frame of mind?

We always did a team meditation. Our mindset coach from LSU would come in and we would all lie down in a room and visualize our routines to gain confidence.

What was your go-to makeup and skin care for competing?

I would always go for flawless skin — something that would glow under those big arena lights. I’d also use hairspray on my face as a setting spray. It was a trick I learned from the LSU cheerleaders, who had to be outside in the sun.

You recently did a split on the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway. Tell me more about that moment.

I felt a little nervous at first because I’ve never walked a runway — I’ve only ever run down a runway and vaulted — so it was really exciting to get out there. I got to open the show, so I figured why not have fun with it and do a split? I like to think that even though I’m done with gymnastics, gymnastics will never leave me. I will always be a gymnast at heart.

Had you practiced your model strut before?

Totally. Every girl at some point does a runway walk, whether it’s in the privacy of her own home or just having fun with friends. It was pretty surreal to be able to go out there and do that.

When you started at LSU, did you ever expect to have so much success on social media?

You know what? I never doubted it.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.