Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

College Sports

In James Hagens, Bruins have hope that a franchise talent is on the way

Bruins “You just got to go out there next year and prove everyone that passed on you wrong.” James Hagens has the potential to be a top-line center. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper, file) By Conor Ryan June 28, 2025 | 8:50 AM 5 minutes to read COMMENTARY Don Sweeney had heard all of the noise […]

Published

on


Bruins

“You just got to go out there next year and prove everyone that passed on you wrong.”

Boston College forward James Hagens (10) reacts after scoring a goal during the third period of an NCAA hockey regionals game against Bentley on March 28, 2025, in Manchester, N.H.
James Hagens has the potential to be a top-line center. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper, file)

COMMENTARY

Don Sweeney had heard all of the noise at this point when it came to James Hagens and his slipping draft stock. 

Anointed as the crown jewel of the 2025 NHL Draft class in the fall, the skilled Boston College forward opened his tenure at Chestnut Hill as a projected franchise center. 

Nine months later, the talk of Hagens’ game has shifted — with the narrative centered more around his shortcomings than the damage that he’s routinely doled out against opposing defenses over the last few years.

But with the ceiling of Boston’s next contention window stunted for however long the Bruins trudge forward without a proven talent down the middle, Sweeney wasn’t going to overthink things at pick No. 7. 

Hagens may not present the same imposing profile as 6-foot-5 Roger McQueen, nor is he as pugnacious as Brady Martin. 

There’s no guarantee that Hagens’s triple-digit scoring totals with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) will lead to him being a point-per-game regular at hockey’s highest level. 

But for all of the discourse regarding Hagens and his potential at the NHL level, Sweeney pushed back against talk of Hagens’s slide down to No. 7 on Friday. 

For Boston, Hagens represents more than just high value at where he was on the 2025 draft order. 

On a Bruins team in desperate need of talent, the Long Island native offers hope that reinforcements are on the way — and sooner rather than later. 

“He’s been that way his whole life — in terms of what he’s done,” Sweeney said of Hagens’ track record. “So we just hope the natural progression is you’ll be able to do at the NHL level.

“Again, it’s a tough league. You find that out when you get in. You realize that you’re in a much deeper pool of players and he’ll have his own challenges. But I think he’s driven to be that top player and wants to be a difference maker.” 

Despite his smaller frame at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, it doesn’t take very long to notice Hagens out on the ice. 

Be it his time with the USNTDP or at Boston College, Hagens uses his high-end speed and slick hands to gain clean entries and put opposing defenses on their heels.

A poised playmaker who likes to have the puck on his stick, Hagens can do damage from the perimeter by orchestrating Grade-A looks — or can cut toward inside ice and capitalize on the chaos that spills out in and around the crease. 

Hagens’ point production as an 18-year-old player at Boston College (11 goals, 37 points in 37 games) may not leap off the page — especially when compared to other freshman phenoms in Hockey East like like Jack Eichel (71 points in 40 games) and Macklin Celebrini (64 points in 38 games).

But Sweeney acknowledged that Hagens’ body of work against Hockey East competition didn’t stand as an outlier from his previous production with the USNTDP. 

“I think that’s a little unfair in terms of players going in as a freshman,” Sweeney said of Hagens’ first year at BC and whether it hurt his draft stock. “You look back at James’ track record, he’s been a prolific point producer. If you’d seen him in the World Juniors — again, against his peer group, he was on the upper echelon on the production side of things. 

“There’s been a few players, you’re right, that have gone into college hockey at that age and done better overall. But there’s no shade in the type of year he had — playing on the top line, one of the top teams in the country. So there’s no concern on our part in terms of thinking he took a step back from a production standpoint. 

“He’ll be perfectly fine moving forward. And that’s why we drafted him. We feel he’s a guy that can help generate offensively and continue to round out his 200-foot game, but wants to play it at every single situation and has produced at every level that he’s been at.”

Hagens shared a similar sentiment about his performance in Hockey East — especially when measured against the higher scoring totals that he would have inevitably racked up had he dominated against fellow teenagers in the Canadian junior leagues. 

“I think next year you’ll be able to hopefully see,” Hagens said of proving doubters wrong after his first year of college hockey. “I thought this year was really good. You just got to go out there next year and prove everyone that passed on you wrong. 

“But hey — I’m in a spot where I want to be. I wanted to be, I want to be a Boston Bruno. I’m really excited to get things going.”

Despite Hagens’s hope of making the jump to the pro game right away, Sweeney stressed that Boston won’t “fast-track” its new top prospect if he’s not ready in 2025-26. 

As the top returning talent at BC, Hagens could build off his promising freshman year on an Eagles team that will feature four other Bruins draft picks (Oskar Jellvik, Dean Letourneau, Andre Gasseau, and Kristian Kostadinski). 

And if Hagens takes another step forward with the Eagles, there’s a tangible scenario where Boston’s blue-chip prospect is ready to make the jump to the NHL ranks by late March 2026 — following the same path as his former BC teammate, Ryan Leonard. 

Hagens is not the perfect prospect, nor is it a guarantee that the former No. 1 prospect in his draft year will be the next Jack Hughes — or even a tier below, like the 5-10 Logan Cooley. 

But some things are indisputable with a player like James Hagens. 

The playmaking center racked up 102 points in 58 games with the U.S. U18 national team  —  outscoring the likes of Leonard (94), Phil Kessel (98 points), and Matthew Tkachuk (95 points) during their respective U18 campaigns.  Only Patrick Kane, Cole Eiserman, Clayton Keller, Jack Hughes, Auston Matthews, Will Smith, and Gabe Perreault matched or equaled those scoring totals with the NTDP.

His 22-point showing (nine goals, 13 assists) across seven games during the 2024 World U18 Championships set a new tournament record — surpassing the previous mark set by Nikita Kucherov. 

And now, that playmaking talent will be donning a spoked-B in the coming years — potentially feeding David Pastrnak one-timers as soon as next spring. 

For Bruins fans, that should stand as a breath of fresh air for a team awaiting for another franchise talent to step on the ice at TD Garden. 

“I wanted to be at a spot that wanted me the most,” Hagens said. “I’m so lucky that I ended up being a Boston Bruin. It’s the best spot in the world. It’s a dream come true for me and for my whole entire family.

“So I’m just so excited right now. I’m really excited to be able to say that I’m a Boston Bruin, and I take a lot of pride in that.” 

Profile image for Conor Ryan

 

Conor Ryan is a staff writer covering the Bruins, Celtics, Patriots, and Red Sox for Boston.com, a role he has held since 2023.





Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

College Sports

Dr. Eugene F. Orbaker Obituary

Dr. Eugene F. Orbaker, age 95, of Brockport, New York, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025. A devoted educator, coach, veteran, and mentor, he left behind a legacy of service, scholarship, and sport that profoundly shaped generations of students and athletes. Born on April 21, 1930, Dr. Orbaker dedicated much of his life to […]

Published

on


Dr. Eugene F. Orbaker, age 95, of Brockport, New York, passed away peacefully on July 17, 2025. A devoted educator, coach, veteran, and mentor, he left behind a legacy of service, scholarship, and sport that profoundly shaped generations of students and athletes.

Born on April 21, 1930, Dr. Orbaker dedicated much of his life to education and athletics. He served with distinction as a member of the faculty at SUNY College at Brockport from 1958 until his retirement in 1995. As Associate Professor of Physical Education and Sport, he played a foundational role in the development of both the academic and athletic programs at the college. Upon retirement, he was honored with the title of Associate Professor Emeritus.

Dr. Orbaker was a standout athlete in his own right. As a student at Brockport, he was recognized as an All-New York State soccer player in 1950, 1951, and 1952, and an All-American in 1951 and 1952. He competed in the 1951 Olympic Trials and earned spots on the All-North and All-South teams. His leadership was evident early on, serving as treasurer of the Student Faculty Association and being elected to Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities.

A proud veteran, Dr. Orbaker served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1962, both in active duty and the reserves. During his military service, he played international soccer throughout Latin and South America as part of the Military Team.

Before and during his tenure at Brockport, Dr. Orbaker shared his love of sport and education as a teacher and coach. He taught health and physical education and coached soccer, wrestling, and track and field in the East Meadow Public Schools on Long Island. At Brockport, he coached varsity lacrosse, women’s varsity soccer, varsity tennis, and the freshman men’s soccer team. He also served as director of intramurals and the College Camp, and as co-adviser to the college’s ice hockey club.

Dr. Orbaker was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary. He is survived by his sister Betty Eaton; sons, Daniel (Darlene) and Thomas (Brandy); grandchildren Colton (Kayla), Caleb (Margaret), Jacob, and Molly; and five great-grandchildren, who carry on his values of commitment, education, and community.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, from 4-6 pm at Fowler Funeral Home Inc., 340 West Ave., Brockport where a funeral service will follow at 6 pm. Interment will be held privately in Lakeview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute to your favorite charity in Eugene’s memory.

A life so richly lived leaves a lasting imprint. Dr. Orbaker will be remembered for his integrity, mentorship, and the enduring impact he made on the lives of his students, colleagues, friends, and family.

funeral-home-logo

Posted online on July 20, 2025

Published in Rochester Democrat and Chronicle



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

USC Trojans’ Lincoln Riley Buying Time With NIL?

USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley joined the program ahead of the 2022 college football season with high expectations. The program has yet to make the College Football Playoff under Riley, and are coming off a disappointing season. In 2024, the Trojans finished with a 7-6 record, going 4-5 in Big Ten conference play. Though the […]

Published

on


USC Trojans coach Lincoln Riley joined the program ahead of the 2022 college football season with high expectations. The program has yet to make the College Football Playoff under Riley, and are coming off a disappointing season.

In 2024, the Trojans finished with a 7-6 record, going 4-5 in Big Ten conference play. Though the team did earn and win a bowl game, it was Riley’s worst season with USC. Only winning four conference matchups and going on a three-game losing streak was not a good look for Riley, leading to the belief that he is on the hot seat.





Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Can video game ratings affect NIL valuations for college players?

With college sports video games making a return, players may have a valid reason for being concerned about their ratings. Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe plays the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game at the McDonald Hughes Center in Tuscaloosa. Milroe is one of the players featured on the game’s cover. | Gary Cosby […]

Published

on


With college sports video games making a return, players may have a valid reason for being concerned about their ratings.

Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe plays the new EA Sports College Football 25 video game at the McDonald Hughes Center in Tuscaloosa. Milroe is one of the players featured on the game’s cover. | Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

EA Sports’ new College Football 26 game has altered the way college players are compensated. Not only will players receive a check for being in the video game, but their schools will also see revenue depending on how often their university is featured in the game.



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Livvy Dunne calls out New York Times for 2022 ‘Sex Sells’ headline, recalls aftemath

Back in 2022, the New York Times put together an article about the new NIL era in college athletics. LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne was a part of the story, with a picture of her being used. The headline ended with the two words “Sex Sells” and it’s something Dunne has been critical of ever since. […]

Published

on


Back in 2022, the New York Times put together an article about the new NIL era in college athletics. LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne was a part of the story, with a picture of her being used. The headline ended with the two words “Sex Sells” and it’s something Dunne has been critical of ever since.

She expanded on the topic recently when appearing on the What’s Your Story? podcast. Dunne explained the process of how the New York Times went about a photoshoot. Nothing different than what she would normally wear as a gymnast.

“They came to our gymnastics facility at LSU, took pictures of me,” Dunne said via What’s Your Story? “They said, ‘wear your team-issued attire, put on a leotard,’ and they took a picture of me standing in front of the beam, like any gymnast would, and then they blew it up on the screen and put the headline, ‘Sex Sells.’

“Okay, well, you just came into the facility and took pictures of me in our team-issued attire and blew it up on a screen… So I was like, ‘okay, well, this is crazy.’ And there was obviously a lot of backlash to the New York Times because of that.”

Dunne has been one of the faces of NIL since college athletes were allowed to be paid. Not many athletes out there have built a bigger brand for themselves in that time. The portfolio expands well outside gymnastics too, as Dunne partners with a large number of brands out there.

This is not the first time Dunne has called out this specific article, either. Once describing it as “BS,” Dunne knew something was off from the very beginning while being interviewed.

“The interviewer called me and he was asking me very odd questions,” Dunne said in 2023 on the FULL SEND PODCAST. “It was worded quite weird. He was like, ‘So, how does it feel to be a small petite blonde gymnast doing so well with NIL?’ I was just like, ‘Why does it matter that I’m petite and blonde?’ You can just ask me about NIL without you having to use these weird ways of saying it.”

Dunne has since run out of eligibility, ending her gymnastics career. Her affinity for LSU has not changed though, most recently cheering on the Tigers in Omaha as Jay Johnson led them to another national championship.



Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

Blake Wheeler, Who Once Ruptured A Testicle, Officially Retires After 16 NHL Seasons

Right-winger had his best years in Winnipeg, including a pair of back-to-back 91-point seasons PublishedJuly 19, 2025 6:39 PM EDT•UpdatedJuly 19, 2025 6:39 PM EDT Facebook Twitter Email Copy Link He didn’t sign with an NHL team last season, so there was speculation that he may be hanging them up, but not former Winnipeg Jets […]

Published

on


Right-winger had his best years in Winnipeg, including a pair of back-to-back 91-point seasons

He didn’t sign with an NHL team last season, so there was speculation that he may be hanging them up, but not former Winnipeg Jets captain Blake Wheeler is making it official: he’s retiring.

Wheeler appeared on an episode of the radio show Jets at Noon this week and revealed that he had decided to call it a career after 16 NHL seasons and 1,172 games played.

“More or less, right after last year knew I was all done,” Wheeler said, per Global News. “I just haven’t felt like a rush to make a formal announcement or anything. But yeah, after my injury and kinda the way things ended last year, I just didn’t have anything left in the tank for it. So yeah, I was at peace with it almost immediately after last year, and yeah, I’m just enjoying being a dad and kinda slowing things down a little bit, and being around my family.”

Wheeler, a native of Plymouth, Minn., played for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL and then played college hockey for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Despite being selected by the Phoenix Coyotes in the 2004 NHL Draft, Wheeler signed with the Boston Bruins as a free agent in 2008. In 2011, he was traded to the Atlanta Thrashers and played the tail end of their season before the team moved to Winnipeg.

Wheeler had his best years in Winnipeg, including a pair of back-to-back 91-point seasons, and was named the team’s captain for the 2016-17 season.

In 2023, he signed with the New York Rangers, but missed a chunk of the season with a leg injury. He appeared in one game for the Blueshirts during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, which proved to be his final NHL game.

Congrats to Wheeler on a heck of a career. I think he’s going to go down as one of the most underrated Americna-born players. He was on the 2014 Olympic team and was a Hockey Guy’s Hockey Guy. 

I mean, who could forget when he ruptured a testicle and stayed in the game?

Now that’s peak Hockey Guy-ism.





Link

Continue Reading

College Sports

NHL all-time record scorer Ovechkin calls for Russian return to global sports | National News

State AlabamaAlaskaArizonaArkansasCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDelawareFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIdahoIllinoisIndianaIowaKansasKentuckyLouisianaMaineMarylandMassachusettsMichiganMinnesotaMississippiMissouriMontanaNebraskaNevadaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasUtahVermontVirginiaWashingtonWashington D.C.West VirginiaWisconsinWyomingPuerto RicoUS Virgin IslandsArmed Forces AmericasArmed Forces PacificArmed Forces EuropeNorthern Mariana IslandsMarshall IslandsAmerican SamoaFederated States of MicronesiaGuamPalauAlberta, CanadaBritish Columbia, CanadaManitoba, CanadaNew Brunswick, CanadaNewfoundland, CanadaNova Scotia, CanadaNorthwest Territories, CanadaNunavut, CanadaOntario, CanadaPrince Edward Island, CanadaQuebec, CanadaSaskatchewan, CanadaYukon Territory, Canada Zip Code Country United States of […]

Published

on







Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending