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NHL Draft Confidential 2025: What insiders think of Matthew Schaefer, goalies and more

Today, we bring you our annual NHL Draft Confidential. You know where people like me stand on the players and the draft, but today we turn to the NHL, and the people who will ultimately decide where these players land, for their thoughts on the big questions facing this draft class. Numerous NHL evaluators were […]

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Today, we bring you our annual NHL Draft Confidential. You know where people like me stand on the players and the draft, but today we turn to the NHL, and the people who will ultimately decide where these players land, for their thoughts on the big questions facing this draft class. Numerous NHL evaluators were surveyed for this article. As a note, “Scout 1” in a given question does not refer to the same Scout 1 in another question.

Scouts and executives were granted anonymity in order to speak freely about the prospects in question.

The most interesting debate in this year’s draft, as it is with most drafts, is what happens at the very top. Most expect Erie defenseman Matthew Schaefer to be the first pick. Then there’s a big group of forwards after him. Who will be the first forward taken? How close is the grouping? Does anyone have a forward ahead of Schaefer? We asked the NHL.

Scout 1: “Misa would be our top forward followed by (James) Hagens but there’s a sizable gap from Schaefer to those guys.”

Scout 2: “We have Schaefer, then a gap. (Anton) Frondell is No. 2 for us. He’s a potential (Aleksander) Barkov/(Anze) Kopitar type of forward.”

Scout 3: “(Michael) Misa should be No. 1, even ahead of Schaefer. I don’t understand why he’s not getting as much hype as previous top OHL guys, when he’s been just as good, if not better, than some of the top Ontario kids in recent years. He could be an NHL superstar.”

Executive 1: “Schaefer is the best player in the draft. It’s not close, quite frankly. After that, Misa is the top forward, but it’s close. He has the best chance to be a No. 1 center, all-around player who scores a lot.”

Scout 4: “Schaefer is the top player by a good margin, then it would either be Frondell or Hagens. Misa I think is getting overrated — his compete level is average and he’s not as dynamic as some portray.”

Scout 5: “Martone is the best forward in this draft, and I think in the playoffs he will show he has as much value as Schaefer. He’s a competitor who plays a style that will translate to success when the chips are down.”

Scout 6: “Misa and Schaefer would be neck and neck for me. I would lean Misa. Misa has the potential to be a star No. 1 center, and that’s the harder player to find compared to a No. 1 D, even if both are very valuable. (Caleb) Desnoyers would be third, then. He’s a great all-around center, a guy you win with.”

Executive 2: “Schaefer, then a gap to Misa, then a gap to the rest. (Roger) McQueen would have been in the group with Misa if he was healthy.”

Executive 3: “Schaefer and Misa are clearly ahead of the rest of the pack. Then it would be some order of Hagens, (Jake) O’Brien and Martone. Desnoyers and Frondell are nice players, but we worry about their offensive upside.”

Executive 4: “Schaefer and Misa distinguished themselves from the pack. Then it’s Desnoyers and Frondell in a group with Martone on the edge of that group. I expect that combination of players will make up the first five picks.”

Scout 7: “It goes Schaefer, then O’Brien, and then Frondell. O’Brien is so talented, has a lot of upside, and a lot of physical development left to go.”

Scout 8: “Schaefer is in a group by himself, then I would have Desnoyers, Hagens, Martone and Misa all closely bunched together. My lean would be towards Desnoyers as the best of that bunch. He’s a winner who does a lot of things very well.”

Scout 9: “Schaefer is the top player. Misa could get close, he is extremely talented, although he is inconsistent and has some bad habits. The top forward is between Misa and Desnoyers, but you have to take Misa after the year he had.”

Executive 5: “After Schaefer/Misa, Brady Martin is right in the mix with that next group, may even be at the top. He looks very similar to what Sam Bennett has become.”

Scout 10: “Schaefer and Misa are the clear top two players. After that I would have Desnoyers, Frondell, O’Brien and Martin in a close group together.”

Scout 11: “Schaefer is the best player in the draft, then I would have Desnoyers at 2. He does so much well, he could be a player you build around.”

Executive 6: “Schaefer is the clear No. 1. Then it would be a group of Misa, Desnoyers, Frondell and Martin for me. It’s funny because I think Hagens could potentially outscore all of those forwards by the end of their careers, but you’re trying to build a team that wins playoff rounds, and those guys bring different elements.”

Schaefer is by leaps and bounds the top defense prospect in this draft. No other defenseman is expected to go in the top five. But the second defenseman to be picked will be interesting, and we expect another one will go in the top 10. So we asked people in the league for their second-ranked defender.

Executive 1: “Kashawn Aitcheson is an apex predator. He knocks a guy out with a hit, and then he knocks out the guy who comes calling for the fight afterwards. There’s nobody in a top four in the NHL who plays like him. If you want his attributes, it’s normally in a No. 6 or 7, but he is a top-four defenseman, a better version of Radko Gudas.”

Scout 1: “Mrtka will give you the least headaches of the top candidates. He’s poised, makes good plays at both ends, just a very good all-around defenseman. Aitcheson’s and Smith’s hockey sense are concerning.”

Scout 2: “Mrtka is clearly the top guy. He transformed Seattle when he got there.”

Executive 2: “Smith. He’s a better skater than Aitcheson or Mrtka. He has the most skill of all of them. His decisions aren’t the best, but he has the most pro potential.”

Executive 3: “Smith. He’s big and such a good skater, competes, has offense. There’s no miss factor with him.”

Scout 3: “Mrtka is going to play 1,000 games and just eat up minutes. You wished he played a bit harder, but he has successful pro written all over him.”

NHL teams will at least somewhat follow public discourse. So I asked people around the league who are some top prospects for this draft that they feel the public is overrating.

Scout 1: “Victor Eklund. He’s a small winger without elite offense, those types tend to fall. He’s top 10 on almost every list, but I can almost guarantee that won’t happen on draft day.”

Scout 2: “Lynden Lakovic. His compete is an issue, doesn’t get to the middle and lack of physical engagement, and his hockey sense is ordinary. He’s more of a late first-rounder than a top-15 pick.”

Scout 3: “Cullen Potter is a one-dimensional offensive guy. His skating is elite, but his compete is average and he doesn’t make many plays.”

Scout 4: “Cameron Schmidt. The lists that have him as a first-rounder are way off. He’s talented, but he has a lot of issues in his game. He’s probably going in the third round.”

Scout 5: “Schmidt. He’s not special enough of a scorer for where people have him rated. He’s skilled and can shoot, but he slowed down a lot in the second half, and his hockey sense is questionable. I’m not even sure I would draft him.”

Executive 1: “Ivan Ryabkin. We wouldn’t even draft him. His compete and habits are pretty bad, and he’s not a great skater for his size.”

Scout 6: “Radim Mrtka. He’s not that smart or competitive. I get he’s big and skates well, but he’s nothing special other than that. More of a teens pick than a top-10 type.”

Scout 7: “Kashawn Aitcheson has major questions for us in terms of his hockey sense and decisions. You love how hard he plays, but he’s not that big either. He’s good but nothing special.”

Executive 2: “People need to slow down on the Brady Martin hype because he had a good U18s. He’s super likable because he hits a lot of guys and has skill, but he’s not a smart player and probably a middle-six wing in the NHL.”

Executive 3: “Desnoyers and Frondell are both being oversold a bit. They’re good players who compete but don’t have high-end hockey sense. They are second-line centers at best in the NHL. I would much rather bet on guys like Hagens, Martone or O’Brien.”

On the other side of the coin, who does the league feel is not getting enough love?

Scout 1: “Cameron Reid. He’s an elite skating defenseman with good enough skill and sense. He’s not a big points guy in the NHL, but he can be successful in the NHL.”

Scout 2: “Caleb Desnoyers. See him listed often as a 6-10 guy, would say he’s a lot closer to top five. He’s a well-rounded center with very good puck play and size — he will go in the first few picks.”

Scout 3: “Cole McKinney. Don’t see him talked about a lot. He was very good the last few months of the season, helped turn that NTDP team around.”

Executive 1: “Blake Fiddler has a lot more of an identity than some of the other top-ranked defensemen. He’s not flashy, but he’s hard and can skate and has enough skill. I bet NHL coaches will love him even if he’s not a big points type.”

Scout 4: “People are underrating how high (Justin) Carbonneau in Blainville will go. He does a lot of things NHL teams will love and will translate to the playoffs. He’s a handful to contain, he hits guys, skates well and has legit offense.”

Scout 5: “Jack Nesbitt had a bad U18s, but before that, I thought he had a chance to be a top 10-12 pick. I bet he still goes top 20. He’s a big, heavy center with a lot of skill who did a lot of important things for that Windsor team.”

One of the more fascinating prospects in this year’s draft is Mason West. He is a 6-foot-6 center who played high school hockey in Minnesota. He’s a projected late first/high second-round pick by NHL teams. However, he also has offers to play college football as a quarterback.

Scout 1: “He’s a fantastic athlete. Go look up highlights of the way he can throw a football. He’s just so talented. If he commits to hockey and can iron out some details, he has a lot of NHL potential. He’s a first-round talent if he’s a hockey player.”

Executive 1: “We’re just not in love with the hockey player. He’s tall and fast, but he plays on the outside a lot, and he’s not overly physical. He’s at best a second-round talent who you’re now not sure if he’s playing hockey or not. He’s telling everyone he intends to play football in the fall, then go to the USHL.”

Scout 2: “He didn’t have a great overall season, but the way he ended it was very convincing between his high school playoffs and in the USHL. He looks like an NHL player.”

Executive 2: “It seems he’s trending towards being a hockey player. He doesn’t have QB offers from major schools. But that could change. My biggest concern is you use a high pick on him and then Minnesota offers him a scholarship to be their QB, and then I think he would go that way.”

Executive 3: “It doesn’t seem like he’s a premier quarterback recruit. His combine interview will be critical. If he switches positions in football, he could be a higher-tier recruit. What sport is he truly invested in?”

We are near the end of the survey by quickly hitting on the goalie crop. Almost everybody agrees Joshua Ravensbergen is the top goaltender this year. We asked where teams would be comfortable taking him, and who would be their next name.

Executive 1: “Ravensbergen is a late one/high two type of goalie. The two Russian goalies, Semyon Frolov and Pyotr Andreyanov, look so good on video. If we felt comfortable taking Russians, we would have them as second-round picks.”

Executive 2: “We don’t love Ravensbergen like some others. He’s a maybe first-rounder for us. The London guy, Alexei Medvedev, would be our next guy. He’s very athletic. I wouldn’t say he’s truly elite at anything but very good at everything.”

Scout 1: “Ravensbergen is a late first type of goalie. He’s so big and athletic. Then there’s a drop to Frolov, then a drop to everyone else.”

Executive 3: “Ravensbergen is a mid-first. We think he has starting goalie potential. Then it’s Frolov, who I love. If we got live views I could see us talk him into a first-rounder. He has a ton of talent and structure in his game.”

Executive 4: “I’m a little hesitant on the Ravensbergen hype. He had a lot of tough stretches this season. We don’t have any goalie rated in the first, but the closest would be one of the Russian goalies, and we would lean towards Frolov.”

Finally, we end on a flash poll, where I ask evaluators who are the best prospects in the class at various traits.

Best skater

• Matthew Schaefer (Unanimous vote)

Best hands

• James Hagens (Unanimous vote)

Best hockey sense

• Jake O’Brien (Majority votes)
• Matthew Schaefer (Multiple votes)

Best compete level

• Brady Martin (Majority votes)
• Kashawn Aitcheson (Multiple votes)

Best shot

• Anton Frondell (Majority votes)
• Kashawn Aitcheson
• Victor Eklund
• Cameron Schmidt

(Illustration: Kelsea Petersen / The Athletic; photos of Radim Mrtka, Matthew Schaefer, Joshua Ravensbergen: Michael Miller / Getty, Leila Devlin / Getty)



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Donovan, Ekoue, Stricker share Male Athlete of the Year honors

Story Links EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Three University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire seniors have been named UW-Eau Claire’s Male Athletes of the Year for 2024-25. Nathan Donovan (Sr. – Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic), Yakob Ekoue (Sr. – Hopkins, Minn.) and Jared Stricker (Sr. – High Bridge, Wis./Ashland) all finished their careers as some of the best […]

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Donovan, Ekoue, Stricker share Male Athlete of the Year honors

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Three University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire seniors have been named UW-Eau Claire’s Male Athletes of the Year for 2024-25. Nathan Donovan (Sr. – Hazel Green, Wis./Wahlert Catholic), Yakob Ekoue (Sr. – Hopkins, Minn.) and Jared Stricker (Sr. – High Bridge, Wis./Ashland) all finished their careers as some of the best in Division III history in their respective sports, earning them a three-way tie for this year’s award.

Donovan starred for the men’s soccer team, Ekoue was a national champion for the men’s track and field team, and Stricker won another national crown with the wrestling team.

Donovan became the first player in program history to earn United Soccer Coaches Division III National Player of the Year honors last fall. The two-time All-American led all of NCAA men’s college soccer — regardless of Division — in scoring with 26 goals this fall. He also had a team-high 15 assists for a total of 67 points. His goal and points totals both set new UW-Eau Claire single-season records. He was the United Soccer Coaches National Scholar Player of the Year, Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Kwik Trip Offensive Player of the Year as well as the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete this season.

Donovan’s success was the Blugolds’ success. With Donovan leading the line, UW-Eau Claire won WIAC regular season and tournament championships and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the third consecutive season. The Blugolds won 17 games this season and spent the entire year nationally ranked.

The senior forward’s career goes down as one of the best in the history of Division III men’s soccer. He ranks third in DIII history with 229 career points and fourth with 94 career goals.

Ekoue, like Donovan, was also the national athlete of the year in his sport. He was the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association’s NCAA Division III Field Athlete of the Year this spring, earning the honor for the second time in his career.

Ekoue won a second consecutive national championship in discus at the NCAA Division III Outdoor National Championships this season, setting a facility record in the process. He also placed third in both shot put and hammer throw to earn All-America honors in both events. He scored 22 team points for the Blugolds, helping the squad finish as national runner-up.

His efforts at nationals earned him Most Outstanding Field Performer of the Championships honors. It was his second time receiving that distinction.

Earlier in the season, Ekoue won a WIAC title in discus. He holds school records in both discus and hammer throw. He finished his Blugold career with 13 All-America honors and four national championships. He joined an elite group of athletes in Division III history to earn 10-plus All-America honors.

This marks the second consecutive year Stricker earned UW-Eau Claire Male Athlete of the Year honors. He became the first two-time national champion in the history of Blugold wrestling this winter. He went unbeaten at 43-0, posting the most victories by a Division III wrestler this season, as he clinched another 174-pound crown.

Stricker was named WIAC Wrestler of the Year for the second consecutive season and was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the NCAA Championships. He finished his career with 169 victories, which is believed to rank in or near the top five in the history of Division III. There is no official leaderboard for career victories in Division III.

This season, Stricker became the WIAC’s all-time leader in career wins and also broke UW-Eau Claire’s career pins record with 75. He ended his career on a 71-match win streak, the longest in program history. He was a three-time All-American and four-time WIAC champion.

Off the mat, Stricker was named a National Wrestling Coaches Association Scholar All-American this season.

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NBA to take over operation of NBA TV, ending TNT Sports’ run

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 […]

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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.



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Driven to Greatness

Prodigy, it typically describes a young person with exceptional skills. Being driven is someone with internal motivation, put those two together and you get Rylee McLanahan. She started playing soccer around three years old, and from day one she has loved it. “I just love the game. I feel like I fell in love with […]

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Driven to Greatness

Prodigy, it typically describes a young person with exceptional skills. Being driven is someone with internal motivation, put those two together and you get Rylee McLanahan.

She started playing soccer around three years old, and from day one she has loved it.

“I just love the game. I feel like I fell in love with the process of getting better and just grinding,” said Edmond North Soccer standout Rylee McLanahan.

And grind is truly what she does.

“I play for a club team in Dallas called Solar, and so I commute to practice there twice a week, I leave school and I get there around 6 pm, we get done around 9 or 9:30, we come home, I wake I go train with my trainer Alex around 6 am,” said McLanahan.

That all happens during the school year, while maintaining her 4.2 GPA.

“I’m like ranked in the top one or two percent,” said McLanahan.

Her hard work and dedication are paying off in the classroom and on the field.

“This year I scored 43 goals and fifteen assist. I broke the 6A state single season record, and then over three seasons, I think it was forty-five games I had one hundred seven total goals,” said McLanahan.

Earning the Edmond North senior to be some pretty high honors.

“Gatorade player of the year twice, Jim thorp award, I’ve been named that twice, High school sports award for the Oklahoma City metro, and like, All-city, all district, and then conference player of the year, twice,” said McLanahan.

“She’s technically sound, very tactically aware,” said Randall Robinson director of player personal with the Oklahoma City FC.

This summer Rylee is playing with the Oklahoma City FC team, the Oklahoma City team in the Women’s premier soccer league

“It is literally, the premier league in the summer for women’s soccer. It is the biggest women’s soccer league in the world,” said Robinson.

The summer league is primarily made up of elite division one college soccer players and only the best of the best high school players, and of course Rylee isa standout on the team.

“She’s just a great team player, even with all of her talent, she’s very selfless,” said Robinson.

McLanahan has already committed to playing her college soccer at the University of Florida, she will graduate in December and enroll for the Spring semester. You can see her in the WPSL league. The team has already qualified for post-season play; all those games will be played in Stillwater. Game schedules can be seen at www.wpslsoccer.com/schedule

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Patrick Reed, Harold Varner III lead LIV Golf Dallas :: WRALSportsFan.com

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 […]

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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



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Top of the Draft: Introducing James Hagens

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 […]

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.





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Seattle Kraken make young Alaska fan’s wish come true and inspire next wave of hockey players

NHL forward John Hayden, right, talks with young hockey players as part of Anchorage Hockey Academy summer camp’s Seattle Kraken week at Dempsey-Anderson Ice Arena in Anchorage on Thursday. (Marc Lester / ADN) 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 […]

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June 27, 2025

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NHL forward John Hayden, right, talks with young hockey players as part of Anchorage Hockey Academy summer camp’s Seattle Kraken week at Dempsey-Anderson Ice Arena in Anchorage on Thursday. (Marc Lester / ADN)

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.”

Caleb Seidl enjoys a slice of pizza with his Seattle Kraken hat on. (Photo provided by the Seidl family)

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.

Caleb Seidl, 3, poses with his family during a Make-A-Wish event with the Seattle Kraken on Thursday at Fly Trampoline Park in Anchorage. (Josh Reed / ADN)

“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.”

NHL forward John Hayden, right, waits on the bench with young hockey players as part of Anchorage Hockey Academy summer camp’s Seattle Kraken week at Dempsey-Anderson Ice Arena in Anchorage on Thursday. (Marc Lester / ADN)

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.

NHL forward John Hayden, right, talks with a young hockey player as part of Anchorage Hockey Academy summer camp’s Seattle Kraken week at Dempsey-Anderson Ice Arena in Anchorage on Thursday. (Marc Lester / ADN)
Buoy, the sea troll mascot of the Seattle Kraken, skates with young players as part of Anchorage Hockey Academy summer camp’s Seattle Kraken week at Dempsey-Anderson Ice Arena in Anchorage on Thursday. (Marc Lester / ADN)

“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.

Buoy, the sea troll mascot of the Seattle Kraken, chooses a stick as part of Anchorage Hockey Academy summer camp’s Seattle Kraken week at Dempsey-Anderson Ice Arena in Anchorage on Thursday. (Marc Lester / ADN)

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.





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