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 […]
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.
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. @USHLpic.twitter.com/Uvgc44aLTW
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.
Sorting through some James Hagens video today, how’s this for some nifty hand-eye on the assist. pic.twitter.com/BhHRSIRVa0
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
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.
How Penn State Is Capitalizing on the New Era of College Hockey
In November 2024, the NCAA Division I Council changed the landscape of college hockey forever by permitting Canadian Hockey League (CHL) athletes to compete in NCAA games. The new rule takes effect Aug. 1, and college teams are positioning themselves to sign the best young players from the CHL. What does this mean for Penn […]
In November 2024, the NCAA Division I Council changed the landscape of college hockey forever by permitting Canadian Hockey League (CHL) athletes to compete in NCAA games. The new rule takes effect Aug. 1, and college teams are positioning themselves to sign the best young players from the CHL.
What does this mean for Penn State hockey, and how are the Nittany Lions approaching their post-Frozen Four future? Here’s a look at how Penn State seeks to capitalize on the influx of new talent into college hockey.
RELATED: Penn State left the Frozen Four hopeful about its future
New talent pours into NCAA hockey
Between the ages of 16-20, players with NHL aspirations often choose one of two routes to develop and prepare for professional hockey. Athletes may choose the CHL, where the premier junior hockey players of the world compete before their transition into the NHL. Or they might commit to an NCAA program.
While college hockey churns out professional players every year, the talent difference between the NCAA and the CHL is substantial. Twenty-one CHL athletes were selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, compared to just five from NCAA programs.
Before the new legislature, players who signed CHL deals couldn’t begin their playing careers in Canada and then transfer to the NCAA. But now, CHL players are flooding into college hockey, making it a prime spot for NHL prospects to develop.
Penn State adapted to the new circumstances almost immediately, bringing in six CHL athletes: Jackson Smith, Shea Van Olm, Lev Katzin, Luke Misa, Nolan Collins and Joshua Fleming. And the Nittany Lions are looking for more, having been linked to Gavin McKenna, the projected No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 draft.
The deal has changed college hockey forever as more top-end talent will commit to NCAA programs, leading to higher traction for the sport.
Revenue sharing plays a big role
In June, Judge Claudia Wilken approved the $2.8 billion House v. NCAA settlement regarding payments to former, current and future players. The settlement allows schools to pay athletes directly, which gives the NCAA an advantage on the CHL.
The CHL provides players with stipends and benefits, arguing that they’re amateurs, similar to the former NCAA position. Through revenue sharing, some NCAA programs can offer players higher earnings.
Penn State has not released its revenue-sharing breakdowns, including how much men’s hockey will receive, but coach Guy Gadowsky appears to have access to funding that allows him to offer some of the top CHL prospects. Generally, Penn State believes it is well-positioned to take advantage of revenue sharing beyond football, as Athletic Director Pat Kraft has said.
“We’re trying to be able to manage the money so that if we need to move on someone, no matter what the sport is, we have the ability to say, ‘Hey, there’s the No. 1 fencer in the world, and we need to go use rev share to maybe tilt it our way,'” Kraft said. “We’re going to be able to do that.”
“I appreciate how much love [Penn State] showed me throughout the process…The way they play and how I play, I think it’s a great fit!”
— Penn State Men’s Hockey (@PennStateMHKY) July 3, 2025
How Penn State is capitalizing on college hockey’s new era
Penn State is pursuing some of the top young prospects in hockey. The Nittany Lions received a commitment from Smith, who became the program’s first player to be a first-round pick in the NHL Entry Draft. Penn State also reportedly has been connected with Porter Martone, the Philadelphia Flyers’ No. 6 overall pick of the draft, and McKenna, the consensus top player of the 2026 NHL Draft cycle.
Dating to June, the McKenna sweepstakes reportedly has been a two-team race between Penn State and Michigan State. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Freedman Friedman mentioned Penn State as McKenna’s most likely destination on the 32 Thoughts hockey podcast. Hockey journalist Frank Servalli further reported that McKenna recently visited State College. McKenna could announce a decision at any time.
While Penn State is an attractive destination following its Frozen Four run, the program’s ability to offer Smith and other athletes competitive deals has contributed to its offseason success. Combined with the lessons his team learned last season, Gadowsky said he is “very optimistic” about Penn State’s future.
“It’s not just a lesson in hockey for next year … but it’s a lesson that these guys are going to carry with them well beyond Penn State and also well beyond hockey,” Gadowsky said after the Frozen Four. “It’s true. You can talk about it as much as you want: ‘Oh, that’s the way to do things.’ But when you’re really faced with a challenge and you’re really in a down spot and you pull each other together and lift each other up and you see success, it’s something you don’t forget. For not only because of the young talent but because of the lessons we learned, yes, I’m very optimistic about the future.”
Middlebury’s Abigail Blyler dribbles the ball during a women’s college soccer game earlier this year. Provided Photo GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Middlebury women’s soccer team made the most of its only shot on goal Friday night to earn its first NCAA finals appearance in program history. Simone Ameer started the game on the bench and […]
Middlebury’s Abigail Blyler dribbles the ball during a women’s college soccer game earlier this year.
Provided Photo
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Middlebury women’s soccer team made the most of its only shot on goal Friday night to earn its first NCAA finals appearance in program history.
Simone Ameer started the game on the bench and ended up the hero during a 1-0 Division III semifinal victory over top-ranked Washington University-St. Louis (21-1). Forward Ellie Greenberg assisted Ameer in the 49th minute and Panthers goalie Ursula Alwang (three saves) recorded her ninth solo shutout of the season.
The Auburn Tigers are struggling to recruit ahead of Year 3 in the Hugh Freeze era. The program, which often finds itself in the top half of the SEC rankings, is rated near the bottom of the Power 4.
The Tigers‘ 2026 class currently sits at 85th nationally in the 247 Sports recruiting rankings. That’s good for dead last in the Southeastern Conference.
Some of that is due to quantity. Auburn has a league-low seven commitments this offseason and is the only school in single digits.
Some has to do with quality. The Tigers’ average prospect rating is 88.99, which ranks 11th out of 16 SEC teams.
What gives? Freeze was hired in large part due to his recruiting prowess. The Tigers took a chance despite his checkered past. To this point, it hasn’t paid off.
The team is 11-14 across two seasons with the head coach at the helm. Still, they’ve had back-to-back Top 10 recruiting classes to fall back on. That’s changed this summer.
With struggles now being seen both on and off the field, Auburn football supporters are growing anxious. It’s led to over-the-top criticisms from the fanbase.
Hugh Freeze golfs too much!
At least according to some fans. They believe he’s prioritized his golf game above recruiting. Those claims cite his 10 trips to the links over the first 20 days of June.
Auburn’s recruiting ranking alone was enough to cause uneasiness. Rival Alabama’s dominance has fans spiraling.
The Crimson Tide boast a Top 5 class. They’ve swiped a pair of five-star prospects from the Tigers’ grasps in the last week.
Cedarian Morgan, the top-ranked player in the Yellowhammer State, committed to Alabama on July 2nd. Three days later, Jireh Edwards chose the Crimson Tide after taking an official visit to Auburn.
Alabama has been stuffing Auburn in a locker on the recruiting trail. Hugh Freeze says golf isn’t to blame for his poor recruiting. Instead, he referenced shady NIL practices from his competitors.
“We’re doing things the right way,” he said when discussing the House settlement surrounding player payment. “At the end of the day, that’s really what we have to do, in my opinion. We can’t put ourselves in jeopardy…
“If others are operating in a manner not with that, I’m hopeful that they’ll be called out on that at some point… We’re going by what we believe to be the accurate interpretation of [the settlement]. It’s not really to our advantage to what we’re doing right now because others, I think, are operating in a different manner.”
That sudden attention to rule following came off as ironic given his previous firing from Ole Miss. Still, Hugh Freeze believes he’s been put at a disadvantage. He hopes that changes in the coming weeks.
Auburn is struggling to recruit. Should they experience a third straight losing season, criticism of the head coach will grow. But hey, maybe this latest excuse can buy him another few rounds of golf!
It did not happen in the immediate aftermath of the NBA Draft, but now a number of former Michigan State basketball players have received invitations to play on Summer League rosters. Beginning with our leading scorer and captain from last season, Jaden Akins has been invited to play with the Orlando Magic in the Las […]
It did not happen in the immediate aftermath of the NBA Draft, but now a number of former Michigan State basketball players have received invitations to play on Summer League rosters.
Beginning with our leading scorer and captain from last season, Jaden Akins has been invited to play with the Orlando Magic in the Las Vegas competition, which begins this week.
Fellow senior Frankie Fidler, who played his final season of college ball in East Lansing, will be staying in the Midwest and joining the Milwaukee Bucks summer roster.
The third senior from last year, Szymon Zapala, has not received any invites as of yet, but he did receive a different invite this past week. He will be joining Poland’s national team for EuroBasket 2025, the continental championship tournament which begins in late August. Poland is also one of the host nations for the tournament, so Zapala will get a chance to play in front of crowds of his countrymen.
Moving on from members of last year’s squad, a couple of players who transferred out to play their final college seasons elsewhere have also received Summer League invites. AJ Hoggard, who played for Vanderbilt last year, will be joining the New Orleans Pelicans.
And Mady Sissoko, who was at Cal last season, has already gotten underway with the Oklahoma City Thunder in the lesser-known Salt Lake City Summer League. He played 21 minutes in the opening game, scoring 4 points, corralling 7 rebounds, and blocking 2 shots.
Lastly, going back a couple years, former four-year Spartan Marcus Bingham Jr. is also going to Orlando for the Summer League where he will be playing with Akins and recent draft pick Jase Richardson.
Moving away from basketball, there was one last bit of news coming out of E.L. over the weekend, this one from the football team. The defensive line is adding an edge rusher in Chris Addison from Winnsboro, Louisiana. Addison is a 6’3”, 250 pound recruit who is rated as a three-star player. He is the 22nd member of MSU’s 2026 recruiting class.
Former Penn State men’s hockey player Connor MacEachern to play in Sweden | Penn State Men’s Hockey News
Another former Nittany Lion is heading overseas. Connor MacEachern, a 25-year-old center who spent four years with Penn State, will play in Sweden for Mora IK in 2025. Vi välkomnar den kanadensiske centern Connor MacEachern till Mora IK!”I Connor får vi en skicklig center med bra skridskoåkning, spelförståelse samt fina offensiva kvalitéer” säger Sportchef Hägglund.Läs […]
Connor MacEachern, a 25-year-old center who spent four years with Penn State, will play in Sweden for Mora IK in 2025.
Vi välkomnar den kanadensiske centern Connor MacEachern till Mora IK!”I Connor får vi en skicklig center med bra skridskoåkning, spelförståelse samt fina offensiva kvalitéer” säger Sportchef Hägglund.Läs mer på https://t.co/pXFYzz4eKR pic.twitter.com/q1faW4Qan2
MacEachern was productive in State College during his tenure, amassing a combined 77 points, 31 goals and 46 assists in 130 games. He also served as an alternate captain in the 2022-23 campaign.
The former Nittany Lion spent his previous two seasons splitting time between the AHL and ECHL.
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Hugh Freeze addresses Auburn recruiting, defends against low rankings
Recruiting has long since been the name of the game in college football, but particularly in the SEC. The Auburn Tigers know that, as does head coach Hugh Freeze, which is part of what makes their current struggles to recruit frustrating. This comes at a time when the House settlement is taking effect in college […]
Recruiting has long since been the name of the game in college football, but particularly in the SEC. The Auburn Tigers know that, as does head coach Hugh Freeze, which is part of what makes their current struggles to recruit frustrating.
This comes at a time when the House settlement is taking effect in college sports. Auburn and Freeze need to adjust and, while it hasn’t worked out on the recruiting trail just yet for Auburn, Freeze believes in the school’s plan and that things will end up working out.
“It’s hard to feel great when you’re not one of the top-ranked recruiting classes,” Hugh Freeze said. “And I think Auburn should be. But I’m confident in our administration and the way that they lead and trust them immensely that we’re doing things the right way. At the end of the day that’s really what we have to do, in my opinion, is we can’t put ourselves in jeopardy. We’ve got great interpretations from our administration and our legal team on what the settlement really means and how we should operate, and that’s what we’re doing. And if others are operating in a manner not with that, I’m hopeful that they’ll be called out on that at some point.”
Auburn currently has the 79th-ranked recruiting class in the 2026 cycle. That’s 16th in the SEC. Ultimately, it is likely being hurt by just how few recruits Auburn has, with only seven players currently committed. Nobody else in the SEC has fewer than 10 commits. That’s also a season removed from Auburn producing the eighth-ranked recruiting class in the entire country.
“It does seem kind of strange that we’re like some of the lowest range of numbers. I mean, we’re like, you know, really, really low compared to some. And I’m trying to figure that out, but I do think it will shake out in the long run,” Freeze said. “But it is complicated and hard to sit there and feel great about. But I feel great about our relationships and I feel great about Auburn, and I know the families know that. And I do think just after we win games this fall, which I’m confident we will, I think it’ll all kind of shake itself out.”
While the House settlement in a new challenge to overcome, Hugh Freeze has found himself getting criticized amid those recruiting struggles. In particular, some fans are upset with his golfing numbers. In the month of June alone, a very slow month for coaches, Freeze reportedly golfed 10 times. Kirby Smart and Kalen DeBoer have combined for six golf outings in all of 2025.
Hugh Freeze explains how House settlement has impacted Auburn, ability to recruit
The House settlement has certainly taken its toll. That’s something that Hugh Freeze is still trying to find a way to deal with moving forward.
“It’s quite different. First of all, you want to make sure you are operating with what the settlement says, and we think we are. We’re going by what we believe to be the accurate interpretation of it. It’s not really to our advantage to what we’re doing right now because others, I think, are operating in a different manner. But the main thing that I don’t think people understand is retaining your current roster. It used to not affect high school recruiting. You were going to sign your 20-25 guys. But now, with the salary cap, you have to look at a room like our wide receiver room where on paper, we’re not losing a single kid, and we’ve got to retain those guys because I like that room a whole lot,” Freeze said.
“So you don’t have the means, so to speak, to go after the number of high school receivers that you would normally go after because you can’t really – again, on paper, we’re not losing anyone and I don’t want to lose one. I really like that room. I love our young d-linemen. It’s kind of difficult. You’re sitting here trying to sign a class when you really don’t know what your current roster will be in January. So that’s a challenge, but you have to operate within the manner of what the settlement really says and the interpretation that we’ve received, and that’s what we’re doing.”
ESPNU / 
”I Connor får vi en skicklig center med bra skridskoåkning, spelförståelse samt fina offensiva kvalitéer” säger Sportchef Hägglund.Läs mer på https://t.co/pXFYzz4eKR pic.twitter.com/q1faW4Qan2
