The Boston Bruins did not have any luck within the NHL Draft Lottery final month when they landed the No. 7 pick, which was actually the worst attainable end result for the Unique Six franchise.
Luckily for the Bruins, they bought some good luck within the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft on Friday evening when Boston School star James Hagens fell to them at the No. 7 pick.
The 18-year-old heart — rated by many consultants as the highest prospect within the 2025 draft class earlier than the 2024-25 season — was too proficient of a participant for Boston to go up.
“I needed to be at a spot that needed me essentially the most, and I needed to be at a great place,” Hagens instructed reporters on a Zoom name Friday. “I am so fortunate I ended up being a Boston Bruin. It is one of the best spot on this planet and a dream come true for me. I am simply so excited proper now.”
Upgrading at heart was one thing the Bruins needed to obtain on this draft. They don’t have a No. 1 heart on the NHL degree or anyplace of their prospect pool.
There have been a pair extremely rated facilities on the board when Boston was on the clock, together with Jake O’Brien and Roger McQueen. The B’s selected Hagens, and it is exhausting accountable them. He has the elite offensive talent set to be a franchise heart for a very long time.
What sort of participant are the Bruins getting?
“Somebody who likes to compete,” Hagens instructed Emily Kaplan throughout ESPN’s draft broadcast. “Somebody who’s gonna put his blood, coronary heart and soul on the road. I understand how a lot satisfaction the Bruins followers take of their sport and their staff. I have been to a ton of video games this 12 months, so I used to be capable of see it first hand. I am simply so excited to be a Boston Bruin.”
Hagens told reporters at the draft that he spoke to the Bruins fairly a bit through the pre-draft course of.
“I talked to them lots,” Hagens mentioned. “My sister had a event in Boston, so I drove her up and was capable of meet with one of many scouts there. I used to be involved with them lots, and clearly being near them taking part in at Boston School. You haven’t any concept the place you are going to find yourself, nevertheless it’s simply pure pleasure once you hear your title referred to as and it is the Boston Bruins.”
Hagens tallied 37 factors (11 targets, 26 assists) in 37 video games for the Eagles final season, incomes a spot on the Hockey East All-Rookie Workforce. His offensive numbers weren’t as spectacular as a number of the different forwards drafted within the prime 10, which could clarify why he slid to No. 7, however he did play in opposition to stronger competitors in faculty hockey.
He got here up clutch in some high-pressure moments for BC, together with an NCAA Match win over Bentley in March. He additionally scored within the gold medal sport for the US on the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships, which the People received.
Hagens is a implausible playmaker. His passing, imaginative and prescient and hockey IQ are all off the charts. He is additionally a wonderful skater and has an underrated shot. Frankly, he must shoot extra at BC subsequent season as a result of he does have the power to be an excellent aim scorer.
The first concern with Hagens is his lack of dimension at 5-foot-11. However that should not forestall him from changing into a extremely productive participant within the NHL. He is listed at about 177 kilos, however he instructed reporters Friday evening that he is now as much as 190 kilos.
He has drawn comparisons to New Jersey Devils celebrity heart Jack Hughes due to their comparable talents and bodily profile. Different consultants have in contrast him to Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander.
The Bruins did not fiddle with their first-round choose. They did not overthink it. They did not attain on a participant ranked exterior the highest 10. They did the suitable factor and bolstered a place of weak point of their prospect pool by taking the participant whose talent set most closely fits what the group wants.
Boston’s NHL roster has a extreme lack of high-end expertise, particularly at heart, and Hagens has the potential to be a cornerstone participant for a very long time.
And after falling exterior the highest 5 picks, Hagens ought to have a chip on his shoulder subsequent season.
“I believed this 12 months was actually good,” Hagens mentioned. “You simply bought to go on the market subsequent 12 months and show everybody that handed on you flawed. I am in a spot the place I need to be. I need to be a Boston Bruin, and I am actually excited to get issues going.”
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