The NHL’s next potential American superstar might not be the slam-dunk top pick everyone thought he’d be just a few months ago.
James Hagens has all the makings of a great story. He’s a Long Island kid who grew up cheering for the New York Islanders – the same team that just won the draft lottery in May.
At just 18, he’s already turning heads. Playing center for Boston College this season, Hagens put up an impressive 37 points in 37 games before his team’s tough playoff loss to Denver in March.
But here’s where things get interesting.
What seemed like a perfect hometown hero scenario – the Islanders drafting their local star – isn’t looking so certain anymore. Hagens might even slip out of the top five picks in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The biggest question mark? His size.
At 5-foot-11 and 176 pounds, Hagens is smaller than what many NHL teams are looking for in a center these days. The league seems to be trending back toward bigger players.
“Teams that pass on him do so at their peril,” warns FloHockey draft analyst Chris Peters, who still ranks Hagens as the third-best player available.
It’s worth noting that Hagens could be wearing an NHL jersey as soon as the 2025-26 season – wherever he ends up getting picked.
The real question now is: which team will look past the size concerns and grab what could be the next great American hockey star?
