Flyers 2025 NHL Draft Prospect Profile: James Hagens (PhHN+)

The Philadelphia Flyers are slowly sliding down in the standings and up in the potential draft order. That said, the Flyers are knocking on the door of being in range for one of the premier prospects in the 2025 NHL, including James Hagens.

Hagens is an intriguing prospect. At one time, Hagens was considered to be the surefire number-one overall pick in the draft but has slowly slid down draft boards. He is still expected to be off the board once the fifth pick rolls around, but overall, even top-three does not seem as sure as it once was.

That said, the Flyers may be able to get themselves into the range to select Hagens.

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James Hagens, C, Boston College (Hockey East, NCAA)

The Flyers may have a sour taste in their mouth from the last Boston College prospect they had, but James Hagens could change all of that.

The left-handed center from Hauppauge, New York, has been a point-per-game player for the Boston College Eagles in his freshman season. B.C. has a tough schedule, as Hockey East is no slouch of a conference, and even their non-conference slate is challenging.

From the second he hit the ice in a Boston College sweater, Hagens displayed his incredible skill. His vision of the ice is unlike others. He is a fantastic playmaker. He has a solid shot, lots of speed, and is a great two-way player.

Size-wise, Hagens is on the smaller side of average, but not small enough that it’ll hurt him. He stands at 5’11” and 178 pounds. He will fill out more as he develops, as well–size is not a concern with Hagens.

His biggest accolade (so far) is that Hagens owns the record for the most points scored in a single IIHF U18 World Championship tournament, with 22 points in 2024.

Somehow, being a point-per-game player at one of the best hockey schools in the nation is not meeting the high expectations set on the young 18-year-old. That has caused Hagens to slip out of that surefire number-one spot. Regardless, he is still the top American prospect in the 2025 NHL Draft and will be considered at every pick until he is off the board.

Hagens is a stud that will only get better as he progresses.

Hagens’ Stats This Year

NCAA: 10G, 25A, 35P in 35 games played.

World Juniors: 5G, 4A, 9P in 7 games played.

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Hagens’ Best Skills

In my eyes, James Hagens is a complete player. He checks almost, if not every box you look for in players–he can truly be a 1C.

His best ability is his playmaking. Sure, it helps that he is playing on a college super team. However, Hagens continuosuly sets his teamates up, giving easy opportunities. His vision is elite; he always knows where his teammates are. He is a great passer, but the threat of him shooting instead draws the focus of goaltenders. He is a smart player, too.

Young players often struggle with knowing when to shoot and when to pass. Hagens always seems to make the right play, which is a credit to his IQ.

His shot is also really good. While it is not as great as his playmaking ability, it is good enough to make him a legitimate threat to score. Goalies can’t lean toward him passing because he is not afraid to use his shot, but they also have to be wary of him dishing to a teammate.

His speed helps him get up and down the ice, being involved in plays at both ends of the ice. While he is not as great defensively as he is on offense, he certainly is not a liability. He gets involved and can be a shutdown defender when needed. Hagens is truly an all-around stud.

What I’d Like to See More of From Hagens

There are not a lot of flaws in Hagens’ game.

There are two main things I would like to see Hagens imrpove on. First, sometimes, he can be a little too fearless when it comes to his passing. He is an elite passer; there is no doubt about it. However, sometimes, he tries to force things that may not be there, turning the puck over rather than creating a chance.

I’d like to see Hagens limit some of those turnovers by keeping the puck for himself and waiting for a play to develop rather than force it. He has excellent patience; he has shown it this season. I’d like to see him use it a bit more.

The second, I would like to see him score more goals. I do not think Hagens is going to be a primary goal-scorer in the NHL, but he does have a great shot. I’d like to see him use it some more. It will only help his all-around game. If he becomes a more prolific goal-scorer, it opens up a lot more high-danger chances for his teammates off his passes.

I don’t see Hagens being a one-and-done at Boston College. He’ll likely return for at least one more season in Chestnut Hill. I mentioned earlier that he is on a super team. I assume that B.C. will lose Gabe Perrault and Ryan Leonard to the NHL at the end of the year. That will open up the door for Hagens to become THE guy on that Eagles team next season. It will only help his development.

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Is There a Fit with the Flyers?

James Hagens will fit on any NHL team. He is the type of player that makes everyone around him better.

Hagens is my ideal pick for a center to pair with Matvei Michkov. Michkov is a goal-scorer that needs a playmaking center. Hagens fits the bill. There are other centers that are currently in the NHL that would be great fits too, but the opportunity to get your long-term 1C in the draft is the ideal way to do it.

The young center has a knack for finding his linemates for easy goal opportunities. Hagens’ playmaking ability, paired with Michkov’s shot/scoring ability, could be nightmare fuel for opponents for years to come.

His two-way ability also would pair well with Michkov considering he is a one-way guy. Ideally, you would want at least one two-way guy on a line with Michkov.

I have praised his playmaking a lot. That is definitely his best trait. However, I still cannot leave out the fact that he is a scoring threat, too. He displayed it more at World Juniors than at Boston College, but he has a legitimate shot. Hagens can score the puck. He is a complete center that would absolutely fit what Philadelphia needs to really turn things around.

With the Flyers prioritizing this draft last year, I would not be shocked if Hagens is their guy. They may need some luck to fall into range to draft him. However, the Flyers definitely have the draft capital to make a move up in the draft to make sure they get their guy.

Watch: James Hagens Regular Season Highlights

Watch: James Hagens 2025 World Juniors Highlights

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