James Hagens #12 of Team USA celebrates his goal with teammates on the bench in the first period against Team Finland of the gold medal game during the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship at Canadian Tire Centre on January 5, 2025 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
(Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – With the NHL Draft less than four weeks away, the biggest overlying question surrounding the league’s newest franchise is very simple. Who will the Utah Mammoth pick at 4? Stepping into combine week, let’s take a look at potential prospects. Next up, Boston College center James Hagens.
Hagens is an 18-year-old center from Hauppauge, New York.
As an American born player, Hagens played for the USA Hockey National Team Development Program during the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons.
During those two years, Hagens registered 87 points in 57 games for the NTDP in the USHL.
Internationally, the young center has represented the United States since 2022, winning gold at the World U-17 Hockey Challenge, World U18 Championships and 2025 World Junior Championships this past winter.
Hagens then spent this last season playing at Boston College where he recorded 11 goals and 26 assists in 37 games.
Appearing on most mock drafts as a consensus top five selection, Hagens is an elite playmaker with exceptional skating, great vision, quick hands, good speed and a high level of awareness.
Arguably the best playmaker in the draft, Hagens utilizes all of his skills to effectively navigate the offensive zone and consistently create dangerous opportunities.
Whether he’s dangling through defensemen with the puck on a string, threading tight passing lanes, flying up the ice with speed or attacking the net with ferocity, Hagens is constantly crafting ways to put himself and his teammates in positions to light the lamp.
James Hagens scores again!🚨🚨 #U18MensWorlds #USASUI @usahockey pic.twitter.com/429jO5neCf
— IIHF (@IIHFHockey) May 2, 2024
Perhaps his greatest ability, however, is how quickly he’s able to analyze the game, predict what’s going to happen and then appropriately adjust his positioning, point of attack or puck placement to make the best possible play.
“All of his time on ice comes at even strength and the power play. Elite offensive upside. Above average skater. A threat to create off the rush. Leans playmaker more than pure shooter. Top line NHL player on the horizon,” Jason Bukala of SportsNet said.
Two criticisms come to mind when considering James Hagens.
First of all, his size is somewhat of a concern at center as he stands just 5-foot-11, 176 pounds.
While he has zero control over his height, adding more muscle and strength will definitely be a priority as he transitions to the NHL.
Second, Hagens seemed to somewhat lose his scoring touch at Boston College as he only lit the lamp 11 times in 37 games, and more than half of those came right on the doorstep.
Not only will he need to look for his shot a bit more, but expanding his range will also be critical.
With Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa expected to go first and second overall, there’s a very real chance that Hagens could be available at No. 4 and Utah would have to strongly consider making him a Mammoth.
To add another playmaking center alongside Logan Cooley would add significant depth to Utah’s forward lines and could potentially address their need for a 2C.
While some may be concerned with selecting him due to his height, Utah has already been busy upgrading their size with several recent entry-level signings.
Related: Utah Mammoth Sign Dmitri Simashev, Daniil But To Entry Level Contracts
They’ll also have an opportunity to continue getting bigger in either free agency or the trade market in the coming weeks.
So, if Schaefer, Misa and Porter Martone are all off the board once Utah is on the clock, Hagens very well could become the first ever Mammoth taken in the NHL Draft.
Following the conclusion of the Utah Mammoth’s inaugural season, the next notable event will be the NHL Draft on June 27 and 28.
After recently drawing the fourth overall draft pick in the 2025 NHL draft, each of Utah’s upcoming draft selections will be dressed in the new Utah Mammoth home sweater.
Full story: Utah Hockey Club Draws No. 4 Overall Pick In 2025 NHL Draft Lottery
