A year ago, James Hagens looked like a surefire top-five NHL Draft pick.
Now, it might come down to whether he goes No. 6 or No. 7, and it could have huge Eastern Conference implications.
The Philadelphia Flyers pick 6th. The Boston Bruins are 7th.
The Athletic's Scott Wheeler writes that he thinks Hagens will make it past pick No. 5 before someone takes him, unless the Islanders trade up to get the Long Island native.
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Hagens just completed his freshman season at Boston College.
His ascent toward the top of the draft began in earnest at the U18 Worlds in 2024, when he had 22 points in seven games in Finland.
At this year's World Juniors, Hagens went for five goals and four assists in seven games to win the gold medal.
But based on Wheeler's reporting, other teams seem to have just landed on other players they like better.
There doesn't seem to be anything inherently wrong with Hagens, a talented center.
He might wind up being a huge steal for either Philadelphia or Boston. But only one of the East rivals can get him, and the other will have to see a lot of him in the years to come.
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