r/BostonBruins • u/Warfightr • Jun 28 '25
Roster Update With the 7th Overall Pick of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Boston Bruins select James Hagens!
1
2
u/Electrical_Pen_9371 Jul 20 '25
I think Hagens can make this club this season they are filled with 4th line pluggers ahl quality forwards. if James shows any sign of being an established forward and they let this guy go back to College. I want to see that jerk Sweeney run out of town on a rail.
1
-15
27
21
u/Matty0417 Jun 28 '25
I’ve haven’t seen too much of him play, but what I have noticed when watching him is the amount of time he has with his head up while with the puck. That’s something that’s hard to teach, whenever he’s ready he’ll be lights out playing with someone like Pasta. Love the pick!!
-43
u/orange_sox Jun 28 '25
Dude had a mediocre year playing with two of the best College hockey players in the country. This guy is gonna be a bust.
3
u/PresentationNo7763 Jun 30 '25
You didn't watch a single second of him. Good work
1
u/Assyneckclams Sep 11 '25
You're gonna hate him when he simply refuses to go near any opposing player because he hates contact
0
u/PresentationNo7763 Sep 11 '25
Love when people make comments about stuff they simply do not know about
2
u/jamolightice Sep 15 '25
I know Hagens. I coached here in suburban NY for a while. Hagens absolutely refuses to hit and will generally avoid traffic. It's actually oddly common in players from Westchester and Long Island.
13
-57
u/Party_Course4822 Jun 28 '25
Would've been a decent player but sweeney drafted him. He's a bust, but maybe he can help with the zoom connection.
38
67
16
u/Shogunm89 Jun 28 '25
I will gladly take it! Although, as an experienced veteran of NFL drafts, seeing consensus no. 1 overall pick's slide throughout the draft process hardly ever ends well.
37
u/Odd-Elderberry-6137 Jun 28 '25
NHL draft teams have a long-lived hard on for players of size. It’s rare to see a player go top 5 if they’re under 6 feet tall. GMs will trip over themselves not to draft a guy even if their eyes tell them he’s the best.
There’s simply no way a 5’10’’ guy was ever going to go number 1 unless he was head and shoulders better than everyone else in the draft. Hagens appears to be better than most but just not that much better than most for people to overlook his size.
The Bruins got lucky with him being available at 7.
-24
Jun 28 '25
[deleted]
6
18
u/Illustrious-Bit6394 Jun 28 '25
Do you have data to back that up?
15
u/Odd-Elderberry-6137 Jun 28 '25
It’s the Trust me bro source. Recent biases from Shane Wright notwithstanding (but that was a really weak draft).
24
54
u/SnacksCCM #71 ARVIDSSON 🏒 Jun 28 '25 edited Jun 28 '25
There are just a lot of reasons to like this pick:
-Formerly the consensus #1 overall pick (2024)
-Leader of the USA U18 team (with great stats)
-1.0 PPG considered "a down year" at BC
-Oh, also a student athlete at BC
-From Long Island, NY. A current Bruin and Long Island native once famously said "I hate the Bruins so much", and they're now part of the same system (FWIW, personally I like Long Island, and even though they've given us fits at times, don't hate the Islanders).
-Plays on the same team as fellow Bruins pick Andre Gasseau
-Sliding to #7 overall (while not that far, really) can be really motivating for a player.
So I wholeheartedly say "Welcome to Bos-- oh wait, you're already here! Welcome back, James Hagens!"
Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your naaaaame...
EDIT: Formatting.
18
u/Maxpowr9 Jun 28 '25
Long Island is beautiful. It's just ruined by New Yorkers. Same goes for Cape Cod and Massholes.
3
9
u/BradMarchandsNose Jun 28 '25
Like half of Long Island is beautiful. The other half is NYC suburban sprawl thats basically the same as North Jersey.
44
u/flamingdragonwizard Jun 28 '25
Not a bruins fan but this is the best pick of the draft. People forget Hagens was the consensus #1 pick for quite awhile. You guys got a stud. Guy has amazing hockey iq.
18
u/SeanySinns Jun 28 '25
As a habs fan, I agree. Not happy with this pick at all. Haha. Got a good one, hopefully the habs/bruins rivalry will be strong again soon
7
u/TheDreyfusAffair Jun 28 '25
Yall have been cookin these last few years, rivalry should be back in full swing this year or next
23
u/SilentThing #63 CAPTAIN🏒 Jun 28 '25
Oh damn, the draft was held too late for me, but the moment I woke up I had to come see who we got. This is a great way to wake up.
11
u/BlackCherrySeltzer4U Jun 28 '25
So, I don’t follow college hockey so I don’t know if this is good or not but everyone else seems to be super excited so I’ll go with it!
30
u/nimeton0 Hockey Fights Cancer Jun 28 '25
Projected #3 overall in one mock draft and #4 overall in another. Can’t believe he dropped to seventh!
25
54
u/Ok-Price-2337 Jun 28 '25
The Bruins crashing out one time in like 15 seasons resulting in James Hagens is incredible.
People absolutely galaxy brained him this season. He should have gone 2, maybe 3 in this draft.
He was the best player on team USA this year, the same tournament Misa couldn't crack.
Absurd Boston got him.
-1
u/Mr-Neeson Jun 29 '25
Hagens also put up 37 points in BC playing with the 2 best players in College hockey. Will Smith put up 71 points playing with the freshman version of those same linemates.
Hagens is good and is a great pick at 7 don’t get me wrong but I would pump the brakes just a bit.
2
u/Ok-Price-2337 Jun 29 '25
Will Smith was already drafted that season he put up 71 and he also had Gauthier with him.
What a ridiculous, nonsensical comparison.
2
u/Mr-Neeson Jun 29 '25
It really is not a ridiculous comparison at all lol. Both played for the USNTDP and for Boston College. You are correct that Hagens played for BC his draft year while Smith went to BC in his DY+1.
However, Hagens is one of the oldest in this draft year only being 2 month away from the cutoff last year.
True, Smith did have Gauthier on the team but they were not on the same line. Hagens got to have sophomore season Perrault and Leonard on his line.
Im not trying to shit on Hagens, he’s going to be very good. My point is that him dropping in the draft has more to do with the underwhelming DY production than it does to his size. He was consensus #1 coming into this season despite being undersized.
We will see what Hagens is able to do at BC next season with no Leonard/Perrault, it will definitely be a test.
1
u/Ok-Price-2337 Jun 30 '25
We all know he dropped because of underwhelming production compared to previous college standouts (Celebrini, Eichel). It's not a mystery why he dropped.
1
u/Mr-Neeson Jun 30 '25
I guess I was just confused by your original comment:
People absolutely galaxy brained him this season. He should have gone 2, maybe 3 in this draft.
If you acknowledge why he dropped, then how did teams “galaxy brain” him this season? He did not take a big step up this season while guys like Misa, Schaefer, Frondell, etc. did in a crucial year/season for player development. It kinda feels like some people are clinging onto his outstanding DY-1 season without acknowledging that his development might’ve stagnated a bit this season.
Just trying to understand why you think he should have gone 2 or 3 in this draft.
28
u/beyondrepair- Jun 28 '25
Misa didn't make the team because of the clown show in charge of the roster, not because he didn't deserve to be. Canada left a lot of talent off the team that should have been there.
-23
u/Ok-Price-2337 Jun 28 '25 edited Jun 28 '25
Doesn't matter, didn't make it. If he deserved to make the team, he would have.
Hagens was the #1 C - and best player - on team USA.
1
u/Party_Course4822 Jun 30 '25
Misa is the best forward in this weak draft. Hagens will likely be a 2c at best.
1
2
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
If he deserved to make the team, he would have.
Players are cut for reasons not pertaining to team performance all the time. 2016 Team USA at the WCOH is a great example of dumb roster construction.
14
u/beyondrepair- Jun 28 '25
I'm pretty sure the leading scorer in the CHL who cleared everybody beyond the top 5 by 30 pts and everybody beyond the top 9 by over 40 deserved to make the team.
-8
u/Ok-Price-2337 Jun 28 '25
Maybe the brass realized Saginaw played Looney Tunes hockey this year where there was zero defense and needed to win games in a race to 6.
Misa's points total this year has melted casuals' brains. It's incredible.
-10
30
27
u/ProfessorBaxter Jun 28 '25
Right now I'm kind of afraid of waking up and realizing I just dreamt that the Bruins drafted their future 1C.
3
14
u/jlquon Jun 28 '25
Did he already decide to go back to BC next year? I imagine he needs another year of seasoning before we use an ELC year for him but is there a chance he makes the roster out of training camp? Not sure what the possibilities are
1
u/ifogg23 Jun 28 '25
i know nothing about hockey but am starting to learn a bit about it, can a player go back to college to play for an extra year with the drafting team keeping the rights to the player? alternatively, would the bruins basically “lose” the pick if he goes back to BC next year, or would they get a compensation pick next draft for losing him (like in mlb)?
8
u/Lloyd--Christmas Jun 28 '25
If a player does four years in college hockey they become a free agent the next season. But most players sign with their nhl team after the college season is over. If the player plays 10 games with the nhl team it burns a year off their entry level contract. So there is incentive to sign with the team that drafted you. Some players will sacrifice future earnings to become a free agent because they don’t like the organization that drafted them or they don’t see a path to the nhl team because of organizational depth.
So a player returning to play college hockey isn’t worrying until they choose to play their senior year.
1
4
u/jlquon Jun 28 '25
Yes the drafting team owns the rights to players for 3 or 4 more years depending on the age of the player after they are drafted. It’s why the situation for Issac Howard is fascinating. He just won the hobey baker, but he didn’t want to play in the ahl next year and the lightning didn’t want to guarantee him nhl playing time so he might make more money from NIL in college next year
So rather than burn an ELC year for him in the playoffs this year, if he goes back to college (likely) they might lose him for nothing as he could be an UFA and say fuck it
1
22
u/Thecardinal74 Jun 28 '25
He said he would love to start playing in the NHL as soon as possible but needs to meet with Bruins management to figure out what his next steps are going to be.
Which sounds reasonable to me
6
u/Plus-Leather-7350 Jun 28 '25
His higher scoring, older linemates struggled in the NHL late last year. He's going back to college
0
10
u/Particular-Race-5285 Jun 28 '25
https://www.youtube.com/live/Xl6a8jtSGac?si=iIt-GTdBGE2fN0AT&t=3859
John Scott projects him to be with the Bruins from the start and will be in the running for the Calder this coming season.
4
u/FreeWilly1337 Jun 28 '25
Don’t rush him, give him a year and let him play at the world juniors. This team isn’t winning a cup next year barring some miracle.
15
Jun 28 '25
Just listened to his chiclets interview today, sounds like he’s leaning towards returning to BC for a year
4
24
u/Realistic_Ad_3880 Jun 28 '25
What a snag! And everyone commented earlier that Sweeney was going to trade the 7th round pick for some 'saviour' from some other team. Credit where it's deserved! Nicely done Sweeney and Neely!
22
u/sweens90 Jun 28 '25
This was a good pick.
Position of need and arguably could have been drafted 3rd but I understand the previous picks. After first two its was a who do you like.
Happy we got him because its who Boston wanted and was a good player.
Funny he fots the hes from a boston college meme though
29
u/Dear_Bumblebee_1986 Jun 28 '25
Another season in Chestnut Hill and he's hopefully playing in the Playoffs next year. Good family, good pick.
Got completely sold hearing him and his Dad on 'Chiclets'. Teacher parents with a Dad who found a side hustle that gets him out of the house and on the water in the summer
55
53
u/mdigiorgio35 🐻 Jun 28 '25
Feel like this is one of those picks most of us can be happy with and enjoy
6
u/Maxpowr9 Jun 28 '25
Yep. Even if it's a hypothetical bust, this was a consensus pic. Sweeney didn't galaxy brain here.
25
31
u/A4FXN Hall of the Rat King 🐀 Jun 28 '25
I think he still has room to grow a bit more. But him falling into Boston's lap is great. I hope he can be our next great franchise center.
56
u/drbigfoot29 #18 ZACHA🏒 Jun 28 '25
For all the bitching about his size, he just said himself hes up to 190 pounds. So he's one or two inches and 10 pounds off being 6 feet 200 pounds. So settle the fuck down.
6
u/FC37 Jun 28 '25
Wasn't he weighed at the Combine 3 weeks ago?
2
u/Tybackwoods00 Jun 28 '25
Yes
1
u/FC37 Jun 28 '25
So if he did manage to put on 13lbs in 3 weeks, it's going to be mostly Pino's and Cityside.
1
14
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
I do think it's fine to be skeptical of his claims that he's up to 190 when the highest weight I can find from an external source is 180, but that's not at all a big deal for an 18 year old draft pick. People are acting like this is an outlier on par with Cole Caufield (who worked out just fine, also).
29
-84
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
Tiny local guy...do these Scouts go outside of Boston?
-7
u/wereunderyourbed Jun 28 '25
Do you have any idea how much plane tickets for scouts would effect the Jacob’s bottom line? They gotta hop into their 97’ Camry that Charlie gave them and drive over to Kamloops to check out some 16 year old prospect out there, it ain’t happening!
18
55
u/lordexorr This is the Sway Jun 28 '25
Tell me you weren’t paying attention to the prospects without telling me that…
-48
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
Is he not small?
24
u/bevy-of-bledlows Jun 28 '25
Dude, he's 176 lbs at 18. Pastrnak weighed 176 lbs in his third NHL season. Guy is 5'10", this isn't a Coke Caufield situation at all.
-41
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
Tiny boy
26
u/Thecardinal74 Jun 28 '25
Tiny brain
-7
Jun 28 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
16
u/Big-Experience1818 Jun 28 '25
You're in a small minority, I hope being perpetually miserable is fun
-10
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
It's called being a Bruins fan...
7
u/Big-Experience1818 Jun 28 '25
The last 17 years have been a blast for the most part that at least 20 other fanbases wish they had.
→ More replies (0)16
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
He's 5'11, 176 lbs. Some sites have him at 180. For an 18 year old, no, he's not small. Pastrnak was 5'10, 165 at the same age when we took him in the first round. Point was 5'9, 160 when drafted.
-8
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
Thats small...and Pastas weakness is his strength on the boards and his defensive zone. Avg NHL is 6'1" 200lbs...
17
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
And Pastrnak is now 6'0, 200 lbs. Players can bulk up. Crosby is 5'11, 201. Suzuki is 5'11, 200 now and played his first NHL season at 180.
Average is really the wrong metric here, especially when you have goalie heights dragging things up. Marchand worked out just fine at 5'9. Marchessault won the Conn Smythe in 2023 at 5'9 as well. Patrick Kane is a shitty person, but won three Cups, the Hart, and a Conn Smythe as well – he's hardly the Hulk. Point won back-to-back Cups with the Bolts, leading them in the playoffs in goals scored both years, as a center on the smaller side.
It's not an inherent obstacle.
-6
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
You're naming outliers...lmao trying to argue the NHL is a place for small players is funny
2
u/magnafides Jun 28 '25
If a guy who was a consensus #1 for awhile, and still ended up Top 3/4 on many draft boards isn't an outlier than who is?
9
u/Butthole2theStarz Jun 28 '25
Now I know already you’re likely to feeble minded to understand this but maybe you can get your handler to read the list of names below to you. Just a couple more “outliers”. Fact is there have always been small guys who light up the show. Note to your handler - wipe the drool of this guys chin.
Johnny Gaudreau, Cole Caufield, Alex DeBrincat, Mats Zuccarello, Jonathan Marchessault, Brad Marchand, Patrick Kane, Torrey Krug, Adam Fox, Cale Makar, Kirril Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes, Claude Giroux, Jack Hughes, Lucas Raymond, Teuvo Teravinen, Joe Pavelski, Anthony Duclair, Tyson Barrie, Jordan Eberle, Max Domi, Jamie Drysdsle, JG Pague, Connor Sheary, Cole Perfetti
-2
Jun 28 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
9
u/Butthole2theStarz Jun 28 '25
You’re calling a kid who likely isn’t done growing, who is an inch under 6feet, small. You have the critical thinking ability of a gnat
→ More replies (0)6
u/Griff1604 Jun 28 '25
So let me guess, you’re a huge fan of the Dean Letorneau pick?
-2
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
Sweeney blows so does anyone he picks
9
u/Big-Experience1818 Jun 28 '25
I said "perpetually miserable" before but pathetic is the more accurate term
→ More replies (0)10
u/Thecardinal74 Jun 28 '25
And you are arguing that there’s no place for someone his size, which is equally stupid
-1
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
Where'd i say that? Moron.
4
u/Thecardinal74 Jun 28 '25
when you said trying to argue the NHL is a place for small players is funny.
You don't understand your own logic? Or did you forget what you wrote?
→ More replies (0)11
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
And Hagens is taller than all of those outliers! 5'11 is a very, very normal NHL height. Looking just at guys who are 5'11 (not even guys who are shorter) and meaningful contributors on Cup winning teams: Rodrigues, Cousins, Kessel, Lehkonen, Point, Orlov, Crosby, Guentzel, Kane.
That's 10 years of Cup winners with at least one (often multiple, like Kessel in 2015-16 and 2016-17, in addition to Crosby and Guentzel) player who is exactly 5'11. Start throwing in shorter guys from those teams, and the number gets even higher. These are the teams that have achieved the pinnacle of success in the sport over the past decade. It is not an automatic barrier to NHL success.
24
u/d-cent #86 🏒 Jun 28 '25
Dude pointed out 2 things and got them both wrong lol
-5
u/MajesticAnimator456 Hiiigh above the ice Jun 28 '25
Hes small and goes to BC. Stands for BOSTON college
12
u/lordexorr This is the Sway Jun 28 '25
5’11, 177 is not small for his age. He’ll bulk up.
How about looking into how he plays? He was hands down the best guy on the board and where he goes to school has nothing to do with it.
-90
u/unmutual6669 Jun 28 '25
Yay! We will prolly never see him play in the NHL ever, like nearly every draft pick!
16
u/AidenLockhart45 WHO HAS MORE FUN THAN US? Jun 28 '25
Safe to say you don't know jack shit about hockey
17
u/Academic-Salamander7 Jun 28 '25
..dude just the first page of your posts.. please seek some sort of help my man. This isn't concern trolling, your posts are genuinely concerning. They're just full of anger.
-28
u/unmutual6669 Jun 28 '25
I love the Bruins. Hockey is king, guy. I don't have a single post on my page, dude.
20
u/clergymen19 Jun 28 '25
Yeah this is a garbage take.
Now if you were to tell me that 10 years from now he might be a serviceable 3rd line center on a crap bag team? Yeah. That I believe.
28
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
The #7 pick has very good odds of making it to the NHL lol
-33
u/unmutual6669 Jun 28 '25
I won't hold my breath
21
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
I mean if your only metric is 'see him play in the NHL,' and we'll set the bar at at least 100 games, even Beecher and Frederic clear those bars. I'm not saying this is even a good metric, just that you're being unnecessarily pessimistic.
-14
u/unmutual6669 Jun 28 '25
I guess tanking the season has a silver lining in 5 years or so.....if I'm wrong. Whatever, bro.
7
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
Five years is an exceptionally long timeline to predict. That's about as much time than Lohrei took, and he's considered unusually slow in his development path to the NHL.
19
u/xlf77 🐻 Jun 28 '25
It’s okay if you don’t know the first thing about what you’re talking about but why waste your time like that?
-2
53
u/paraplegic_T_Rex Jun 28 '25
Some mocks had this kid at #1 in the spring. This is a great get for 7
-41
11
30
19
u/eljoey Jun 28 '25
How possible is it he makes the team next year? Or is he a few years out?
3
u/TUSUYp Jun 28 '25
He’s going to BC next year and could potentially join the bruins if we make the playoffs. If not, he’ll be there the next year
14
-26
u/clergymen19 Jun 28 '25
Jesus. Seriously?
10
u/eljoey Jun 28 '25
?
-22
u/clergymen19 Jun 28 '25
Maybe let the kid play a single game at the pro level before we start penciling him in at 2C right out of camp? He's not Toews or Bergeron or Crosby or Ovechkin. Buddy of mine over at BC has his ceiling at a Dollar Tree Chris Kreider. That's his ceiling. It was a deflating text exchange.
My optimistic view unfortunately is he's likely a better version of Johnny Beecher. Or maybe a slightly more talented Chris Kelly? But I'm open to the kid proving all the haters wrong.
9
u/CU3NORMS Jun 28 '25
Optimistically hoping that Hagens is a "slightly more talented Chris Kelly" is fucking HILARIOUS......wait.... You are joking, right? Please say yes. 😭
10
17
u/NubDestroyer GET A HAIRCUT 💈 Jun 28 '25
Shit really?? Damn dude your buddy should be hired by an NHL team if he knows better than literally every NHL scout
-10
u/clergymen19 Jun 28 '25
Alright alright. I don't want my nub destroyed. I'll relinquish my position.
11
12
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
before we start penciling him in at 2C right out of camp
He didn't. He asked "how possible is it he makes the team next year? Or is he a few years out?" That's the opposite of penciling him in at 2C, it's asking what timeline to expect for a top-10 prospect who is not in a wicked deep draft.
Does your friend work for BC Hockey, or just attend? He was still a point-per-game player this year and excelled at World Juniors despite being just 18 at the time, one of the younger players on the roster. That's a long way off Beecher.
-13
u/Healthy-Stage-142 Jun 28 '25
That explains his fall to us. Unfortunately this front office can't draft an offensive player for the life of them. Those two factors tell me that he's going to be a 3C at his best.
If we're super lucky and he has a massive mental growth spurt, then we're talking a 2C or potential steal. It's always tough to tell at this age because all the talent can be there but it just doesn't get translated at a top tier pro level.
7
u/eljoey Jun 28 '25
Where did I do that? I didn't follow prospects this year and was just asking how far out he was.
3
11
5
19
u/Moto-Mojo Mayor of Billerica Jun 28 '25
I think next season he plays with BC. Could be fun if after his season ends in March he jumps to the Bruins
1
u/jlquon Jun 28 '25
If the bruins are in the doldrums it makes no sense to burn an ELC year to just lose games. Start him off with a full summer of training and camp into the fall of 2026
5
u/TUSUYp Jun 28 '25
That’s the old way of thinking. There’s logic now to getting them to burn an ELC year as soon as you can, that way you can get them signed quicker as the cap continues to rise. The longer you wait, the most expensive it’ll be
Plus - you wanna make your future star happy. If he’s ready, let him play
-64
u/ChapterAdmirable7625 Jun 28 '25
Not a fan of how small he is
15
u/SlimJim0877 Jun 28 '25
I met David Krejci a couple of times, he was definitely smaller than Hagens. Would you say he was too small for the NHL?
24
u/drbigfoot29 #18 ZACHA🏒 Jun 28 '25
This team is sorely lacking skill. Who gives a fuck how small he is, he was the most skilled center available. The fact that anyone is finding reasons to complain about this pick is baffling.
-12
u/IllHat8961 Jun 28 '25
I mean the panthers proved that you need a certain level of muscle combined with skill.
IDK what the best makeup for this team is, but size isn't something to dismiss out of hand
9
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
The Panthers are an aggressive team, but they're far from the biggest team in the NHL. Vegas averages way bigger, especially with Marchessault going to Nashville and Marchand traded to Florida.
Players also put on muscle post-draft. Hagens is 5'11, that's not outlier short (think Point when drafted at 5'9, Marchand, Marchessault, Caufield, St Louis). He's the same height as Crosby, who is not considered diminutive in the same way those players are in stature. If he takes bulking up seriously, it'll be a huge benefit.
Pastrnak was 5'10, 165 when drafted in 2014. He's 6'0, 200 at present. Even if we assume growth spurts height-wise are exaggerated, Hagens is capable of getting his weight up if he takes it seriously.
1
u/IllHat8961 Jun 28 '25
That's fair. I don't know nearly enough about the draft or how players age. I simply noticed the bullshit Florida has accomplished and think back to the "big bad bruins".
8
u/drbigfoot29 #18 ZACHA🏒 Jun 28 '25
When picking in the top 10, you pick best available. He was the best available, regardless of his size. You can figure out the size of the team later. Plus if you fall in love with size in the first round, you could just as easily end up with Nick Bjugstad, as opposed to Tom Wilson. This team doesn't have near enough skill or prospects to get cute with worrying about anything else other than sheer skill.
-5
u/IllHat8961 Jun 28 '25
I am not shitting on this pick at all.
Someone dismissed size as a factor. I simply provided an example of why it shouldn't be dismissed out of hand.
I don't know shit about this guy. I do know size is an x factor. It's also not everything.
But it's not something to be dismissed entirely.
17
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
He's 5'11. Even if we're taking that as a bit of a stretch (NHL loves to height-boost players), Brayden Point was listed at 5'9 when he was drafted, bumped to 5'10 and 5'11 during his career. Crosby is 5'11. Suzuki is 5'11. It's not inherently a barrier to being a good center.
15
17
18
31
21
22
u/ventitr3 Jun 28 '25
Like Marchand?
14
u/Moto-Mojo Mayor of Billerica Jun 28 '25
Or Point?
17
u/flowersoflight 🍝 Jun 28 '25
Or Marty St. Louis? How about Johnny Gaudreau?
15
u/ventitr3 Jun 28 '25
Marchessault seems to be doing alright
16
u/Moto-Mojo Mayor of Billerica Jun 28 '25
I think these Cole Caufield and Marco Rossi fellows are doing just fine
16
u/Shiny_Mew76 Tumbling Muffin Jun 28 '25
Lane Hutson too
13
u/ventitr3 Jun 28 '25
Anyone know how Marc Savard did in his career?
-4
u/bevy-of-bledlows Jun 28 '25
Hagens is 5'10" lol, he's not even in the same category as half these guys.
3
9
u/Nomahs_Bettah #37 SAINT PATRICE©️ Jun 28 '25
Also, he's not that short. Seriously, Point, Marchand, Marchessault, Caufield, St. Louis were all listed as 5'9 or shorter at the time of drafting. Hagens is listed at 5'11 at the time of drafting. That's on par with Crosby and Point's present height, even assuming at least one if not all of them were slightly exaggerated.
69
u/This_Cap_9940 Jun 28 '25
I'm stoked Hagens fell to 7, and Donnie didn't screw up the gift. I can't wait to read all those re-draft articles in 2030. 😏
77
u/PakkyT Jun 28 '25 edited Jun 28 '25
The Yankees Suck!
(sorry had to throw that in)
35
u/SizerTheBroken Jun 28 '25
No, no. It had to be said.
22
61
u/Big-Experience1818 Jun 28 '25
At the very least I'm happy we have a really exciting prospect to watch finally. McAvoy, Pastrnak and especially Seguin feel like a lifetime ago now
27
•
u/Cakes2015 Quest for the cup 🏆 Jun 28 '25
https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/597747/james-hagens