James Hagens’ latest under-23 ranking didn’t exactly come with a glow to it.
The Athletic placed the Bruins’ seventh overall pick at No. 59 among 156 players in its newest U23 list, with Corey Pronman slotting him into the sixth and final tier: “Middle of the lineup player.” That tier runs all the way from No. 57 to No. 156, and the ranking is meant to reflect career trajectory rather than where a player stands right now.
Hagens finished just behind Seattle’s Shane Wright and Berkly Catton, and one spot ahead of Nashville’s Brady Martin. Pronman gave him “above average” marks in skating, puck skills and hockey sense, along with an “average” grade for compete - with average defined as NHL average, which still counts as a positive in this system.
The part that jumps off the page is Pronman’s view of where Hagens might fit long term.
“Hagens isn’t that big or physical, and can stay on the outside too much, but he gives a decent effort, and coaches tend to lean on him,” Pronman wrote. “He has the potential to be a top-six forward, although that’s likely trending more toward being on the wing. If he’s a center, it would be more of a 3C.”
That’s a sharp contrast from how the Bruins are talking about him.
Cam Neely said in May that Hagens and Fraser Minten both have the kind of skill set that could eventually put them in the conversation at center. Neely also pointed to Hagens’ vision and distribution, while noting the bigger organizational issue: Boston still doesn’t have a true No. 1 center, and the team wants to fix that either through development or outside help.
“Whether they either become number one centers is up to them and how that goes for them and what the path is for them. You know, we want to give these guys every opportunity to take a job that’s staring at them.
I mean, we all in this room recognize we don’t have a true number one [center], you know, and that’s something that we want to try to rectify, whether it’s this offseason or those guys growing into it. But it’s something that we know that’s needed.”
Neely doubled down again on July 1, saying the Bruins feel good about the center pipeline with Hagens, Dean Letourneau and Will Moore in the mix.
“I think the depth of our center position is really good. I think with James [Hagens] potentially going in the middle of the ice, Dean [Letourneau] coming in behind it, Will Moore plays the center.
We’re positioned,” Sweeney said. “We would love to see one of them really, really pop and turn into a star.
I don’t think that’s any different than how [David] Pastrnak turned into a star. Most of the time it’s through growth.”
The Bruins have already used Hagens on the wing, and that’s where he spent most of his sophomore season at BC, a role that continued after he turned pro with Providence and Boston. Sweeney has said his path into the lineup is easier on the wing, while Marco Sturm has made it clear Hagens will get a chance down the middle.
“With Hagens, he just, I do like him. I want to see him at one point, probably as a center, he does have potential, but it’s just, he’s just not there yet,” Sturm said on breakup day. “I feel like, I think it’s great for him now learning the game as a winger, and then, we have to see moving forward where it’s going to go.”
Neely also singled Hagens out during Monday’s NESN/WEEI Radio-Telethon, saying the youngster will get a real look when camp opens.
“I’m excited about the competition in camp this year, to be honest, see some of the younger kids push for jobs. [James] Hagens got a taste a little bit last year, so we’ll see.
I know he’s been working really hard this offseason,” Neely said. “These younger players must be looking.
They should be licking their chops to say, ‘Okay, I want that spot right there.’”
So the picture is pretty clear: The Athletic sees a middle-six type, maybe a 3C if he stays at center. The Bruins, at least publicly, still see more. Hagens hasn’t been locked into a middle role yet, and camp will be his next chance to start changing that conversation.
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