With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft in just two days, there is a lot of speculation about where players may be selected.
And, according to some recent projections and reports, one name who has found himself in top-five discussions may fall quite a bit.
According to Cam Robinson of Elite Prospects - who spoke with a league source - Boston College center James Hagens may not be getting his name called in the top-five after all.
"Hagens might be waiting a lot longer than expected to get his name called," Robinson wrote in a post on X.
As a freshman at BU, Hagens registered 11 goals and 37 points in 37 games. Hailing from Hauppauge, New York, he grew up a New York Islanders fan, and he was part of the U.S. National Development Team under new Penguins head coach Dan Muse in 2022-23.
Once projected by some as the first overall pick, Hagens has seen his draft stock drop a bit as others have risen. Defenseman Matthew Schaefer and Michael Misa are now the consensus top-two, while Swedish center Anton Frondell is rumored to have garnered the attention of the Chicago Blackhawks, who are set to select third overall.
Other centers - such as Brady Martin, Jake O'Brien, and Roger McQueen - have also seen their stock rise considerably over the past year. There's no guarantee that they would be drafted ahead of Hagens, but given Martin's skill - and the size of McQueen and O'Brien - it wouldn't be surprising to see Hagens fall given their comparable production.
If Hagens does indeed fall to 11th overall - which is still unlikely, even if he does fall a few spots more than expected - there should be no hesitation on the part of the Penguins to draft him. Hagens's ceiling may be a bit lower than others in the upper echelon of this draft class, but his floor is also higher, and he is a well-rounded player.
The Penguins need legitimate talent at the center position in their system. If he falls, Hagens would more than fit the bill.
Penguins Draft Prospect Profile: James Hagens
With the 2025 NHL Entry Draft later this week, POHO and GM Kyle Dubas and the <a href="https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/pittsburgh-penguins">Pittsburgh Penguins</a> have their work cut out for them.
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Feature image credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images