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Michael Misa vs. James Hagens - March. 23, 2025 - Vol. 78, Iss. 11 – Ken Campbell

YOU COULD ARGUE THAT the best thing for Michael Misa and James Hagens would be to switch places next season. After Misa scored 62 goals and 134 points in his third season with the OHL’s Saginaw Spirit, he has nothing left to prove in junior hockey and could very well suffer a major case of boredom next season. Playing college hockey would challenge him against more mature players. Hagens has been lights-out on the international stage and was a standout at Boston College, but he might do well in a program where he could shine as an individual and rack up a ridiculous number of points.

Because, at least as far as scouts are concerned, neither of the talented forwards is ready to play in the NHL in 2025-26. But when they are, they should both develop into major impact players. Here’s how they stack up in key areas of the game:

SKATING

ONE SCOUT COMPARED MISA and Hagens to Formula 1 cars in that they both know when to speed up and slow down and how to get around the corners. Both are terrific skaters, but Hagens might have a little more flat-out speed. And although Misa is tough to contain when he gets going, Hagens has an agility element that makes him difficult to collar. “To me, Hagens has a better burst, better separation, and he’s more elusive with the puck,” said one scout. “He borders on dynamic going east-west and stopping and starting, some of those subtleties in skating. It’s not to denigrate Misa. It’s just one guy is better.” EDGE: HAGENS

COMPETE LEVEL

NEITHER MISA NOR HAGENS has made it to the top of the draft class without having a high level of compete. “They’re both what I call quiet hard competitors,” said one scout. “You’re not pushing either one out of the game.” One scout said the reason Hagens doesn’t go to the dirty areas as much as Misa is because his skill allows him to find open spaces. But you don’t lead all scorers at the U-17 and U-18 worlds and win gold medals at the U-18 worlds and WJC without being competitive. “They both want the puck on their stick, and they want to make a difference,” said another scout. “And they do make a difference. They make their teammates better.” EDGE: EVEN

DECEPTION

MORE THAN A FEW scouts have watched both players and have been expecting them to do one thing, only to see them throw their opponents off by doing something completely different. Misa has a higher level of hockey sense. He will look like he’s offering the puck only to take it back, while Hagens has the potential to give opponents more fits with his capacity to stop and start. “Hagens has an ability to stop and get guys leaning, change speeds to back guys off, make it look like he’s going to attack and have them back off,” said one scout. “He has one more dimension to his deception than Misa does.” EDGE: HAGENS

CLUTCH PERFORMANCE

INJURY AND A RUN to a Memorial Cup championship kept Misa out of the past two world under-18s, and Canada left him off the roster for the 2025 WJC. Hagens, meanwhile, won gold medals at both the U-18s and world juniors. It should be noted that, at the OHL Cup in 2022, Misa gained exceptional status for the OHL draft by dominating the tournament and breaking Connor McDavid’s scoring records. Hagens is three months older and beat Misa at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. EDGE: HAGENS

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SHOT

YOU MIGHT BE INCLINED to go with the guy who scored 62 goals this year, but scouts believe this is closer than many think. It’s a little more difficult to get into the scoring areas in college hockey than it is in major junior, so Hagens didn’t have as much of an opportunity to display his shooting skills. “Misa’s shot is more accurate, and he picks his spots better,” said one scout. “Misa gets it off in traffic better. He’s able to shoot through sticks, where Hagens has to create that space and then zing it.” EDGE: MISA

PASSING

THE CONVENTIONAL THINKING IS that Misa is the better shooter and Hagens the better set-up man, but they just go about their business in a different way. After all, Misa did dish out 72 assists this season. Playing on a line with Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perreault, Hagens had more passing options at Boston College. “Hagens might be a shade more creative off a move, but Misa has wider vision and is a little more aware of layers,” said one scout. “Hagens does it more off a rush or a move.” EDGE: EVEN

STICK SKILLS

MISA IS A BIGGER, stronger player than Hagens, so he’s a little stronger on his stick, which allows him to be better in traffic and protect the puck more, but scouts believe Hagens is a little slicker with his stick. “Hagens has quicker hands, and he’s a little shiftier,” said one scout. “The puck comes off his stick just a little bit quicker. A little bit better touch, a quicker stick and the ability to do the same moves at a little higher speed.” EDGE: HAGENS

GOAL HUNGER

YOU KIND OF HAVE to give it to the guy who had 62 goals this season, right? That said, Hagens would’ve had more goals this year had he played in the OHL. Even though Hagens has good net instincts, Misa is more willing to go into areas where scoring goals is difficult. “Misa scores more goals because of where he plays and how he plays,” said one scout. “I would say Misa is much more puck hungry, which gives him a big benefit.” EDGE: MISA

WOW FACTOR

ONE SCOUT SAID HAGENS falls somewhere between Jack Hughes and Trevor Zegras, two players who can dazzle. One of the differences might be linemates. Hagens had chances to make high-end plays because of Perreault and Leonard, while Misa was more on his own. “When Hagens does something, it’s a little cooler and more ‘X-worthy,’” said a scout. “That doesn’t mean Misa doesn’t have those plays, but there’s a little more ‘wow’ factor with Hagens. I’m not sure it makes you better in the end.” EDGE: HAGENS

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