There are a few college hockey teams that are a tad bit extra exciting right now. One of them is Boston College which is loaded with NHL-caliber talent.
Last year, Will Smith, Gabe Perreault, Ryan Leonard, and Cutter Gauthier were the big four on a team that made it to the National Championship. It was an incredible run for them that ended with a loss to Denver for all the marbles.
Will Smith and Cutter Gauthier have moved on to the NHL. Smith will make his NHL debut in the fall with the San Jose Sharks. Gauthier made his debut at the end of the year with the Anaheim Ducks back in April.
As for Perreault and Leonard, it seems like they are headed back to school. They are getting plenty of help as there are a few very good players coming to play there in 2024-25.
None of them, however, may be as exciting as James Hagens. He is a center who hails from New York and there is a good chance that he is the number one pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
The 2024-25 Boston College Eagles will love having James Hagens
Hagens is coming from various stages of the United States National Development Program. He is a two-way forward that looks like he will make a big impact everywhere he goes going forward.
Eagles fans can expect him to explode offensively while playing in Hockey East. As a freshman, he is coming in with a good chance to be a Hobey Baker type of player.
The fact that he has Leonard and Perreault going back for their sophomore seasons will help Hagens out as well. He’ll likely slot right in where Will Smith was on both the power play and at even strength.
Can Boston College get it done this time around? Hagens is going to have to live up to the hype if that is going to be the case.