Montreal Canadiens fans wish the team will contend for a playoff spot this year. However, the early predictions say they are still two years away from being up there with those teams. If that's the case, the Canadiens could be in the running for American James Hagens. He looks to be the stud of next year's draft class, but some other contenders are in the mix. This article will be the first in a series where we look at some first-round prospects for Canadiens fans to monitor this upcoming season. James Hagens will be an easy player to watch, as he will share the ice with Canadiens' prospect Jacob Fowler at Boston College next season.
Hagens played for the USA National Team Development Program last season. He was second on the team with 26 goals and 40 assists in 43 games with the under-17 team. He also earned a promotion to the under-18 team, where he had seven goals and 12 assists in 17 games. He also played 26 games with NTDP in the United States Hockey League, tallying 18 goals and 29 assists in 26 games.
Hagens has been a star at the International level as well. He recorded eight goals and 13 assists in seven games at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. The previous record was 18 by Colin White in 2014, which Hagens broke by three points.
He also played in the 2023 World U18 Championship, tallying one goal and four assists in seven games. He won a gold medal at each event. Hagens almost made the 2024 World Junior Championship, but was one of the last cuts. He will surely make the team for the 2025 edition of the tournament.
Hagens had a recent performance at the 2024 World Under-18 Championship, leading the tournament in scoring with nine goals and 13 assists. He was the tournament MVP, media all-star team, and best forward. He broke Nikita Kucherov's record of 21 points in 2011. The United States couldn't win another gold medal, dropping the championship to Canada.
Montreal Canadiens Fit
Simply put, if the Montreal Canadiens are in a position to draft James Hagens, it'll be either a disappointing season or a lucky trip to the draft lottery. The Canadiens would love to get Hagens after their successful 2024 draft. However, it's likely a pipe dream.
The prospect of having Hagens joining the team with Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage would be a dream for Montreal and be a recipe for success in the next five