BOSTON — If media draft grades went on their transcript, the Bruins would be headed for the dean’s list after their first-round pick in Friday’s NHL Draft.
There was pretty much universal agreement that the Bruins had made a good pick in taking James Hagens at No. 7.
Here’s a sample of grades from around the NHL media.
The Athletic
Pick grade: A-
Player comparable: William Nylander
“The Bruins had a clear need for high-end talent in their farm system and a pressing need for top center talent. In Hagens, they address both. He’s an electric skater, puck handler and passer. He becomes the clear top young talent in their organization, and despite how he’s been picked apart at times for his size and physicality, he projects as a potential top-line forward.”
Bleacher Report
Grade: A+
Analysis: “This is a huge win for the Boston Bruins who, let’s face it, have not done a great job drafting in recent years. The Bruins are also in the middle of a rebuild (retool, whatever you want to call it), and having a brilliant facilitator like Hagens as a piece of that is a big step forward. You can trust him anywhere on the ice. Boston needs that. … He was the consensus No. 1 last summer, but being No. 4 on our board is not a slight on him, just commentary on how much impressive work we’ve seen from the three players ahead of him this season. He’s going to be an excellent player with development and time.”
USA Today
Grade: A
“It wasn’t that long ago when Hagens was considered the top prospect in this draft class. Despite his small size, Hagens has incredible skill and will likely end up as one of the better centers of this draft due to his creative and explosive play. This definitely feels like a steal for Boston, that’s for sure.”
Clutch Points
Grade: A
“The Boston Bruins love their bang-and-crash forwards. James Hagens is not this, but he could become their franchise center in short order. Hagens opened the season as the potential first overall pick. He saw his stock slip, but not for anything he did wrong. The Boston College star is an exceptional two-way playdriver down the middle who can take over games at both ends of the ice. He is more skill than snarl, but this is a new era of Bruins hockey.“
