This prospect is one of those high end visionaries who seems to be a few plays ahead of the rest and the game with his anticipatory reactions with his creativity and high end skills/IQ. Let’s begin with declaring him as much of a lethal shooter as well as a high end generator. His skating and anticipation is high end and he is able to freeze defenders that extra bit of time to give his linemates time to find open ice and soft spots. He can be a shoot first pivot but his control the ice with his possessions give him the luxury to send delicate touch passes in through traffic or hit the longer teammate targets with super quick hard passes through the layers of defense. Has some of the characteristics that former first over all selection Jack Hughes displyed as a slashing and darting penetrator who is able to beautifully read and dissect the opposing defenses, sending pucks to his wingers in great scoring areas. His dynamic skill, speed, and vision are on display in each international tourney he competes in. He makes every one better and controls the pace. Set a World Junior Under-18 Tournament record of 22 points. His high end stick skills continue to be on display, leaving goaltenders with no idea as to whetehr he is shooting, going to the back door, or take a precise shot at the tiny openings the goalie has open. Needs more strength as one of his few weaknesses is being outmuscles on the half wall and corners. It would be very easy to relegate Hagens to a fall from top forward in the class to one that might last into pick 4, if you are using his college season point totals, and the fact that he stands undersized. Judging talent like his should not ignore past performances. This kid wasn’t just part of the USA National Development team, he led it. He plays a dominant game no matter the linemates, and was heads above the next best talent there after the golden line of Will Smith, Ryan Leonard, and Gabriel Perreault departed for college two seasons ago. Where centre Will Smith was complimented with two solid wingers, Hagens was never afforded that type of compliment, and although he plays with teammates Leonard and Perreault, his wingers included Teddy Stiga a USA team product with less distinction, and until his injury, Oskar Jelvik. College play against older players has most certainly helped Hagens grow his game, and build his body. Presently, I agree that when he has back pressure applied, he’ll think better about enagement because he knows his present stature and strength cannot make him successful right now, and you are aware when a prospect gets boxed out, and who may look towards a forward who it doesn’t happen to. I don’t think you will see him in free fall, because he projects as a playmaker and shooter who can play both wing and centre, and I think it was Craig Button who compared him to former first pick, Nico Hischier. Hagens thrives on possessions, smarts and sees the passing lanes open and hits linemates quickly with pucks. There is game breaking talent in his decisions, play speed, and his reads in both defensive and offensive zones wins pucks and game. –Bill Placzek–
–Bill Płaczek-
