Which top draft prospect can make an impact for the NY Islanders next season?

Not playing full-time hockey since he was 16 years old, letting him play in the OHL would likely be the wise choice, along with the fact that it typically takes much longer for defensemen to develop compared to forwards.

Then comes Long Island-born and raised James Hagens. Much has been made about his Long Island roots, and what a great story it would be for him and the organization for a local kid to lead the team back to prominence.

After dominating seasons at the U-17 and U-18 level for the USNTDP, Hagens made the jump to the NCAA, playing for Boston College. 

Ranked among the top teams in the nation for most of the season, Hagens played the majority of his time between Ryan Leonard and Gabe Perrault, two of the NHL’s top prospects. 

Though the Golden Eagles bowed out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, Hagens finished his freshman campaign as a point-per-game player, totaling 37 points (11 G, 26 A) in 37 games. 

Most seasons, a freshman putting up those types of numbers should lock them into the first overall pick. But after the numbers Celebrini and Adam Fantilli produced the two seasons before (64 and 65, respectively), Hagens accomplishments don’t seem as impressive. But if you go back to the 2021 NHL Draft, Matty Beniers finished his freshman season with 24 points (10 G, 14 A) in 24 games and was considered a candidate to be taken first overall until the Buffalo Sabres elected to take his Michigan teammate, Owen Power, with the pick.

Another year older and without Leonard or Perrault, Hagens could use another season at BC to fine-tune his game as the team's top player before potentially heading to Long Island.