The Boston Bruins could be plotting a draft-night move as trade chatter around their seventh overall pick heats up. With the 2025 NHL Draft around the corner, sources have indicated that the Bruins and New York Islanders have held discussions that go beyond a simple player-for-player exchange.
The talks seem to be picking up steam thanks to James Hagens. Once seen as a top-three lock, the Boston College standout has dropped in recent rankings, putting him within reach for teams like the Bruins, potentially forcing them to make a move.
James Hagens’ Stock Could Dictate Boston Bruins’ Draft Day Strategy
A top prospect for most of the year, Hagens has seen his name slide down some final draft boards. Once penciled in as a likely top-three pick, he’s now fallen to eighth in TSN’s Craig Button’s rankings: the “Craig’s List.” That kind of movement shakes things up. It also puts teams like the Bruins in a position to strike.
Matthew Schaefer sits ahead of Michael Misa and Anton Frondell in Craig Button’s FINAL edition of “Craig’s List.” 👀 @CraigJButton
FULL LIST: https://t.co/GBtJzouDSj pic.twitter.com/V0bdRBGZFU
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) June 16, 2025
The Bruins have not picked this high since 2011, when they grabbed Dougie Hamilton. Now, with an aging core and stars like David Pastrnak and Charlie McAvoy still in their prime, the front office is weighing two timelines: build for the future or win now. The seventh pick could help with either. But the Bruins have a decision to make with a player like Hagens possibly within range.
According to James Murphy of RG, the Bruins have expressed interest in New York Islanders forward Jean-Gabriel Pageau, confirming a report from Islanders beat reporter Stefen Rosner. However, according to Murphy, one league source said, “Much more than that. The seventh overall pick has been discussed too, and not just with the Islanders.”
The Islanders hold the top pick and are expected to take Erie Otters defenseman Matthew Schaefer, but whispers suggest general manager Mathieu Darche isn’t stopping there. The team could be exploring scenarios that would allow them to land Hagens, too, marking a massive draft day haul.
While the Bruins reportedly are exploring moving into the top five, if they fail to do so, they may be willing to move on from No. 7.
“I know they [Islanders] are being creative and looking at multiple options,” said the league source via Murphy. “Why not keep the top pick, get Schaefer and Hagens somehow? Do the Bruins want to jump to one? Of course, but I’m not sure they’re willing to offer up what that would take.”
Hagens was once considered a top prospect and has the numbers to support it: 11 goals and 26 assists in 37 NCAA games. A crafty skater with high-end vision, he still carries the kind of upside front offices love. But his drop in the rankings has created a unique opportunity.
Complicating matters, though, Hagens has publicly stated, “I want to be able to win a Stanley Cup as an Islander,” on the “NHL Draft Class” podcast. Hailing from Hauppauge, N.Y., just over an hour from UBS Arena, Hagens grew up surrounded by Islanders culture. The emotional connection is real.
The question now is whether the Islanders will do what it takes to bring him home. They don’t pick again until No. 42. A trade with a team holding multiple first-round picks, like the Philadelphia Flyers or Montreal Canadiens, could be key to moving back up and landing Hagens.
