James Hagens

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 firts over all selection Jack Hughes displyed as a slahing and darting penetrator who is able to beautifully read and disect the opposing defenses, sending pucks to his wingers in great scoring areas. His dynamic skill, spped, 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.

                                                         -Bill Płaczek-