2025 NHL Draft Notebook: Highly Rated Hagens, Misa And Eklund Star Early
The NHL draft notebook is back at The Hockey News for the 2025 draft cycle.
The series is designed to give readers a peek inside my scouting notebook as I review and scout the current crop of draft talent. It's an excellent way to shine a light on part of my process and give hockey fans a bit of a peek behind the curtain of what I – and every NHL team – do in preparation for the NHL draft.
In the first edition to kick off the new season, we look at three of the most intriguing names at the top of the NHL draft board. James Hagens is the presumptive first-overall pick, and his play has done nothing to dissuade that. Michael Misa is one of the draft's most intriguing players, and he's been a machine this season while leading the OHL in goal-scoring. Victor Eklund is the least known of the trio, but his stock has risen sharply since the season began. His play in the second level of Swedish men's hockey has been truly impressive.
Dive into a scouting report for each of these highly talented players from recent games in the first iteration of the NHL draft notebook for the 2025 season.
James Hagens, C, Boston College (NCAA)
Oct. 12, 2024, vs. Michigan State Univ. (NCAA)- In just his second NCAA game, Hagens already looks comfortable against older and more physically strong competition. His fluid skating was immediately notable, as were his abilities to manipulate passing lanes and change the angle on his passes to evade traffic.
Hagens' puck control when he had possession was impressive, using quick side-to-side puckhandling, showcasing excellent control on his forehand and backhand.
Throughout this game, Hagens' playmaking vision played a factor. He simply sees the game at a higher pace than most players, allowing him to advance play with his passes while continuing to skate and present himself for a quick return pass. Hagens was consistently scanning the ice with and without the puck, absorbing as much information as possible to ensure he knew what to do once the puck was on his stick.
His natural shiftiness as a skater allowed him to evade pressure and weave through traffic. He used his edges to alter his skating path, even using weight shifts to gain speed in quick bursts without taking strides. Several times throughout this game, Hagens' ability to read the opposition's attempted breakout led to him picking off a pass or knocking down a clearance, flipping the ice back in favor of Boston College.
In the defensive zone, Hagens' engagement was as solid as it's looked over the last couple of years, with some excellent reads and a willingness to play through the opposing puck carrier's hands.
He wasn't a physical player, but he wasn't shying away from it, either. He played through contact a number of times in transition, skating by opposing players as they leaned on him or taking a piece of a check without being thrown off path.
Hagens' quickness was impressive throughout the game, allowing him to burst through pockets or put a defender on their heels. His intellect allowed him to take advantage of mistakes all over the ice. Intercepting errant passes or breaking up ice behind defenders to create some chaos, Hagens was a handful.
His one point in this game came at the end of a long shift, where he sprung free as soon as he realized his team would get the puck.
His instant burst up ice allowed him to cut into a seam to receive a breakaway pass. At the tail end of a shift over 1:30 long, Hagens ran out of steam, allowed a teammate to catch up and fed him the puck at the last minute for an assist Mitch Marner would be proud of. You would have liked to see him try to make a move on the goalie, but accepting the empty gas tank and knowing a teammate was nearby allowed him to collect an assist.
Overall, this was an excellent first NCAA viewing for Hagens. There were moments in the game when he was just a little off with teammates, and he was adjusting to a new setting, but he showed why he has planted himself as the top prospect in the NHL draft class.
Related: 2025 NHL Draft Rankings: Will There Be A Race For First Overall?Michael Misa, C/LW, Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Oct. 13, 2024, vs. Soo Greyhounds (OHL) - There are very few players in the OHL that have impressed me quite as much as Misa throughout the season. Misa oozes intelligence and tactical play.
In this game, he was constantly on the right side of the puck and making plays to the middle of the ice. While it wasn't the flashiest game and nothing he did would likely wind up on the highlight reel aside from his goal, Misa was consistently making the right play.
Misa's underlying numbers in this game alone were impressive and on the season, they rank amongst the best in the OHL. Playing down the middle, was creeping low in the defensive zone and staying close by to support defenders before swooping in to scoop up loose pucks.
Misa certainly isn't the most physical player, but he does do a good job of establishing body position and rotating his hips when along the boards. He always seems to be scanning and understanding where his lanes are as a skater and a passer. His ability to problem-solve his way out of trouble is a major reason why he always finds ways to progress play.
On a number of plays in the offensive zone, Misa expertly worked the cycle to rotate into space and open up for a pass in the middle of the ice. This game was a great example of Misa playing a very meat-and-potatoes game, just doing what he had to do to get himself and his teammates in a very good position to create offense.
While Misa's shooting luck has been through the roof to start the year, his passing luck hasn't quite been there. In several instances, Misa threaded the needle, placing a pass right on the tape of a teammate in a high-danger spot, and they would flub the puck or shoot it wide.
An under-the-radar thing Misa did with regularity in this game was drawing attention away from the puck in transition by driving the center lane with purpose. He wasn't simply coasting through the middle of the ice – he hunted for space and attacked the net with pace. This pulled defenders with him, and when he peeled off, it often drew defenders as well. It was those little things that made the difference in the game.
Misa tallied a goal in this game, coming on an excellent play where his pass to the middle on the rush was mishandled. When he looped around the net and picked up the loose puck in the corner, he quickly curled inside the faceoff dot, stayed patient as a defender sprawled out and ripped a shot to the top corner. Misa's awareness of the defender and patience to clear the shooting lane were impressive.
Overall, Misa made things happen without a whole lot of flair. His game was tactical and simple but often highly effective. Finding a way to be positive on each shift when you don't have your best is often the difference between good and great players.
Related: 2025 NHL Draft: Martone, Misa, McQueen Headline CHLers Off To A Hot StartVictor Eklund, LW, Djurgarden (Swe.2)
Oct. 9, 2024, vs. Sodertalje - This game was an excellent example of all of Eklund's strengths and even his weaknesses at times. The pace at which Eklund plays the game is impressive, never taking his foot off the gas and driving the play up ice with his passing and quick feet.
Throughout the game, Eklund outworked bigger, stronger players along the boards and used his puck skill to pull pucks from a mess where less-skilled players often have to make simpler plays. Eklund's intelligence is impressive, blending a tactical approach with cerebral playmaking.
In this game, he understood the flow of play and consistently put himself around the puck and in a position to affect the play in all three zones. Eklund showed some excellent habits as a give-and-go passer, working off teammates in transition to move the puck up ice without impeding on the downhill speed he uses to attack.
Eklund picked up an assist on his first shift of the game, supporting a defender who went back to retrieve the puck. The D-man passed it up to Eklund on the half wall, just inside the blueline. Eklund spotted a teammate streaking up ice across the ice and hit him with a perfect pass in stride off the heels of an opposing player attempting to get back into a defensive posture. The play went up ice, and Eklund collected the second assist on the play.
A few shifts later, Eklund scored a goal on a beautiful play. Entering the zone driving the inside lane, his teammate passed him the puck high in the zone upon entry. As a backchecking forward attempted to poke the puck off Eklund's stick, he made a quick evasive cut and pulled the puck away from the defender while slowly drifting to the top of the circles and ripping the puck by the netminder in one motion.
The shot itself was absolutely ripped, but the awareness and puckhandling were truly the difference-making factors. Not only did those moves ensure that he would maintain control, but he also changed the angle of the shot.
These small things are what made Eklund impressive throughout the game. He was willing to finish checks when appropriate and lean into a defender in a board battle. He showed excellent pivot ability along the wall, which helped him evade pressure and escape checks.
Overall, this game was a great showcase of what Eklund could look like against men. While he may not have displayed truly elite-level puck skill, his pace, intelligence and relentless motor drove his play. Eklund was routinely effective in all three zones. His game has all of the trademarks to be a highly effective left winger at the next level. His NHL draft stock continues to trend upward.
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This story was originally published October 18, 2024, 2:56 PM.
