2025 NHL Draft’s Projected No. 1 Pick Inspired by Devils Superstar

The United States of America has been churning out some of the best players in the world these days. The USA is well represented in the New Jersey Devils organization — projected to begin the 2024-25 season with at least seven U.S. born players. The projected No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft is also from the United States. James Hagens is playing his way to the top of the 2025 NHL Draft class by drawing inspiration from Devils superstar Jack Hughes.

Hagens, a native of Hauppague, New York, is in the midst of the World Junior Summer Showcase USA Hockey Arena in Plymouth, Michigan. He is described as a cerebral tactician who relies on great hockey sense and vision to make plays, has impressive acceleration, speed, and overall mobility, and is responsible in all three zones on the ice.

For the most part, that sounds similar to the Devils’ franchise center, Jack Hughes.

Hagens and Hughes are cut from the same physical cloth as the 17-year-old stands at 5-foot-10, 172 lbs, whereas the Devils forward stands at 5-foot-11, 175 lbs.

Both American forwards have been able to cut through the size narrative with their elite skill sets.

“I always grew up watching Patrick Kane and now Jack Hughes too,” Hagens said to TSN in an interview this summer at the World Junior Summer Showcase. “You see him out on the ice, see the stuff he’s done. You know, he’s a USA guy too. So, he’s special, both of those guys. They’re so fun to watch. The things they do on the ice, you’re sitting there as a kid and you look at them and you follow.”

Kane and Hughes are both former first overall picks in their respective drafts (2007 and 2019). Hagens has certainly selected excellent role models, each being selected to the NHL’s All-Star team on multiple occasions. While Hughes is still at the beginning of his career, Kane has brought home as much hardware as possible, including three Stanley Cups.

When asked about facing that pressure, Hagens chalked it up to just letting his game sort out his draft status.

“[I] don’t really think about that stuff. You kind of just go out on the ice and play,” Hagens explained. “You can’t really have any thought about that in your head at all, especially off the ice as well and you don’t want to get your head wrapped around that because it’ll distract you. So, you just gotta go day-by-day trying to get better and work for it getting ready for the season. The rest will work itself out.”

Much like his inspirations in Kane and Hughes, Hagens is hoping to be the next American-born first-overall selection next summer.

“It’s something that you grow up and [when] want to play hockey, seeing guys getting drafted whatever pick it is something special. Seeing those guys who have gone first, it is a dream come true. That’s something you work toward your whole life, and to have that pay off would be something special.

“I’ve been told you can’t really think about it. Your play figures that stuff out. That’s been really helpful.”

It’s incredible to think that we’re already at the point in Hughes’ career where a prospect who is set to be in the next NHL Draft models himself after the 23-year-old center.

Hughes just completed his fifth NHL season — all with the Devils — scoring 27 goals and 74 points in 62 games before his year ended due to shoulder surgery.

In 2022-23, Hughes collected 99 points and became the Devils’ franchise leader in points collected in a single season.

The Devils don’t currently own a first round selection in 2025 as part of the trade that reeled in goaltender Jacob Markstrom. And if all goes according to plan, they won’t be acquiring one at the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline either.

However, Devils fans have certainly enjoyed drafting Hughes and watching his development within New Jersey’s organization since the summer of 2019. Whichever team is lucky enough to announce they’ve selected Hagens next summer will likely receive a similar experience as the Devils with Hughes.

Last season playing in the NDTP for the U.S. National U18 Team, Hagens scored 39 goals and 102 points. He added 18 goals and 47 points in 26 games in the USHL playing for USNTDP Juniors. During the U18 World Junior Championships, Hagens and the United States fell to Canada in the gold medal game. The 17-year-old tallied nine goals and 22 points in seven games. He was awarded the best forward and most valuable player of the tournament despite bringing home silver as opposed to gold.

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