Bruins stun NHL by landing James Hagens in draft over rivals Islanders, Flyers

Everyone expected the New York Islanders to pull off a trade and pick James Hagens.

They already had Matthew Schaefer No. 1 overall.

And after the Noah Dobson trade netted them a couple picks to work with on Friday night, the Islanders were positioned to move up and get the Long Island native.

But somehow, they didn’t get a deal done. Maybe the rumors were wrong. Maybe the teams in the top-five didn’t like the offers enough.

And then at No. 6, the Flyers passed, too.

The end result is all that matters for the Boston Bruins: Hagens is a Bruin.

Hagens, an 18-year old center, should be a star.

At one point, he was viewed as the No. 1 pick, but he fell barely out of that consideration.

Some draft boards still listed him as the second-best prospect, and the Bruins got him No. 7.

He was a star for the United States at the U18 Worlds, and then again at World Juniors.

He also was great this past winter as a freshman at Boston College.

Now, he gets to stay in Boston, from the Eagles to the Bruins.

It’s a huge, huge draft night win for Boston.

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