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PLYMOUTH, Mich. - Four National Team Development Program alums were selected in the first round of the 2025 NHL Draft Friday evening at The Peacock Theater in Los Angeles.
The first NTDP representative taken was forward James Hagens (Hauppauge, N.Y. / Boston College), selected seventh overall by the Boston Bruins. With the pick, Hagens became the 100th NTDP player selected in the first round of the NHL Draft.
In his U18 season at the NTDP in 2023-24, Hagens tallied 102 points to go along with his 85 he notched the year previous to place him fifth overall for most career points in NTDP history. He also broke the IIHF Under-18 Men’s World Championship scoring record with 22 points and was named tournament MVP in a silver-medal performance. In his U17 season, Hagens helped lead the U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team to a gold medal at the 2023 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship. Hagens also helped the U.S. National Junior Team to a gold medal at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
A pair of NTDP alums went back-to-back as Logan Hensler (Woodbury, Minn. / University of Wisconsin) and Will Horcoff (Birmingham, Mich. / University of Michigan) were taken 23rd and 24th, respectively. Selected by the Ottawa Senators, Hensler took home a silver medal at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship and took home gold at the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship. He racked up 60 points during his two years with the NTDP, dishing out 51 assists with nine goals. Horcoff, taken by the Pittsburgh Penguins, helped Team USA to a bronze at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship with a pair of goals and assists.
Rounding out the first round was Cullen Potter (Minneapolis, Minn. / Arizona State University) as the forward was selected 32nd overall by the Calgary Flames. During his U17 season in 2023-24, Potter netted 17 goals with 29 assists. Potter helped the 2025 U.S. Under-18 Men's National Team earn bronze as he tallied four goals and four assists at the 2025 IIHF Under-18 Men's World Championship.
The NTDP has 14 additional players, and seven alumni, ranked by NHL Central Scouting who will be looking to hear their names called tomorrow.
Day 2 of the 2025 NHL Draft, which includes Rounds 2-7, begins tomorrow morning at 12:00 p.m. ET. The draft will broadcast live on NHL Network and on ESPN+. For all your 2025 NHL Draft NTDP coverage, click here to visit our live tracker.