By Warren Kozireski —
Hauppauge’s James Hagens and Ithaca’s Will Moore lead a group of New York State natives atop the NHL Central Scouting Players to Watch list for the 2025 Entry Draft.
Both are listed as “A” players meaning they are projected to be selected in the first round.
Hagens, thought by some to be the best player and possibly the first overall selection next year, is in his freshman campaign with Boston College. The 5’10”, 178 lb. forward led the team with nine assists and tied for first with ten points through the first six games this season.
Last season Hagens led USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program Under-18 team with 63 assists, 102 points and 1.76 points-per game in 58 games.
Moore stands 6’2” and 175 lb. and is playing in his second season with the U.S. National Team Development Program. In a combined 19 games against college programs and in the USHL, he had four goals with 12 points after registering 68 points in 85 games a season ago.
Moore is committed to Boston College in 2025.
East Greenbush’s and Moore’s teammate Jack Murtagh is slotted as a “B” draft prospect indicating a projected second or third round selection. The 6’0”, 200 lb. left wing is committed to Boston University in 2025 after completing his second season with the USNTDP.
He spent two seasons with the Bishop Kearney Selects prep program in Rochester prior to heading to Plymouth, Michigan. This season he had 11 points in eight games.
Tonawanda’s Matthew Lansing is listed as a “C” draft prospect indicating a projected fourth or fifth round selection. The 6’0”, 188 lb. center spent four seasons with the Buffalo Jr. Sabres program with his final year split between there and Waterloo in the USHL. This season with Waterloo and the USNTDP he had four points over the first 12 games.
Fellow East Greenbush native Donato Bracco is tagged a “W” indicating a sixth or seventh round projection. Also with the U.S. National Team Development Program, the 5’10”, 166 lb. left shot defenseman had 11 points through the first 22 games this season and is committed to Harvard next fall.
Locust Valley’s Matthew Grimes is also a “W.” A 6’0”, 184 lb. left shot defenseman with Sioux Falls in the USHL, the University of Minnesota commit had one assists through the first 12 games this season.
Brooklyn’s Jesse Orlowsky is listed as a “W.” A 6’2, 213 lb. center with Waterloo in the USHL and Harvard-bound, he had four assists in the first 13 games for the Black Hawks.
John (Jack) Parsons, passed over in last year’s draft, is slotted with a “W.” The former USNTDP goaltender is committed to Providence but is with Chicago in the USHL this season where the Ithaca native sported a 3.62 goals against average and a .904 save percentage in ten games.
Rochester’s Ethan Phillips is a “W” as the Bishop Kearney Selects 6’2”, 205 lb. goaltender had a 2.39 GAA and .923 save percentage in 11 games with two shutouts. He is committed to Providence College in 2026.
And Northwood Prep and Camillus’ William Schneid comes with a “W” tag. The 6’0”, 174 lb. left wing and former West Genesee HS player already has 15 goals and 32 points in 20 games this season.
Unofficially the draft is reported to be held in Los Angeles in late June.
