Prospect Info: [2024 - 21st] Michael Hage, Chicago Steel (USHL), Committed to U of Michigan

[FrankMTL]

Hagens doesn't play with Perreault and Leonard though. Some plug centres that line.

No I know, I never said he was, but he's still getting great minutes.

I just made a reference to last year with the three super rookies playing together and getting a ton of playing time.

 

[SlafySZN]

Not only the ice time, but your getting the best spot on the PP, your the one who posses the puck

Hage plays on the 2nd line with PP1 time. Not playing with very good offensive players or lately he played with a 17 years old who barely had 10 NCAA games of experience.

Not really sure we call that all the best offensive situations but oh well, he’s doing great any way we look at it.

 

[Scriptor]

Hage is doing well. His skating is impressive. He's a very dynamic player that likes to attack Center- ice.

He tries to create a whole bunch, but a lot of plays actually abort, which seems to have few consequences in the NCAA. However, aborted plays, in the NHL, often lead to counter attacks and goals scored against us.

It's nice to see the potential in Hage, but I would let him mature one more year in the NCAA and one in Laval under Vincent, before calling him up to Montreal, if he does well at training camp and shows he is ready for the next step in his career.

Still three years away, IMO, maybe four or five years before he is a real impact player with the Habs.

Probably has more upside on the wing than at C.

I see another potential Pacioretty in terms of offense, only with slightly more physical play.

Could potentially be a 1st line winger, but, with Demidov on RW already in the system, Hage would either need to play on his offside as well, or play wing on the eventual 2nd line.

Still wondering who will be 2C by the time Montreal is ready to chart a long journey in the playoffs?

 

[Whalers Fan]

Hage is the kind of player we would have been hyping up way more if we didn't have so many other young stars and elite prospects. This guy is doing better than Caufield and it's not like he has some powerhouse team around him.

You need to take another look at Caufield's NCAA record. He had an outstanding freshman season - - 19G 17A, Big Ten freshman of the year, Big Ten goal scoring leader, etc. He followed that up with the Hobey Baker Award the next season.

Hage is having a great freshman season, too, but Caufield's was exceptional.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Contrast to Galchenyuk. I'm not sure if he had that IQ and maturity. But I do know ow that his lack of defensive play and all around game was a serious problem. Begs the question if that was the case years after the draft, that it must have been the case when he was drafted. So why in the world did we keep him up and let him play under a coach who stated clearly that it wasn't his job to develop players, instead of sending him back to juniors and work on that defensive game.

Maybe Galchenyuk was never going to be a top 6C , but Bergevin made sure he wouldn't have a chance due to his incompetence at handling him.

Amen. Can't be said enough. Thank God we don't have to deal with that anymore.

Hahahah ok

Suweeet goal.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

No I know, I never said he was, but he's still getting great minutes.

I just made a reference to last year with the three super rookies playing together and getting a ton of playing time.

He did start the season centring the line but was moved off it. I just mean he is doing pretty well on the 2nd line with lesser linemates.

 

[badfish]

An interesting thing for me about Hage is he is 3 goals behind Eiserman. I thought the gap between the two on goals would be much higher. Hage has a playmaking dimension that Eiserman doesn't have either.

 

[FrankMTL]

You need to take another look at Caufield's NCAA record. He had an outstanding freshman season - - 19G 17A, Big Ten freshman of the year, Big Ten goal scoring leader, etc. He followed that up with the Hobey Baker Award the next season.

Hage is having a great freshman season, too, but Caufield's was exceptional.

I mean, it's tough to say who's freshman year was better. Caufield did lead his team in scoring which in itself is impressive....But Hage is 2nd on his team and could be 1st by the time the season is done.

Caufield - 36 GP- 19 G, 17 A- 36 Points

Hage (Currently)- 29 GP- 13 G, 19 A- 32 Points

Hage is currently second in freshman scoring in the whole NCAA behind a 20 year old (Trevor Hoskin) playing for Niagara who plays in the AHA which is the weakest NCAA division

 

[Scriptor]

Right now, Hage doesn't come with the skating and size concerns we had for Caufield. He's also just as dynamic as Caufield was in the NCAA and definitely like to cut into center ice.

Good things for Hage, really.

Funny thing is I thought Caufield was more dominant, goal-wise, than 19 goals in 36 games.

How is 19 goals in 36 games one of the best snipers of all time?

 

[Le Tricolore]

Right now, Hage doesn't come with the skating and size concerns we had for Caufield. He's also just as dynamic as Caufield was in the NCAA and definitely like to cut into center ice.

Good things for Hage, really.

Funny thing is I thought Caufield was more dominant, goal-wise, than 19 goals in 36 games.

How is 19 goals in 36 games one of the best snipers of all time?

That was his freshman year. He had 30 in 31 games (and 22 assists) the next season.

 

[Gally11]

Hage has one more year of bulking in NCAA for sure and he’ll have better cast around him if rumours are true next year, so I’d love him to have at least one more year there. I wouldn’t say Laval is guaranteed following year however the way he’s been progressing but time will tell

 

[montreal]

I mean, it's tough to say who's freshman year was better. Caufield did lead his team in scoring which in itself is impressive....But Hage is 2nd on his team and could be 1st by the time the season is done.

Caufield - 36 GP- 19 G, 17 A- 36 Points

Hage (Currently)- 29 GP- 13 G, 19 A- 32 Points

Hage is currently second in freshman scoring in the whole NCAA behind a 20 year old (Trevor Hoskin) playing for Niagara who plays in the AHA which is the weakest NCAA division

Hage is trending to have the better Freshman year then Caufield but we'll see how it ends as Michigan has a couple more and then the Big 10 playoffs and for now they are in the NCAA tournament but can't lose too many games from here on out.

 

[KevSkillz4]

This guy is more than legit. To me, he is a sure shot of being a top 6 C in NHL. Maybe more if he can put all together.

 

[KevSkillz4]

Sweet hands on this kid. He really reminds me of Eichel more and more with his reach and puck handling.

I don't think he will reach the level of Eichel, but, man... he is very good. Top 6 player? I can't see why he can't. Maybe more if he put all together.

 

[Habssince89]

He's got to focus on getting stronger, more explosive and being able to control his deceleration along with acceleration. If he can do that, he will generate breaks going through defenders and finding gaps even if he's not a guy who can beat defenders on top speed alone. I love his hands and I think it's just a matter of being able to generate power through defenders that will give him his rush chances that he'll build his career on.

 

[26Mats]

Hagens doesn't play with Perreault and Leonard though. Some plug centres that line.

Going to be real interesting to see how we do coming out of the break and where we draft. Hagens could be a real possibility.

 

[Scriptor]

That was his freshman year. He had 30 in 31 games (and 22 assists) the next season.

Thanks, that sounds more like what I remembered as impressive (boy am I lazy not to look). The key will be seeing what step Hage takes next year. If he scores 20+ goals and has more than a PPG, he'll be trending in the right direction.

I actually see Hage as a Pacioretty type of player that can score on the fly (swift skater with a good shot), but with less aversion to traffic.

This guy is more than legit. To me, he is a sure shot of being a top 6 C in NHL. Maybe more if he can put all together.

Yet some believe he has a legitimate shot at being a 1st line player, but as a winger and the upside to perhaps be a 2nd line C, although it is the position of C, at the NHL level that is in doubt, as it often is with prospects.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

This guy is more than legit. To me, he is a sure shot of being a top 6 C in NHL. Maybe more if he can put all together.

Kev. I've got to say.

I'm impressed by your unusual restraint

 

[FrankMTL]

Hage is trending to have the better Freshman year then Caufield but we'll see how it ends as Michigan has a couple more and then the Big 10 playoffs and for now they are in the NCAA tournament but can't lose too many games from here on out.

I know the NCAA is your bread and butter and you have a lot of years experience watching prospects in college hockey. Where do you see Hage's potential?

 

[le_sean]

He’s looking to be a nice prospect but I’ll temper my expectations until he’s playing in the NHL. Alex Newhook also had a great freshman year and decent short stint in the AHL. But he can’t process the game at all at this level.

 

[FrankMTL]

He’s looking to be a nice prospect but I’ll temper my expectations until he’s playing in the NHL. Alex Newhook also had a great freshman year and decent short stint in the AHL. But he can’t process the game at all at this level.

Yeah there's obviously no guarantee, and that's with any prospect no matter how good they're doing at a lower level. I'd obviously rather they perform great at the lower levels.

I think Newhook is a decent player. He may not have lived up to "the hype" but he's an NHLer who should produce 20 goals a year on a 3rd line eventually and that's fine for a 16th overall pick.

 

[le_sean]

Yeah there's obviously no guarantee, and that's with any prospect no matter how good they're doing at a lower level. I'd obviously rather they perform great at the lower levels.

I think Newhook is a decent player. He may not have lived up to "the hype" but he's an NHLer who should produce 20 goals a year on a 3rd line eventually and that's fine for a 16th overall pick.

I think 20 goals on the 3rd line is just not feasible with Newhook. He can’t even get that amount being force fed icetime on the 2nd line. I doubt he’s going to do it with less opportunity.

 

[FrankMTL]

I think 20 goals on the 3rd line is just not feasible with Newhook. He can’t even get that amount being force fed icetime on the 2nd line. I doubt he’s going to do it with less opportunity.

I think he plays better with less ice time to be honest...lol...Especially if he's not playing against the opposing teams best players, but I guess we will see.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Why is every thread turning into a discussion about Alex Newhook.

Did I wake up in some bizarro world today

 

[le_sean]

Why is every thread turning into a discussion about Alex Newhook.

Did I wake up in some bizarro world today

Mid 1st rounder from a 2nd tier league, great skating centre who played really well as an NCAA freshman, showing that he is a possible steal very early. It makes sense.