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

[Team_Spirit]

Maybe I'm just traumatized with all the Habs injuries over the years but that wide stance makes me fear for his knees.

You are traumatized.

 

[Sam I Am]

Team Canada junior would be crazy to not invite this kid to their camp, he is already better than Yager and a bunch of guys pencilled on the team..

Yager, Barkey, Beaudoin, Nadeau, Cataford, Luchanko, Heidt, Sennecke are all WJC invitees for Canada whom Hage has arguably surpassed.

Unfortunately, a good number of them are 19 year olds who have an inside track by virtue of their age.

 

[SlafySZN]

He’s like the least talked about high end prospect discussed on the main board, and I love it. Go under the radar son and keep doing what you do best.

We’ll love this kid a lot.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

You'll have to ask someone who has seen him.

For an older fan such as me, Perreault is still one of the best. The admiral has also seen him and understands the comparison.

I have seen all the great skaters of their respective times since the mid 1950's: Hull, Keon, Cournoyer, Orr, Perreault, Niedermayer, Gartner, Fedorov, Bure, etc. The best skater I ever saw was Coffey. I never thought I would live to see a better skater than him. Then I saw McDavid skate. And it's not even close. All I can say boys and girls is: if there's ever a better skater than McDavid, let's all hope and pray that he plays for the Canadiens.

 

[Redux91]

If he doesn't make Team Canada, I hope they lose every game again. Tired of this old boys club nonsense. Losers.

1000% agreed btw

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Yager, Barkey, Beaudoin, Nadeau, Cataford, Luchanko, Heidt, Sennecke are all WJC invitees for Canada whom Hage has arguably surpassed.

Unfortunately, a good number of them are 19 year olds who have an inside track by virtue of their age.

We don't need the validation of Hockey Canada to understand the potential of Hage. We have our own eyes.

In any event, there's always next year when Hage should be able to dominate against players of his own age group, if he is available.

A snub by the geniuses who run Hockey Canada is hardly the mark of Cain against a player's potential. Just think of the powerhouse team that these fools assembled for the last WJC.

 

[crosbyshow]

I have seen all the great skaters of their respective times since the mid 1950's: Hull, Keon, Cournoyer, Orr, Perreault, Niedermayer, Gartner, Fedorov, Bure, etc. The best skater I ever saw was Coffey. I never thought I would live to see a better skater than him. Then I saw McDavid skate. And it's not even close. All I can say boys and girls is: if there's ever a better skater than McDavid, let's all hope and pray that he plays for the Canadiens.

Coffey's skating is by far the most gracious that I have ever seen.

When turning around his own net and then moving toward the blue line I swear that I have seen Coffey sometinmes pusching with the same legs twice in a row...

Hard for me to explain this in English but..

Coffey à l'occasion faisait 2 enjambées de suite avec la même jambe !!

 

[JianYang]

Coffey's skating is by far the most gracious that I have ever seen.

When turning around his own net and then moving toward the blue line I swear that I have seen Coffey sometinmes puching with the same legs twice in a row...

Hard for me to explain this in English but..

Coffey à l'occasion faisait 2 enjambées de suite avec la même jambe !!

Coffey looked like he was skating on clouds. He also wore skates that were too small for his feet...

Not many guys had that level of effortless skating, but niedermayer did remind me of it somewhat.

 

[Sam I Am]

We don't need the validation of Hockey Canada to understand the potential of Hage. We have our own eyes.

In any event, there's always next year when Hage should be able to dominate against players of his own age group, if he is available.

A snub by the geniuses who run Hockey Canada is hardly the mark of Cain against a player's potential. Just think of the powerhouse team that these fools assembled for the last WJC.

All true but I'd nonetheless get a kick out of watching him in the WJC playing with and against the best of his peer group.

 

[gusfring]

Yager, Barkey, Beaudoin, Nadeau, Cataford, Luchanko, Heidt, Sennecke are all WJC invitees for Canada whom Hage has arguably surpassed.

Unfortunately, a good number of them are 19 year olds who have an inside track by virtue of their age.

He passed Sennecke? When?

 

[JC Superstar]

We don't need the validation of Hockey Canada to understand the potential of Hage. We have our own eyes.

In any event, there's always next year when Hage should be able to dominate against players of his own age group, if he is available.

A snub by the geniuses who run Hockey Canada is hardly the mark of Cain against a player's potential. Just think of the powerhouse team that these fools assembled for the last WJC.

Wow, he's now in Mario Lemieux's class!

 

[WeThreeKings]

He passed Sennecke? When?

He said arguably, which you could argue. I wouldn't but you could say he's on a weaker NCAA team than Sennecke is on an OHL team and that the NCAA is a brand new level for Hage, the same level Sennecke played at last year. And the NCAA is the tougher league.

But ultimately Sennecke is doing nothing to dispel the fact he should have been a firm top 7 pick last year. Hage is pushing his name into the conversation as a legitimate top 10 talent of the class, and arguably better than some including Sennecke I just don't think that argument would really win right now but you could have a modicum of a debate.

 

[Egresch]

He is so good, I mean he is just 7 months older than James Hagens.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He is so good, I mean he is just 7 months older than James Hagens.

Nice! I was gonna post this one. Outside of Demidov he could be my favourite forward pick of the last 20 years. I’m sure he’d win that poll or be #2 to the other guy we got in the same draft

 

[Habs]

Coffey looked like he was skating on clouds. He also wore skates that were too small for his feet...

Not many guys had that level of effortless skating, but niedermayer did remind me of it somewhat.

Nieds did for sure, so did Nick Lidstrom and of course.. Bobby Orr, on those old awful skates with no support.. incredible. I'm always in awe of the old timers in that awful gear, who look wonderful even by today's standards.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

he probably should but i dont see Hage making TC this year but should be a lock for next year

 

[Adam Michaels]

he probably should but i dont see Hage making TC this year but should be a lock for next year

Unless you're an exceptional talent like a Macklin Celebrini, Team Canada usually ignores Canadians who go the route of the USHL/NCAA.

 

[montreal]

Unless you're an exceptional talent like a Macklin Celebrini, Team Canada usually ignores Canadians who go the route of the USHL/NCAA.

they had Matthew Wood at the summer camp, he's having a good season so he stands a very good chance of making the team. Has he been better then Hage, unlikely when you look at the teams they play for but I haven't gotten to watch Minnesota yet.

Hage just needs to keep doing what he's doing, work on getting stronger, adding mass and improving his defense. He should be a lock for next years WJC's.

 

[GlassesJacketShirt]

he probably should but i dont see Hage making TC this year but should be a lock for next year

I doubt he even gets considered for an invite this year, sadly.

I'm pretty sure he'll get invited next year, but the coaching staff selected will have influence on whether he is taken seriously.

 

[Habs]

Unless you're an exceptional talent like a Macklin Celebrini, Team Canada usually ignores Canadians who go the route of the USHL/NCAA.

they are going to be hooped when all the good players avoid the CHL next year, and THEN they magicially want them. Nothing but pathetic politics really

 

[montreal]

they are going to be hooped when all the good players avoid the CHL next year, and THEN they magicially want them. Nothing but pathetic politics really

there's already talk of some USHL teams moving to the OHL, but I would think the CHL will still be the place to be as the OHL and WHL are the best junior leagues in the world imo, I don't think that will change much with this new rule. I think it's the BCHL that's going to be in real trouble.

 

[Habs]

there's already talk of some USHL teams moving to the OHL, but I would think the CHL will still be the place to be as the OHL and WHL are the best junior leagues in the world imo, I don't think that will change much with this new rule. I think it's the BCHL that's going to be in real trouble.

I find the WHL is in a critical time, I think a LOT of kids would jump ship to the NCAA if given the chance and the league will be left with a majority of weaker players. Yes the BCHL will be 100% dead which is sad, it was there only angle for these kids

 

[red devil]

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Not unlike Demidov there’s no REAL question marks in his game. Nothing that should really be an obstacle.

We just haven’t had two prospects like that in a long time. Like maybe if Hage doesn’t bulk up that could be a problem. I feel like his balance is better now than when I noticed in his draft year highlights which is heartening.

He’s not quite the sure thing Demidov is but man kid could be a massive piece

 

[WeThreeKings]

Not unlike Demidov there’s no REAL question marks in his game. Nothing that should really be an obstacle.

We just haven’t had two prospects like that in a long time. Like maybe if Hage doesn’t bulk up that could be a problem. I feel like his balance is better now than when I noticed in his draft year highlights which is heartening.

He’s not quite the sure thing Demidov is but man kid could be a massive piece

Defensive commitment and being harder on his man, stronger on the puck.

But yeah, when he's got the puck on his stick, he's so rangy and skilled.