Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Yeah, I noticed that as well. It's a very good early sign on Hage's ability. Looks like a grade A or fringe blue chip at this stage.
Prospect Info: [2024 - 21st] Michael Hage, Chicago Steel (USHL), Committed to U of Michigan
- Thread starter LastWordArmy
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Yeah, I noticed that as well. It's a very good early sign on Hage's ability. Looks like a grade A or fringe blue chip at this stage.
Even when he got drafted, my main question were "where's the catch?" and "How come this guys was available at 21?"
He might end up as a W/C hybrid more than pure C, but that doesn't change the fact there's a top line ceiling with him. Someone reported higher in the thread the good words of his coach about how he's improving constantly in his two-way play. That's stuff that you really love to read because the tools are already here. He just needs to get more lower-body strength which will just come with (H)age
Pompeius Magnus
Registered User
We got real lucky he lost most of his D-1 season to injuries, that probably did the trick.
Is there any reporting on either of these guys committing to the NCAA next year, let alone committing to Michigan or this just hopeful thinking?
Leto
Registered User
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Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Didn't he miss some time with his father passing away? Played 54 USHL games last year (not sure how much time he loss). 33 goals with 75 pts and backed it up with 2 goals and 2 assists in 2 playoff games.
What he looks like to me is everything we want Dach to be today. The noticeable difference is he has better goal scoring ability. Probably more confidence in his shot. I see a lot of players pass happy when their shot is meh.
Great situation to be in with Kapanen, Beck, and Hage. Not all 3 will be full time centers. If they are, Dach moves to wing. If not, one of those prospects moves to wing. That doesn't even consider that Demidov may get a crack at center. Hage can very well be a power forward RW. For now, I think we continue thinking he is a center.
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Thanks for this!
Honestly the NCAA seems to be better for development than the CHL at this point , I think both guys would benefit.
Saundies
Fly On The Wall
As someone who had a meh shot growing up this is very true. You feel like you're wasting a good opportunity if you're the one shooting (especially if you're playing on PP with guys like Laine/Caufield or on a line with Newhook etc).
The thing is, Dach's shot isn't bad, he just has to use it more. Hage like you said has no problem doing it. Net drive and believing in your ability to score is key too, so early confidence when he makes the jump will also be key.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Still played 54 USHL games with impressive stats (33 goals and 75 points). It's probably a combo of USHL evaluation and missing a little time. I doubt he would have went much earlier if he played a full season. Sometimes scouts see the USHL production and how that reduces when they reach NCAA. In Hage's case, it's clearly not the case but that's hindsight evaluation
Pompeius Magnus
Registered User
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
NCAA has more mature teenagers (not many 16/17 year olds) when the CHL does. You see a lot of talent in the CHL putting up unreal numbers but taking advantage of younger players (especially on D).
NCAA also has more age 20+ players which makes it a bit more of a physical league.
CHL needs to change things. Allow teams to have more players from age 20-23 (maybe 3-6 players) and that will reduce the amount of 16/17 year olds. The 16/17 year olds that crack rosters will be the better players. Change the league so the age range is mostly 18/19 year olds with some 20-23 year olds mixed in. Challenges to this is some will want to play university hockey and then some NHL teams will want to have their talent play AHL (age 20+)
His D-1 season, not his draft season
Well then, isn't that less of a factor? The draft season holds more value. I think we were able to get him at 20 because it was USHL production and some scouts were wondering how that would translate in the NCAA.
Demidov slipping to us at 5 was unreal luck IMO. But the Habs trading down to 20th and Hage still there is also some unreal luck. That last 1st round could not have gone any better for us
Pompeius Magnus
Registered User
It might have put just enough doubt in the minds of the teams picking in front of us. You add that to other pure scouting based factors and it might have made the difference we needed.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Yeah, I was one who had a very good shot when I played but it was more like Suzuki's style (but at our level..haha). Suzuki's has a great shot and can snipe but he's smart to know when to shoot and when to pass. Slaf needs to learn this part as well.
I do agree. Dach needs to shoot more. His shot is not that bad but not sure if he has the accuracy. Needs a little more confidence in it and you get that by being a rink rat working on it over and over.
One of the first things I do when evaluating prospects (to avoid being to gullible) is to nit pick the flaws. It's difficult to find with Hags at this point in time.
JeffreyLFC
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- Sep 29, 2017
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I think he definitely need another year of development in the NCAA.
He has the offensive talent to become a pro but he needs to get stronger and play a bit better defensively. I also think that Michigan will be better next season which should help him a bit more.
Next season we add Demidov and in 2026 we add Hage.
He has the offensive talent to become a pro but he needs to get stronger and play a bit better defensively. I also think that Michigan will be better next season which should help him a bit more.
Next season we add Demidov and in 2026 we add Hage.
I kind of prefer that he carries the offence rather than play with 2 great players. It shows that he’s not just riding on someone else’s coattails.
WeThreeKings
Demidov is a HAB
He absolutely needs another year in the NCAA. He's taking too many big hits at that level.
Pompeius Magnus
Registered User
I doubt there's any real considerations about turning him pro so quickly. Michigan is going to have a much better team for his sophomore season and he still needs to work on some stuff, it's the perfect place for him to develop next year.
Agreed.
May be ready for NHL the following season, but if not no big deal he can play in the AHL.
Ultimately how fast they bring him to the NHL may depend on how the draft falls this year and how Dach progresses this year and next. Hopefully things continue going well and they have no need to try and accelerate Hage’s development
FrankMTL
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Grate n Colorful Oz
Pure Laine Hutson
Redux91
I do Three bullets.
And for some perspective too
- Hage is 18 until April, Drafted 21st overall 2024
- Hagen's been 18 since november alrdy, possible 1st overall 2025
- Eiserman 20th overall 2024 (18 til Aug)
- Sacha Boisvert 18th Overall 2024 (18 til March)
- Trevor Connelly 19th Overall 2024 (18 til Feb)
FrankMTL
Registered User
- Jan 6, 2005
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Great stuff.
Yeah, I like to compare the 4 players that were drafted between 18-21 in the last draft as they were all similarly ranked and are all rookies in the NCAA this year.
18th- Boisvert (Chicago)
19th- Connolly (Vegas)
20th- Eiserman (NYI)
21st- Hage (MTL)
They're all playing fairly well and all have been producing with Hage producing the best of the 4 so far.
Hagens is also slightly sheltered by having Perreault and Leonard as team mates, where as Hage has to carry the load for Michigan.
What he’s doing is downright impressive.
Pompeius Magnus
Registered User
Definitely an excellent freshman season, better than I was expecting even in my most optimistic prevision for the kid. Very solid pick in retrospect.
Ezpz
No mad pls
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Yeah I didn't expect him to be the highest scoring freshman over the presumptive #1 overall pick and leading all u19 scoring.
