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

[Rapala]

Pacioretty went straight to the AHL from his draft year and returned there despite a few call-ups with Montreal. We're talking about one of the best goal-scorers in the NHL during his years passed in Montreal. It wouldn't hurt a strong NCAA player to play at a slightly higher level in the AHL before moving up to the NHL.

Every player has a different path to the NHL, if they are ever to make it there. trying to make a cookie cutter approach to development will ruin some potential careers, IMO.

Still, I don't think there will be anything wrong with seeing Hage start in Montreal after two years in the NCAA, let's say, only to be sent to the AHL after 20 games or so in order to work on anything that might need polishing from what we'd seen of him in those 20 games at the NHL level.

I guess what I'm saying is I don't believe that sending Hage to the AHL next season will advance him any quicker to the NHL than sending him back to college. The players at his level don't seem to be struggling at all making the jump after 2 seasons of college hockey. Unless perhaps you have a specific developmental reason for doing so the coaching in the NCAA has proven to be more than adequate when promoting these players.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

Mesar looks nothing like Owen Beck in terms of NHL readiness never mid the players around him who we passed up on. I'm not sure how long it may take him to finally take that next step in Pro hockey but his trajectory is definitely on a different path. Kind of Sean Farrell(ish) at this point. Note Farrell is just now picking it up.

Historically offensive players that aren’t putting up near PPG numbers in the AHL by their 21yr old season don’t pan out. Farrell’s recent hot streak is more of an outlier than any real indication he’s turned a corner. I don’t place any value on him at this stage.

It’s pretty safe to say Mesar will bust, based on historic comparisons.

 

[Scriptor]

I guess what I'm saying is I don't believe that sending Hage to the AHL next season will advance him any quicker to the NHL than sending him back to college. The players at his level don't seem to be struggling at all making the jump after 2 seasons of college hockey. Unless perhaps you have a specific developmental reason for doing so the coaching in the NCAA has proven to be more than adequate when promoting these players.

I agree that sending him back to the NCAA is not necessarily a bad idea, but I am worried that he is one of the better players on a weak team and might end up developing bad habits as he tries to do to much on his own.

 

[HuGo Burner Acc]

I agree that sending him back to the NCAA is not necessarily a bad idea, but I am worried that he is one of the better players on a weak team and might end up developing bad habits as he tries to do to much on his own.

That may be true. Look at Nikita scherbak. Maybe he develops better habits if he went straight to Everett instead of Saskatoon. As for Hage, I'm done either way. As rating in the NCAA has its benefits for a young kid. He has more time to work on the physical side of things and will be playing top line minutes at a level he can dominate in. Whereas with Laval, he's probably looking at middle six duties and PP2 time if he's lucky. The one NCAA player I think really has outlived the NCAA after this year is Fowler. He should start in Laval next season imo

 

[HuGort]

I guess what I'm saying is I don't believe that sending Hage to the AHL next season will advance him any quicker to the NHL than sending him back to college. The players at his level don't seem to be struggling at all making the jump after 2 seasons of college hockey. Unless perhaps you have a specific developmental reason for doing so the coaching in the NCAA has proven to be more than adequate when promoting these players.

Hage still have some dips in his game to work out. Sending him to Laval next year is mistake. No need to rush him.

 

[Scriptor]

I still think that a second year in the NCAA is good. If he plays in Montreal to start the season the following year -- and still needs to work out kinks in his game -- you can then send him down to Laval to round out his game under supervision of the Habs' coaching staff, including the skills coaches.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I still think that a second year in the NCAA is good. If he plays in Montreal to start the season the following year -- and still needs to work out kinks in his game -- you can then send him down to Laval to round out his game under supervision of the Habs' coaching staff, including the skills coaches.

He needs a 2nd NCAA year, he's slowed down a bit, there's more bulk he needs to put on his frame and you'd want to see him be legitimately dominant every night before moving over. Caufield and his 2nd NCAA was great for him. Look at how much Will Smith is struggling and he's a tier higher a prospect than Hage.

 

[Nico Cauzuki]

Hage needs another year in college hes a prospect im high on but no need to rush him

 

[Scriptor]

Rushing Hage should not be considered as an option, IMO.

I see Hage as the cheap ELC contract that gets tacked on to add youthful talent when the team is already in the playoff picture three years down the line and wants to compete at an even higher level to go further into the postseason.

Hage's addition to the lineup, provided that Hughes can find another solution at 2C in the meantime, will hopefully be the addition of talent and drive that blows wide open a window for a Cup win.

I would like to see a last-minute addition to the lineup as we near the playoffs the way Claude Lemieux came onto the scene in 1986, to end up with 10 Gs and 6 assists in 20 games on the way to a Cup win..

 

[Benstheman]

Yeah Hage not next season but 2026-2027. Good young cheap talent to add to a more mature core.

I would also try to get an established 2C so Hage comes in as a 3rd line center or top 6 winger without pressure.

 

[electron58]

Not sure if this got posted already but it just shows Hage's appreciation for what he has, and he doesn't take anything for granted.

Hage's path to Canadiens goes through Michigan

Michigan's Michael Hage reflects on what makes the Wolverines program so special, the elation of being drafted by the Montreal Canadiens, and why it was so meaningful to be picked by the same team he grew up rooting for.

www.nbcsports.com

 

[26Mats]

Hage needs another year in college hes a prospect im high on but no need to rush him

Two years worked well for Hutson and Caufield.

 

[Rapala]

That may be true. Look at Nikita scherbak. Maybe he develops better habits if he went straight to Everett instead of Saskatoon. As for Hage, I'm done either way. As rating in the NCAA has its benefits for a young kid. He has more time to work on the physical side of things and will be playing top line minutes at a level he can dominate in. Whereas with Laval, he's probably looking at middle six duties and PP2 time if he's lucky. The one NCAA player I think really has outlived the NCAA after this year is Fowler. He should start in Laval next season imo

Good point.
The difference in wear and tear on a young man's body becomes significant after two or three seasons.
I said it before if I had a kid ready to graduate Midget Hockey I'm steering him to the NCAA for a number of reasons Education not withstanding.

 

[Rafafouille]

He needs a 2nd NCAA year, he's slowed down a bit, there's more bulk he needs to put on his frame and you'd want to see him be legitimately dominant every night before moving over. Caufield and his 2nd NCAA was great for him. Look at how much Will Smith is struggling and he's a tier higher a prospect than Hage.

He's on pace for 38 points averaging less than 15 minutes a night and on the second PP. You stay struggling, I say that's a solid rookie season for a teenager.

 

[WeThreeKings]

He's on pace for 38 points averaging less than 15 minutes a night and on the second PP. You stay struggling, I say that's a solid rookie season for a teenager.

It's not bad but he really struggled out of the gate and again, he's a higher tier of prospect than Hage.. a 2nd year for Hage is a requirement at this point and there's nothing from the player or the team that suggests he would finish his NCAA career just one year into it.

 

[DAChampion]

It's not bad but he really struggled out of the gate and again, he's a higher tier of prospect than Hage.. a 2nd year for Hage is a requirement at this point and there's nothing from the player or the team that suggests he would finish his NCAA career just one year into it.

I'm glad this organization has stopped rushing prospects.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I'm glad this organization has stopped rushing prospects.

When did we stop?

With Slaf? Barron? Roy? Struble? Xhekaj? Kapanen?

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

I see zero scenario where Hage doesn't go back to Michigan for his sophomore season. He's in the perfect spot to develop and he still has some room to grow, plus he might actually be on team canada's radar this time. Let him turn pro after that season ends and play the last few weeks with Laval a la Caufield. That's the ideal route for him.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

It's not bad but he really struggled out of the gate and again, he's a higher tier of prospect than Hage.. a 2nd year for Hage is a requirement at this point and there's nothing from the player or the team that suggests he would finish his NCAA career just one year into it.

Yeah, I don’t get the idea that he shouldn’t go back to Michigan. He’s having a similar rookie season to Caufield, while great, let’s not rush him. Let him play another season and at that point he should be ready to join the Habs full time for 26-27.

 

[DAChampion]

When did we stop?

With Slaf? Barron? Roy? Struble? Xhekaj? Kapanen?

Slaf is the last rushed prospect.

 

[Scriptor]

When did we stop?

With Slaf? Barron? Roy? Struble? Xhekaj? Kapanen?

Yes with Roy and Kapanen -- and Xhekaj, plus Barron as well. Giving a prospect exposure to the NHL and returning them to the AHL for more seasoning is not rushing a player.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Yes with Roy and Kapanen -- and Xhekaj, plus Barron as well. Giving a prospect exposure to the NHL and returning them to the AHL for more seasoning is not rushing a player.

Barron clearly was not ready to play 50 games in the NHL last year

Roy and Struble both got called up after 20 games of success in their first AHL seasons

Xhekaj is a weird case because he was physically ready but could have learned a ton in the AHL

Kapanen… I think it was clear he wasn’t ready either

 

[Victoire HuGo]

When did we stop?

With Slaf? Barron? Roy? Struble? Xhekaj? Kapanen?

Kapanen was rushed?

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

When did we stop?

With Slaf? Barron? Roy? Struble? Xhekaj? Kapanen?

Slaf is the only one of the bunch I'd say was actually rushed. Even then, he was a 1st OV and played pro hockey in Europe, so you could argue they pretty much had to start him in the NHL.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

Slaf is the only one of the bunch I'd say was actually rushed. Even then, he was a 1st OV and played pro hockey in Europe, so you could argue they pretty much had to start him in the NHL.

I think Xhekaj was undoubtedly rushed. He went straight from OHL to NHL and was relied on as our only physical presence. That was way too much to ask for from an undrafted kid.

We watched Barron suck for 50 games in the NHL last year when he was still AHL eligible.

Struble played 13 games in the AHL and got called up for the rest of the season and has since regressed.

Most of our “rushing” is a result of our terrible roster where we’ve had 3-5 rookies on defense every year. A team that is deeper and better doesn’t call up 4 rookies to play defense for the NHL team.