F Michael Hage - University of Michigan, NCAA(2024, 21st, MTL)

[WarriorofTime]

Hockey Canada always has their guys and sticks to it. He definitely won't be handed a spot on any WJC team.

In this case, I wonder if there's some pettiness regarding his choice to play for the Steel/Michigan. He was a very pick in the OHL Draft, which might suggest they didn't feel like he was upfront/considering his options, etc.

 

[kyle44]

In this case, I wonder if there's some pettiness regarding his choice to play for the Steel/Michigan. He was a very pick in the OHL Draft, which might suggest they didn't feel like he was upfront/considering his options, etc.

For me, there is no other rationale. I've watched this class of Canadian players pretty closely this year, and Hage is easily better than most of the forwards selected IMO. I think he should've been their first line centre.

 

[TLEH]

Assuming he went Top 10 in the OHL draft because he didn't tell people up front, like Warrior says. That would definitely rub people the wrong way.

 

[kyle44]

Assuming he went Top 10 in the OHL draft because he didn't tell people up front, like Warrior says. That would definitely rub people the wrong way.

He signed his tender with Chicago before the OHL draft, so I think his intentions were clear to OHL teams. Kitchener picked him knowing full well he had this commitment in place, but figured since they were successful with Rehkopf, who had signed a USHL tender the previous year but ultimately committed to Kitchener, they would also swing on Hage.

 

[robertmac43]

At this point playing for the Steel and going to UM is kind of a tried and true path for top Ontario kids. That said, I do wonder if Hage would have even more buzz if he were in the OHL right now. He's clearly a first rounder but I think he’s got a very good chance to go in the top half of the round, maybe even tail end of the lottery, the way he ended the season stronger and stronger. The offensive upside is tantalizing here.

They hype would be immense if he was playing in Kitchener with the young crop we have coming up right now (Lam, Romano, Stark, Reid). As a biased observer it would have been fun to watch as well.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

In this case, I wonder if there's some pettiness regarding his choice to play for the Steel/Michigan. He was a very pick in the OHL Draft, which might suggest they didn't feel like he was upfront/considering his options, etc.

There is a long list of Canadian players who were left off junior rosters because they chose to play college hockey in the USA. The same can be said of Americans who played in the CHL.

 

[clevelandcane]

There is a long list of Canadian players who were left off junior rosters because they chose to play college hockey in the USA. The same can be said of Americans who played in the CHL.

Seems pretty petty. I can't believe adults let a kid's choice dictate theirs. I know u r right, it just blows my mind.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

His production went up a lot in the second half of the season. First half wasn’t that good, but as was pointed out recently on a podcast I was listening to his father died last summer. It’s understandable if it took him a little while to mentally find his groove on the ice and he might’ve been having some rough days where he just wasn’t feeling it early in the season because his mind was elsewhere.

 

[STL fan in MN]

His production went up a lot in the second half of the season. First half wasn’t that good, but as was pointed out recently on a podcast I was listening to his father died last summer. It’s understandable if it took him a little while to mentally find his groove on the ice and he might’ve been having some rough days where he just wasn’t feeling it early in the season because his mind was elsewhere.

He also missed most of the season before too due to injury so probably took him a handful of games to get back into the swing of things in that sense too.

 

[Hockeyville USA]

I could see him going as high as 15 to Detroit

 

[pman25]

I want him at 17 for Washington, I don’t think he will be there. I could see maybe high as Philly?

Right shot center who was pretty hot to end the season and headed to Michigan fits the profile of a riser to me

 

[emptyNedder]

I could see him going as high as 15 to Detroit

I want him at 17 for Washington, I don’t think he will be there. I could see maybe high as Philly?

My guess is 11 or 12.
Buffalo has lots of forward talent in the pipeline, but most could end up wingers.
Philadelphia doesn't have much in their C pool.

 

[95snipes]

My guess is 11 or 12.
Buffalo has lots of forward talent in the pipeline, but most could end up wingers.
Philadelphia doesn't have much in their C pool.

I'd say it's more likely Hage is a winger in the NHL.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Yeah, I can also see him being moved off center. His offense is very perimeter and he’s more okay defensively than a player who excels there. His game is predicated around skating and puck handling. I heard a recent comparison of Jordan Kyrou. I think that’s pretty on point for what his ceiling is.

 

[LGB]

Really excellent game from Hage. He just looks like he's on a different level. Could be partly because the other team isn't very good I'm not very familiar with the USHL. Even had some nice steals. I saw a couple games from earlier in the year and was lukewarm on him, but if he was playing like this the majority of the second half he's a guy I could definitely get behind at 16.

Yeah, I can also see him being moved off center. His offense is very perimeter and he’s more okay defensively than a player who excels there. His game is predicated around skating and puck handling. I heard a recent comparison of Jordan Kyrou. I think that’s pretty on point for what his ceiling is.

I see some parallels. I do think Hage is stronger on the puck and a smarter distributor. I would definitely want to keep Hage at center. His transition skillset is awesome and I think he plays fairly well positionally.

 

[BuiumSaveUs]

If he’s a center, it’s probably more of a Schmaltz / Rakell type center where he can play it in a pinch based on what I’ve seen.

 

[95snipes]

If he’s a center, it’s probably more of a Schmaltz / Rakell type center where he can play it in a pinch based on what I’ve seen.

Agree. The Steel started the season with 1-2 center punch of Michael Hage and Charlie Major, but eventually went to a line of Thompson-Hage-Major in early January which is when Hage's production took off as that was one of the best lines in the USHL. Hage took most of the faceoffs on the line, but it was fairly fluid as to who had actual center responsibilities. Most of the time it was the F3 or first backchecker which is not an unusual situation. In this case, that was often Charlie Major. So it should be noted Hage had center responsibilities <50% of his shifts even if he was listed as the center. Combine that with an inconsistent battle level and you're probably look at a pro winger even if he has the size, skating ability, and vision to be a center.

 

[ValeriKamensky]

I could see maybe high as Philly?

If Yakemchuk/Dickinson/Catton goes before 12, Flyers should really consider this guy. Awesome player, who check all the tools

 

[emptyNedder]

Most of the time it was the F3 or first backchecker which is not an unusual situation. In this case, that was often Charlie Major. So it should be noted Hage had center responsibilities <50% of his shifts even if he was listed as the center. Combine that with an inconsistent battle level and you're probably look at a pro winger even if he has the size, skating ability, and vision to be a center.

There does seem to be an opportunity for an NHL team to evolve forward usage. With the right combination of players and system, having a center wouldn't be important.
In static-start sports there has been dramatic evolution: football from two tight-end/two running back sets to regular five receiver usage; baseball uses three infielders on one side, which was sacrilege 40 years ago (except against Ted Williams).
Basketball which is most similar to the flow of hockey has multiple hybrid "positions." Seven-foot players shoot threes as often as set-up down low.
I can't imagine that hockey is such a pure sport that every line has to have a defined center.

 

[WeThreeKings]

If Yakemchuk/Dickinson/Catton goes before 12, Flyers should really consider this guy. Awesome player, who check all the tools

First two are most likely gone, Catton could do the Benson slide so that's probably your best bet as a Flyers fan.

 

[95snipes]

There does seem to be an opportunity for an NHL team to evolve forward usage. With the right combination of players and system, having a center wouldn't be important.
In static-start sports there has been dramatic evolution: football from two tight-end/two running back sets to regular five receiver usage; baseball uses three infielders on one side, which was sacrilege 40 years ago (except against Ted Williams).
Basketball which is most similar to the flow of hockey has multiple hybrid "positions." Seven-foot players shoot threes as often as set-up down low.
I can't imagine that hockey is such a pure sport that every line has to have a defined center.

I don't disagree with that as a theory. It happens in the NHL. But you would then need to pair him with a winger capable of handling defensive responsibilities, no?

Not saying Hage can't get there - defense is mostly a function of smarts, physical ability (i.e. size and skating), and effort. Hage's got the first two down. I would argue though it's a better use of his skillset to be a more offensively oriented winger.

 

[Bye Bye Blueston]

Agree. The Steel started the season with 1-2 center punch of Michael Hage and Charlie Major, but eventually went to a line of Thompson-Hage-Major in early January which is when Hage's production took off as that was one of the best lines in the USHL. Hage took most of the faceoffs on the line, but it was fairly fluid as to who had actual center responsibilities. Most of the time it was the F3 or first backchecker which is not an unusual situation. In this case, that was often Charlie Major. So it should be noted Hage had center responsibilities <50% of his shifts even if he was listed as the center. Combine that with an inconsistent battle level and you're probably look at a pro winger even if he has the size, skating ability, and vision to be a center.

Isn’t that what people said about will smith? Pure centers at this level are so rare, if he can be hybrid who produces I’d take that at 16 even if he isn’t pure center.

 

[Gregor Samsa]

Reading the prospect section of this site, one would think that centers are unicorns, yet there are over 100 players in the NHL playing center

 

[Michael Farkas]

This isn't a player that has the qualities of a center. Even when you break down his best quality (multi-line puck carries) and you look at the process behind them and the conversion rates...it's not what you'd expect out of a legit NHL center prospect.

 

[95snipes]

Isn’t that what people said about will smith? Pure centers at this level are so rare, if he can be hybrid who produces I’d take that at 16 even if he isn’t pure center.

I'd say the difference is Smith is on another tier talent wise. It wouldn't shock me if he eventually ended up on the wing though.

I'm in no way saying Hage is not good or not worth a 1st rounder. I said in this thread since October that I was impressed with Hage. I just see him at wing in the NHL.