Michael Hage is turning heads in college hockey, putting up impressive numbers with 10 goals and 28 points in just 20 games at Michigan. The Montreal Canadiens’ 2024 first-round pick (21st overall) has fans buzzing about his potential to become the team’s second-line center behind Nick Suzuki.
But not everyone’s convinced he’s ready for the big show.
Elite Prospects scout Hadi Kalakeche is pumping the brakes on the hype train. He’s worried about some holes in Hage’s game that could make his NHL transition pretty rough.
“I keep seeing Habs fans all but shooing in Michael Hage as a top-six option,” Kalakeche wrote on social media. “Hage will likely be frustrating to watch in his first steps in the NHL, for the same reasons that make Kirby Dach frustrating at times. Contact, inside positioning, forechecking consistency.”
In other words, Hage might need to toughen up his game before he’s ready for the NHL grind.
But let’s remember – he’s only 19.
Most players aren’t perfect when they first hit the big leagues. If Hage was already a complete player, he wouldn’t have been available at 21st overall in the draft.
Look at Cole Caufield. It took him several years to develop into the 200-foot player he is today, but his offensive skills still made him valuable while he figured out the rest of his game.
Kalakeche suggests the Canadiens would be better off making a trade this summer rather than rushing Hage into a key role. Throwing a young prospect into deep water too soon rarely works out well for anyone.
The talent’s clearly there. The question is whether the Habs will give him the time he needs to develop.
