While the Montreal Canadiens are already hot, the franchise's top prospect is also playing for a red-hot club. Michael Hage, the 24th overall pick in the 2024 draft, has been one of the best players in college hockey.
The 20-year-old is dominating at the NCAA level with a University of Michigan team that has largely rolled through its competition with an 8-1-0 record. The Wolverines' lone loss came in a rivalry game against Ohio State, when the Buckeyes upset them with a decisive 5-2 victory this past Saturday. Michigan rebounded the next night thanks to a five-point night out of Hage, helping lift his squad over the Buckeyes 5-4 in an overtime victory on Sunday.
Valentini with the OT winner! Hage and Schock with the assists! pic.twitter.com/OgCKJoGWUB
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) November 2, 2026
Hage has led the way for the elite Wolverines, and the Mississauga native is on a record pace rarely seen in recent history. Since 2000, only one NCAA player has averaged two points per game in the late Johnny Gaudreau, who finished with 36 goals and 44 assists for 80 points in 40 games.
Hage is chasing that mark, with four goals and 16 assists for 20 points in nine games, including three four-point performances. He will look to maintain the pace when Michigan returns home to host the Penn State Nittany Lions on Friday.
Continually growing before likely jump to the NHL
It is Hage's third season with the Wolverines, and he has improved every year, recording 34 points in 33 games as a freshman and 52 points in 39 games as a sophomore. This season, he was named an assistant captain in Michigan's leadership group, giving the Habs prospect a chance to develop as a leader before making the jump to the pro level.
Hage plays alongside elite company. Jayden Perron, a 2023 third-round pick of the Carolina Hurricanes, is also on a record-setting pace, with 19 points through Michigan's nine games, just about two points per game, like Hage.
The Wolverines have 14 other NHL prospects on the roster, 16 in total with Hage and Perron, and that doesn't count defenseman Landon Dupont, who is widely considered the top overall prospect for the 2027 NHL Draft.
Hage is leading the pack in a collection of standout prospects and is expected to make an impact in Montreal soon. He is a center, and while the Canadiens look for a top-six center to play behind Nick Suzuki, they may already have their solution on the roster if they can be patient and wait until Hage's time at Michigan is done.
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