Dartmouth College standout, and eventual top NHL Free Agent - Luke Haymes

The Montreal Canadiens will be in search of a second line centre when the calendar flips to July 1st.

I don't know if they would gamble on putting 22-year-old Luke Haymes in that role, but I think that Kent Hughes could put together a good pitch for the Dartmouth College Big Green standout. If a prospect in the NCAA is 21 years old, and undrafted, it's often a case of needing to iron out details, and establish a specialty.

That is good and well, but I think that basing Haymes' growth, and sharpening of the tools that power his great details has been a different story. David St. Louis, the prospects writer, and NHL analyst for Elite Prospects believes that the 21-year-old - potential free agent is going to be a great player because of his toolkit.

St. Louis mentions that in most cases, college free agents are 24 years old, and Haymes is just 21. Haymes' potential has only started to show over the last two years, before that, he was just okay in the British Columbia Hockey League, and his freshman season. But he had a breakout season in 2023-24, and his two-way game has definite NHL-level elements.

Haymes is a projectable guy, because he does simple things, but remains engaged at all times, pressuring opponents on the wall, and sealing them off with his body. Defensively, Haymes blends effort, and high hockey IQ, to outsmart attackers, and create turnovers with a smart stick. Standing six-foot-one, and weighing 192-pounds, Haymes has ideal size for a centre in the NHL.

I think playing him on the second line might be a bit of a reach, but the joy with the free agent, is that signing him to a two-way contract would do wonders for his development. An adjustment at the AHL level, and playing with talented wingers could be the determining factor between a top-six or middle-six centre. I think right now, he leans third line centre territory, but there is time for him to grow, and improve.

Haymes dominated the NCAA ranks in 2023-24, scoring 36 points (18-18-36) in 31 games. This season, he has been limited to just 19 games, and he has just missed out on a (PPG) scoring season. St. Louis touched on it being rare for NCAA free agents to become NHL players, but the 21-year-old does so many things right, that he envisions an NHL future for Haymes.

I suspect that there are more than a few NCAA scouts that are not very happy with St. Louis who let the secret out about Luke Haymes. When free agency opens, I expect that the Ottawa, Ontario native will have plenty of offers on the table. It will likely come down to where he wants to play, and Hughes could make a good argument to Haymes.

There are a few guys in the NCAA, and a couple of alumni in the Canadiens lineup, that could be of interest for Haymes to play with. Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson come to mind in Montreal, the former Wisconsin Badger, and Boston University Terrier are pretty good. You, also have to look no further to Michigan and Boston College, the teams that Michael Hage and Jacob Fowler call home.

Montreal also happens to have two first round draft picks, and they are just on the cusp of putting together all the young talent, both developmentally and roster players, and putting their name in the playoff mix. Haymes could opt to go home with the Senators, or dare I say it, the Maple Leafs, but Montreal needs a centre.

A stop gap until Michael Hage arrives?

Michael Hage certainly needs another season of development in the NCAA, and I think sticking with the University of Michigan would be a wise decision.

He has some things to iron out, and throwing him to the wolves in the American Hockey League at this juncture makes little sense.

Hage needs to add some muscle to his frame, and get a little faster, I expect that should allow him to become a lethal scoring threat with more consistency.

I also think that watching film will be big for Hage, who could stand to improve in the faceoff dot. Maybe watching players that he models his game after, or that he idolized growing up can help him improve his game on the ice.

He clearly has the skills, and talent to play in the NHL, but I think he will determine next season just how much better he can get. The shooting, puck skills and skating are incredible, and he has a tremendous off-puck game. His defensive game, like most offensive-minded centres, needs a little work.