Michael Hage is proof the Canadiens can afford patience at centre

As the Montreal Canadiens progress and transition from rebuilding to aiming for consecutive playoff appearances, a major gap continues to exist in the team's roster outlook.

A major talking point about the Canadiens' future has been their lack of a long-term second-line centre. Trade and free agency questions have been discussed among fans, but is the solution already in the system? 2024 first-round pick Michael Hage is proving he may be the solution sooner rather than later, following his impressive start to the 2026 World Junior Hockey Championships.

Michael Hage is raising eyebrows at the World Juniors

Through Canada's first two games of the tournament, Hage has been one of the most impactful players on a loaded roster. Against Czechia, Hage scored a beautiful goal, showcasing his elite-level shot, while also adding two assists.

Then came Canada's tight affair with Latvia. Hage delivered the defining moment in a game that was certainly uncomfortable for his team, scoring the overtime winner with another howitzer of a shot.

Over two games, both of which provided very different challenges, Hage delivered in both of them. Four points in two games is widely impressive, and still fails to tell the complete story. Hage has found success driving the play for Team Canada. His soft but quick skating ability has allowed him to slow the game down, putting him in total control of the game when the puck is on his stick.

Hage’s ability to create chances out of nothing while confidently driving possession is something the Canadiens lack down the middle outside of their star captain, Nick Suzuki. While he has emerged as one of the tournament’s most effective early playmakers, his impact goes far beyond offence.

Hage plays with pace through the neutral zone, keeps his feet moving in traffic, and consistently supports the puck in all three zones. His off-puck awareness stands out, whether positioning himself to receive and attack wide with speed or tracking back to break up plays defensively. He closes gaps quickly, doesn’t cheat for offence, and shows the kind of two-way reliability that earns trust from coaches at every level.

His versatility is exactly why the Canadiens should think twice before rushing to fill their second-line centre vacancy externally.

Why patience for Hage makes sense

The question isn’t whether Hage will ever play meaningful NHL minutes; it’s when.

A one-to-two-year runway feels realistic. He’s continuing to develop physically, refining his play against older competition, and showing he can elevate his game in high-pressure environments. That’s evident in the great season he’s having at Michigan and now in his play at the World Juniors.

If Hage can make the jump to the NHL within such a time frame, the Canadiens will be in great shape. The Canadiens are still maturing, as the youngest roster in the NHL. Hage's development prior to an NHL call-up could align perfectly with where the Canadiens are heading, trajectory-wise.

Forcing a short-term fix at centre, especially via an expensive trade, risks blocking a player like Hage who may soon be ready to seize the role organically. Furthermore, trading Hage for a proven NHL player could turn out to be a significant mistake.

The way the Canadiens are shaping for the future, with young guys such as Ivan Demidov and Jacob Fowler, to name a few, there is no rush. The Canadiens do not need a solve every roster issue as soon as possible; instead, they must solve it the right way, with patience.

Hage’s World Juniors performance is not a guarantee of stardom to come, but it could be a signal. He’s showing poise, adaptability, and an ability to impact games in multiple ways. Those aren’t empty traits. They’re foundations.

The Canadiens and their fans have spent plenty of time searching for a star down the middle. The irony may be that the solution isn’t something to acquire, it’s something to wait for.

If Hage keeps trending the way he has through Canada’s first two games and through his NCAA development thus far, patience at centre may not just be an option for the Canadiens. It may be the most brilliant move they can make.