Montreal Canadiens fans were caught off guard when top prospect Michael Hage announced that he would not be turning pro and would instead return to the University of Michigan for his junior season. Montreal needs help at centre, and fans were hoping that Hage would be the answer after an impressive sophomore season and an incredible performance at the 2026 World Junior Championships. After the Michigan Wolverines' loss to the Denver Pioneers in the Frozen Four, Hage announced that he was not finished in the NCAA, but he has not completely closed the door on playing in the NHL next season.
Hage not shutting down NHL jump
Hage believes that returning to Michigan to continue his development would be the best option, but is not ruling out the idea of playing in the NHL next season. The Canadiens have been on the search for a second-line centre, and Hage would slot into that position if he chooses to sign his entry-level contract. With the centre market drying up, the Canadiens have switched their focus to adding an impact winger. They had some interest in signing Mason Marchment before he signed with the San Jose Sharks, and have been heavily linked to Kirill Marchenko after news came out that he likely will not extend his contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. If the Canadiens were able to add a top winger, that could possibly entice Hage to make the jump to the NHL.
Playing with talented players would make the transition from NCAA to NHL easier for Hage. If he were to play in the NHL next season, he would likely be starting on a line alongside Ivan Demidov, and as a rookie, we saw the Russian winger make life easier for the players he was playing with. Oliver Kapanen struggled when he first got to the NHL, but playing alongside Demidov last season, the Finnish centre was a real contributor, recording 22 goals, second among rookies. If the Canadiens could land someone like Marchenko, who is a proven goalscorer, it would take the pressure off Hage and give him the opportunity to play with highly talented players from the jump. As it stands now, though, his preferred option is to return to Michigan.
Hage wants to be an NHL-calibre centre
The biggest reason why Hage wants to return to Michigan is to continue his development as a centre, stating that when he makes the jump to the NHL, he wants to be an impact player right away. Those plans are already in motion, with Hage coming into the Canadiens’ development camp with added size, weighing in at 205 pounds, six pounds heavier than last season. Hage also believes he has unfinished business with Michigan after getting close to a National Championship last season. He does not just want to be another player, but someone who could be looked at as a leader. “I'm going to work on situations I didn't get to play in this year, improve on the parts of my game where I'm not the best yet, and work on my leadership. Being a leader is really important to me,” said Hage at Montreal’s development camp.
Some fans worried that with Hage wanting to return to Michigan, he was looking for a way out of the Canadiens organization. He put that notion to bed quickly. “The Canadiens, that's my team. I'm not going to sign with another organization. No chance," said Hage during another interview at the team’s development camp. Hage clearly wants to be a Canadiens player, but does not want to be just another guy when he does finally make the jump to the NHL. He has clear goals and believes that going back to play with the Wolverines for his junior season is the best way to achieve them. The Canadiens clearly back that decision, even if they would like to keep the door open a crack about him starting next season in Montreal. A lot can change from now until the start of the season, but Hage clearly believes he needs one more year before he is ready to be an impactful NHL player.
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