Montreal Canadiens 2024 first-round 22nd overall selection Michael Hage is off to a brilliant start to his freshman season with the Michigan University Wolverines.
Hage's head coach with the Wolverines, Brandon Naurato has coached some talented players at Michigan. A trio of Columbus Blue Jackets sported the blue and yellow of Michigan, and they all look to be a huge part of the Blue Jackets' future. While Matty Beniers is a cornerstone piece for the Seattle Kraken - Naurato essentially believes that Hage's game away from the puck, specifically the spots he picks, is better than the others.
A student of the game feels like the right phrase to explain what Hage is all about, and his coachability reflects that. He absorbs the coaching and implements it into his game quickly. This is a definite huge boost of confidence for Hage, and encouraging for the Habs' brass.
Michael Hage's coach, Naurato, on his game. He also said that when he tells Hage something, he implements it into his game "earlier than most."
— J G (@RiseFromTheAshZ) December 26, 2024
Promising comments.#GoHabsGo
Source: @ArponBasu pic.twitter.com/yxBOZgu1qP
If fans weren't already excited about what Hage brings into the rebuild, hearing his coach describe him as a player who has a high hockey knowledge is significant praise. Hage has electrifying skill with the puck, and his skating ability allows him to make plays efficiently at top speed. The game with the puck on his stick is why the Habs drafted him.
But knowing that he is equally cerebral on the attack without the puck means that he has immense power-play potential. He is a slippery player, who moves around methodically to create offence. At five-on-five, he can get lost in coverage and his quick-strike shooting ability makes him a constant goalscoring threat.
Hage has plenty of time to work on his all-around game, and I expect that when he is ready for the NHL he will make an impact. I don't think that many players start in college and need no time to adjust to the pace and skill of the competition. The 18-year-old has 18 points through his first 15 NCAA games, and he is a constant threat to create offence.
I fully expect him to fit right in with the Habs top offensive guys and form a potential dynamic duo. I think that Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are one, and Juraj Slafkovsky just puts a bow on the line. Hage has plenty of options in the future, and Ivan Demidov is still yet to make his NHL debut also.
Boston University and College players are a safe bet
The Boston college hockey scene has been very giving to the Montreal Canadiens organization, and that is no coincidence. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have their ears and eyes on the respective Boston area hockey programs. Guys like Lane Hutson, Jacob Fowler and Jayden Struble came from the Boston College Eagles, Boston University Terriers and Northeastern Huskies programs - all in the Boston area.
Macklin Celebrini went number one overall last year, and Cole Eiserman looks to be a crucial player for the Boston University Terriers like Celebrini, when he joins them for the 2025-2026 season. Cole Hutson is also carving up the ice with BU, in his brother's footsteps - his style is nearly identical to Lane's. I think it's fair to say that the Boston hockey scene pumps out some bright NHL talents.
In my eyes, James Hagens of the BU Terriers is the next really good prospect to come out of a Boston hockey program. Hagens is a little bit on the small side, but his hockey knowledge sets him apart from a lot of guys. He processes plays quickly and skates brilliant routes to create separation, in space he is crafty with the puck, constantly scanning for options.
Hagens had himself a nice World Junior's debut, recording four points (two goals and two assists) in the American's 10-4 win over Germany. The projected first overall selection picked up where he left off, after leading the Under-18 tournament in scoring with 22 points in seven games. For general managers who could draft in the top end of the 2025 NHL Draft, Hagens put on a show.