Ivan Demidov was the crowned jewel of the Montreal Canadiens 2024 NHL Draft class, he came first and gives plenty of hope for the future.
But Michael Hage's selection was quite the tear-jerker, given the circumstances and the fact that he grew up a diehard Habs fan. If you dive a little deeper into the person that Hage is, you start to see a resilient kid, who is loaded with character and talent. It's impossible not to pull for him and the time to watch him is inching closer.
Hage is set to embark on his freshman NCAA season with the University of Michigan Wolverines, an organization whose reputation speaks for itself. Adam Fantilli, Matty Beniers and Owen Power are just a few names that the Wolverines program produced. Hage is hoping to be the next one to join that list, and all signs point to him being the kind of talent that could have the Habs first round selections looking like a pair of steals.
Hage is coming off a 75-point season in the United States Hockey League with the Chicago Steel, followed by four points through two playoff games. Given his numbers coming up through AAA and the OJHL, there are high hopes that he will tear up the NCAA. We have seen Sean Farrell and Lane Hutson play well before reaching the NCAA, then tearing it up, so it could be wise to keep an eye on his season.
Hage - The Wolverine
Could we see a rabid wolverine emerge in Hage, and witness a season that puts him on management's radar right away? It's hard to say really, but he was coveted by Kent Hughes and the Habs scouting staff for a reason. I don't necessarily think that they would be surprised if he had a brilliant season, but it doesn't mean they will rush him either.
A big season from a point production standpoint could be big for his confidence, but for a winger with top-six potential, the way he plays away from the puck will be equally important. That is precisely why his play will be followed and the way he adapts throughout the season will be huge. If he can carve out a solid two-way game, then he may not be far from the professional ranks.
I don't expect that he is going into the season with the hopes that he will be a one-and-done in college. At the end of the day every player wants to get to the NHL, but the dream is arriving there and staying. So, in due time he will make it to that point, that is the hope anyway, but for now, the focus is college hockey.
With that said, I would like to predict what his numbers might look like, which is tough. Although we know his stats from the USHL, it's hard to assess how the transition to a higher league goes. I would like to think, however, that if things go well he could be a 35-40 point scorer, 15-20 goals and 20 assists.
I think that is a fair prediction, but I do believe he has the potential to score more than that. But I'm basing it on how he adapts to the NCAA. Should it go smoothly, maybe he will have a ridiculous season and put himself right there or close behind Demidov.