Sean Farrell nets first career hat trick

The Montreal Canadiens drafted Sean Farrell in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL Draft, and Cole Caufield called the selection a steal.

I liked the statistics and quite enjoyed watching Farrell light up the NCAA ranks with the Harvard University Crimson. Farrell, 23, played his draft-plus-one season in the United States Hockey League for the Chicago Steel. The Crimson commit scored 101 points; including 29 goals and 72 assists in 53 games.

Farrell's following two seasons were spent with Harvard, and it would be an insult to say that he was anything less than dominant. His freshman season in college hockey was impressive; as the 5'9" winger scored 28 points (10 goals, & 18 assists). Another season was necessary for two reasons, for him to show how good that he is, and to prove to the Canadiens that he was ready to turn pro.

In his sophomore season, Farrell was brilliant and he proved emphatically that the college level was too easy for him. The Milton, Massachusetts., native scored 53 points in 34 games, and finished as a finalist for the Hobey Baker trophy. Farrell was also the Ivy League player of the year, and he signed his professional contract at the end of year two.

I think like most smaller players, Farrell will have to polish up a few areas of his game if he wishes to pursue an NHL career. Often smaller players stick in NHL lineups when they have some elite skills that allow them to evade bigger, stronger players. It's a game of chess, and if you watch Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson play, they are always playing mind games to thrive.

Adam Nicholas, the Canadiens director of player development, called Farrell a silent assassin. I think when the guy who is in charge of helping prospects and players achieve their potential, his high praise for a prospect, it's rather encouraging. To this point, Farrell has played 86 American Hockey League games, accumulating 18-25-43.

His offensive explosion on Friday night's 5-2 win over the Toronto Marlies, was his first dominant performance in the AHL. I'm not convinced that he is going to become a roster player for the Canadiens. But when trade packages are being mentioned, I think his success will draw the attention of general managers across the NHL.

Farrell is known for his playmaking skills, but his vision and ability to read players are also big parts of his game. His anticipation and smart defensive stick on the forecheck were on full display on the Rocket opening tally. Farrell recovered a clearing attempt and then unleashed a heavy shot past Marlies goaltender Dennis Hildeby.

Laval was up by two goals with the middle period just under four minutes old, and Farrell received a great feed from Vincent Areseaneau. Farrell collected the pass at the top of the left faceoff circle and sniped it over Hildeby for his second of the net. His confidence in his shot has been apparent lately, as the forward has scored four goals through his last four periods and change.

The Marlies added a tally to pull within one goal of the Rocket, but Farrell was like a little rocket on Friday night. Cayden Primeau made a heads up pass to Florian Xhekaj, who was just outside of the Marlies' zone. Xhekaj entered the zone, and sprung Farrell on a partial breakaway.

He made no mistake fooling the goalie five-hole for his first professional hat trick.

Farrell has five goals and one assist in his last two games.

Michael Hage pots two assists, reaching 30-point plateau

Canadiens 2024 21st overall selection Michael Hage has been on quite a tear through his first 25 games of college hockey. He and the Michigan Wolverines faced the Michigan State Spartans on Friday night. This was Hage's 26th game of the season, and entering the game, Hage had 28 points through 25 games.

Each time that he plays, it's almost expected that he will record one point, someway, somehow. There are games where he doesn't but it's almost like clockwork, he tally's in the following game. Hage scored two assists against the Spartan's, bringing his freshman total's to 30 in 26 games.

Hage, 19, trails only 23-year-old junior player TJ Hughes, who has 32 points through 29 games. Hage has played just 26 games, and sits only two behind Hughes. I expect that Hage will catch and pass him before the end of the season, and if not this year, then for sure the 2025-26 season he will lead the Wolverines offensive attack in all statistical categories.