Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson won the Calder Trophy as the top rookie in the NHL last season. Hutson’s teammate, forward Ivan Demidov, is the odds-on favorite to grab it in 2025-26.
Could the Habs have a candidate in the system to potentially vie for three in a row?
The University of Michigan men’s ice hockey team opened the regular season last weekend. Currently ranked ninth in the NCAA, the Wolverines hosted an overmatched squad from Mercyhurst for a pair of games, sweeping by a combined score of 18-1.
Sophomore center Michael Hage took full advantage of the competition, leading all scorers with seven points in the two games. A first-round pick (No. 21 overall) in the 2024 draft by the Canadiens, Hage scored a pair of goals and posted the primary assist on five by his teammates. He also won 65.4 percent of his face-offs, and Hage was named the Big Ten Second Star of the Week.
Michael Hage Scores Seven Points in Opening Two Games for University of Michigan
Hockey analyst Simon ‘Snake’ Boisvert was not at all surprised by Hage’s fast start. Talking on Tuesday’s episode of “The Sick Podcast,” Boisvert said he would also not be at all surprised if Hage sticks with the Canadiens at this time next year.
“I do foresee a top 10 finish in the Hobey Baker Award for this guy, and I think it’s going to be his last season at Michigan,” Boisvert said. “And honestly, if he keeps playing like this, I think he could make the jump to the NHL next October.”
And should Montreal decide that Hage needs some time at the AHL level, Biosvert assured that the time would not be long.
“Give him a month or two in Laval, get 20 points in 15 games, he’s up,” he said. “And he’s never going down again.”
Hockey Analysts Foresee Bright Future for Montreal Canadiens Prospect Michael Hage
Marco D’Amico, Canadiens beat writer for RG Media, agreed that it was good to see that level of scoring from Hage, but he was more encouraged by other facets of the 19-year-old’s game.
“He was good on the draws, he controlled the center of the ice, he was physical, he didn’t get pushed off the puck,” the co-host of “The Starr & D’Amico Show said on Tuesday’s episode. “I really liked what I saw from him.”
D’Amico also really liked what he has heard about Hage from the Michigan coaches, who praised Hage’s ability to produce no matter who lines up with him.
“What I was told out of Michigan is it’s really, really difficult to not have chemistry with Michael Hage,” D’Amico said. “And that to me is very important because if you’re a center and you can develop chemistry quickly, well then you’re going to be a line driver, you know, in your league and potentially higher leagues later on.”
Citing reports of Team Canada planning to use Hage at winger for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championships, D’Amico said Hage will make a difference no matter where he plays.
“If he makes that team, he’s going to be, I honestly think, one of the more valuable, versatile players that you could play anywhere in your lineup,” D’Amico said. “PK, power play, five on five, center, wing, you name it.”
Perhaps 12 months from now, he will be doing those things in a Canadiens sweater.
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