When the Montreal Canadiens drafted Michael Hage with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, they knew what they were getting. The club was gunning for a potential top-six center who could come in and play solid, all-around hockey.
At 19, the University of Michigan star has been providing glimpses of what’s to come. His partnership with fellow first-rounder Will Horcoff has spurred the Wolverines to high expectations this NCAA season.
But there’s a crucial reason why the Canadiens have to be over the moon for Hage this season. It’s not Hage’s growth and development into a bona fide NHL center that’s got Montreal doing a happy dance. It’s that former Habs captain Max Pacioretty has taken Hage, among other players, under his wing.
In a piece published by RG Media on November 10, Marco D’Amico looked at the role Pacioretty has played for the University of Michigan’s hockey program. Pacioretty, a Michigan alumnus and ex-Canadiens player, joined the coaching staff this season.
The 2012 Masterton Trophy winner was unable to land an NHL contract this season. So, he unofficially retired and moved on to a mentorship role with Michigan. His 939 games of NHL experience are nothing short of brilliant for the program.
D’Amico quoted Wolverines head coach Brand Naurato, saying:
“Max provides that mentorship for the student athlete. He’s been through so much adversity in his career, and we’re very happy to have him.”
Indeed, Pacioretty overcame a potentially life-threatening injury in 2011. He rebounded to notch a 30-goal season in 2011-2, earning him the Masterton Trophy. That sort of leadership and example is what impressionable young players like the Canadiens’ Hage can look up to this season and beyond.
Pacioretty Still Helping Canadiens even Away from Team
It’s interesting to see Max Pacioretty still helping the Montreal Canadiens this season. That help comes in a roundabout way as he’s not affiliated with the organization in any way. Nevertheless, Pacioretty’s mentorship role has been a boon to Michael Hage’s development.
The book on Hage is that he could grow into a solid two-way center. The hope is that he could develop into the Canadiens’ answer for their second-line center needs. If that’s the case, he could be a fantastic fit behind current captain Nick Suzuki.
That’s what Michigan’s program can help Hage accomplish. But it’s Pacioretty’s mentorship that promises to help Hage become an all-around leader.
Naurato had this to add regarding Pacioretty’s influence:
“He’s the kind of person that can help our young players go through their ups and downs and find solutions and give that player-first feel to the teaching we do. He was around the team last year and the boys loved having him around, so to have him with us all year this year is big for us.”
Pacioretty played 10 seasons with the Canadiens. He topped 30 goals five times during that span, including a 39-goal season in 2013-14. If that’s the sort of player Michael Hage can morph into, no one will complain in Montreal.
Hage will finish this season in the NCAA. After that, it’s likely Hage turns pro. That’s when the Canadiens will have a chance to see Pacioretty’s influence firsthand.
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