Michael Hage is set to chase the Hobey Baker along with the National Championship at Michigan, but what makes him so good?
Montreal Canadiens and Michigan Wolverines fans are very excited for what Michael Hage can do on the ice this season and beyond. With him returning to school, he'll play a huge role for Michigan this year, but what makes Hage so good?
Hage has a bit of everything; he’s a solid skater who plays quick and can push the pace in transition. He has very impressive puck skills, and he uses them to create space for himself at a high level, where you notice his playmaking.
Hage was one of the top point producers in the country last year, when he had 13 goals and 52 points in 39 games.
He also impressed at the World Junior Championships, where he had 2 goals and 15 points in seven games for Canada, showing how dominant he is against his own age group.
His defensive game has gotten better over time, and although he’s not massive, he’s pretty strong and plays hard in the corners, retrieving pucks. It would be hard to ask him to become Nick Suzuki in his own end, but if he continues to build up his motor and pace off the puck, he can become a very effective player in that end.
His addition to his defensive game is a plus, but you love Hage for what he can bring offensively, and when he plays with other elite players, it raises his bar as well because his hockey IQ is just that good.
His playmaking opens up the rest of his game, and watching him create plays for himself and others is extremely entertaining. He has a pretty well-rounded game, and if he builds on it even more this year, Michigan and Montreal will have an extremely elite player on their hands. But for now, just sit back and enjoy the Hage show.
