RG.org's Marco D'Amico recently spoke to Michigan Wolverine coach Brandon Naurato and he had some interesting things to say about Michael Hage.
Last spring, Montreal Canadiens fans were disappointed to hear that Michael Hage wouldn’t sign his ELC yet and had chosen to return to Michigan for his junior year. We’ve heard a lot about that decision since then, but a few days ago, Marco D’Amico spoke with Michigan’s coach Brandon Naurato, and the bench boss made it sound like an extra year in College will benefit both Hage and the Canadiens.
According to Naurato, their goal this season is to get him as close to NHL-ready as possible, and he even added: "We want him to be an impactful player for the Montreal Canadiens at the end of the season.”
With Hage already pencilled by many as the Canadiens’ second-line center, he will need to be an impactful player. As much as this market loves the prospect and his backstory of overcoming his dad’s tragic passing to be drafted by the team he has always cheered for, once he hits the ice, he won’t be exempt from criticism under the looking glass that is the Montreal market.
The more ready he is, the better it will be for him, and the less fans and media are likely to criticize him. Could he have turned pro this season? Perhaps he could have, but he wouldn’t have been as complete a player as he likely will be after another season in the NCAA, where he has a leadership role and is trusted to play big, meaningful minutes.
Naurato mentions that once the centerman has earned it, he’ll give him some penalty-killing minutes, and that could be huge for the Canadiens as well. Phillip Danault’s contract expires at the end of the season, and the Quebecer is an integral part of the penalty kill. If the Habs don’t sign the 33-year-old, soon-to-be 34-year-old to a new contract, he will leave a big hole in the Habs’ PK unit. If Hage is ready to handle that responsibility, it would be a big thorn out of Derek Lalonde’s side.
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