Having swapped pieces to move up to the 21st selection, Montreal used the spot to draft lengthy forward Michael Hage.
After the Montreal Canadiens selected Ivan Demidov with the fifth overall pick, Habs fans were delighted yet intrigued to see where the team would go with the 21st overall pick.
When Michael Hage’s name was called with said draft selection, the cheers of joy turned into tears of joy. The beauty of the moment came from the draft interview that followed. The young centerman in red white and blue colors, and the emotional visage yet the calm voice that he used to talk about his late father Alain, who had tragically passed away in a pool accident in 2023.
“I grew up a Habs fan, both my parent [being] from Montreal,” said Hage. “My dad would be so happy right now. It’s a dream come true for me, honestly.”
Hage sported a suit jacket with pictures of family and hockey memories up to that point. One of the more poetic details was the words “Don’t move on, just move forward” embroidered inside. The words are a message that the former Steelhead’s mother, Rania, had told him over the past year.
Why Hage was Selected
Trading away the 26th. 57th and 198th draft spots to the LA Kings landed Montreal the 21st overall pick. When asked about the move that garnered Kent Hughes Hage, the GM told a reporter in French that the front office had him listed far higher in the round. The team hoped that the attacker would fall to 21st, but that there were other plans in case he didn’t.
In his last year in the USHL, Hage mustered up 33 goals and 75 points in 54 games. His six-foot-one frame allows him to handle the puck while his head-turning speed compliments well in transition. The upside with the forward’s size is that he is only 18. He will grow and, or fill out over the next few years.
Canadiens’ Director of Amateur Scouting Nick Bobrov spoke on how lucky Montreal was to draft Hage.
“He impressed us all year. Obviously, it’s been a tough year for Michael,” said Bobrov. “He was coming into the draft as one of the biggest names… In a normal year, with a player like that, he probably wouldn’t have fallen.”
With both parents being from Montreal, and a story that has made the Habs fan base instantly fall in love with the young man, Hage’s skill in transition when he makes the NHL will linger in the minds of partisans for years to come.
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Hage participated in the Canadiens development camp. During the scrimmage, the forward showcased the highly touted skating and playmaking ability. He showed instant chemistry paired up with Sam Harris. In two back-to-back sequences, Hage scored off of a bank pass from Harris, then completed a tic-tac-toe passing chain netting the Denver Pioneer a goal.
Montreal is aware that Hage has committed to play in the NCAA for the University of Michigan Wolverines. This unfortunately means that he will miss out on the Canadiens training camp in September. He addressed this issue at a media available during the development camp.
“I think it was the road I wanted to take,” said Hage. “Going to school is a really good opportunity for me to get better and challenge myself at a different level next year… It sucks not being able to come to training camp, but I think, for me, just showing up to Michigan’s camp and just being myself and playing my game [is important].”
Hage will have a rookie card of his own once he takes the ice in his freshman NHL campaign. Collect trading cards of your favorite hockey players at any time and anywhere with Upper Deck e-Pack! Grow your collection by opening packs and trade with others. Unlock exclusive achievements like Connor Bedard parallels available in Series Two product available now on UpperDeckEpack.com.