Michael Hage is putting up some points in Michigan.

Michael Hage is a fast center who the Montreal Canadiens drafted with the 21st overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft. He impressed me when I caught up with him in the middle of last season. He’s smart and personable and he understands how to play center. Hage understood the responsibilities of the position.

“The offense is fun, but it‘s important to be mature enough to play in your own zone,” said Hage. “Help your d out and be close to the puck. That’s something I take pride in.”

This year the pivot is running 47% on face-offs. That’s pretty good considering he’s playing against much older players. This will improve over time. This is one of the reasons I have him pegged as a second-line center if it all hits right.

He does lose some puck battles and that’s something he has to continue to work on. He’s 6’1” and 190 pounds. I think it’s about getting that man strength that happens over time to all young men. Hage has worked on his speed and you can see how that work has paid off.

He’s averaging five shots per game which is good to see. Hage is averaging 3:30 in power play time. That’s just outrageous. He has 17 points in 13 games and that includes a five-point outburst against Penn State.

Hage’s time on the ice is over 16 minutes a game. I like that usage and considering his age that shows that the coaching staff has confidence out there. He gets a fair amount of defensive zone starts too.

So far, so good regarding Hage’s development. There’s no doubt in my mind that he will play in the NHL and help the Canadiens get stronger down the middle in the future but let him play another two years at Michigan so he can get physically stronger. I think that will be important to his future development.