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Breaking: Canadiens Prospect Hage Will Remain In NCAA According To Friedman
TL;DR
Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage will remain with the Michigan Wolverines for his junior season, surprising many who expected him to sign with the team. This decision means the Canadiens will not gain any immediate reinforcements.
Elliotte Friedman recently posted on his X account that Montreal Canadiens top prospect Michael Hage was going to remain with the Michigan Wolverines for his junior season. This comes as a bit of a surprise, especially since it appeared clear that the Habs were keen to sign him at the end of the season.
Perhaps the youngster doesn’t want to end his NCAA career on a Frozen Four elimination in the semi-final and would like another shot at bringing a national championship to Michigan. Whatever the reason, it seems like the Canadiens will not be getting any reinforcements for the time being.
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While this is not the news Habs fans expected and wanted, it’s not dramatic for the Sainte-Flanelle, who does have quite some depth offensively. After all, according to TVA Sports’ Anthony Martineau, it seems that for a third game in a row, veteran forward Brendan Gallagher will sit, just like Zachary Bolduc, who’ll miss a second game in a row. Adding Hage to the fold would have forced Martin St-Louis to make even more complicated decisions.
Even if Hage had signed his ELC, it seemed unlikely that he would have been ready to play in Montreal this upcoming season and would, in all likelihood, have spent the season with the Laval Rocket. Canadiens fans will need to be patient with this one, but if it’s any consolation, by the tail end of the next season, both Hage and Alexander Zharovsky could be on their way to the hockey mecca.
Hage's decision to return to Michigan is in no way worrying for the Canadiens; they have until August 15, 2028, to sign him, and the young man is a lifelong Habs fan.
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Q&A
Why is Michael Hage staying in the NCAA instead of joining the Canadiens?
Michael Hage is staying in the NCAA to pursue another chance at a national championship with the Michigan Wolverines after a disappointing Frozen Four elimination.
What does Michael Hage's decision mean for the Montreal Canadiens' roster?
Hage's decision means the Canadiens will not have immediate reinforcements, allowing them to maintain their current depth without complicating roster decisions.
When is Michael Hage expected to join the Canadiens after his NCAA career?
While it's uncertain, Hage could potentially join the Canadiens after the next NCAA season, possibly alongside fellow prospect Alexander Zharovsky.
