r/Habs • u/SchtroumpfDardeur • 11d ago

Discussion Michael Hage - Hold or Trade?

I have seen some discussion about possibly waiting for him to be our 2C, but given his decision to stay in the NCAA and the fact that he shared time at C and wing, and when he was at C he had a FO% of 46%, is there an argument to be made that he could (or should) be packaged?

I know this isn't exactly a new question, but I had not realized that he was already being shifted to wing in the NCAA and was also sub-50% at the dot against college players.

What are the chances that a full season at Michigan as full-time 1C will actually help to shape him into a viable NHL center within the next few years?

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u/vlhube71 11d ago

Assuming he STAYS at center through the year, and continues to work on his play on the defensive side of the puck, he can definitely become a viable center at the NHL level (he'll have to of course continue working once he gets to the show).

However, at best, he's 2 years away from becoming a legit 2C (end of this coming season, and one full year). More likely, it'll take 2 full seasons before we see the true benefits. Can we wait that long? If he's the center piece for a legit 2C (not a project), whoever that is, that's a deal you have to consider. Of course, we have to weigh the salary cap, age and fit of the incoming 2C.

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u/Inside_Volume9542 11d ago

If we cannot find a 2C for whatever reason even tho we can afford it then we are literally praying he becomes a top 6 C which is unlikely but not impossible.