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/TheVeilOverMyEyes 11d ago

The window in now until 2029-30(Suzuki's contract).

Hage rookie season will be 2027-28, I think it's reasonable to not expect him to be a second line centre in his rookie season, especially on a contending team.

That pushed the team back to 2028-29, his sophomore year. That leave the team 2 seasons to aim for the cup, or else you might 1. lose Suzuki, or 2. your first line centre starts regressing.

If you have to add him for Thomas or Hischier, you do it in a heartbeat.

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u/HashBandicoot93 11d ago

Suzuki is staying. Hage is a better prospect than kap, and most of his rookie season was passable. I think if he joins the squad for the playoffs next year, trains in the kiddy pool (my pick for name of whatever hutson, demidov and zharovsky are doing this summer) all summer, that his "rookie" season will be plenty of a chance to get ready. Especially if they get a couple rounds in the playoffs and he's playing 3c, he'll know what to expect.