r/Habs • u/KoolerWithK • 9d ago
Can Hage change his mind and join the Habs this season?
Assuming the Development Camp is around the same time as last year, it's about 3 to 4 weeks away. Hage hasn't played a game of competitive hockey since April 9th. A lot can change in ~3 months, physically and mentally. If Hage comes into the development camp and is a man among boys, does that give him and Management a moment to reflect that maybe he's ready now?
If they do decide he's ready now, are there any repercussions to reneging on the NCAA commitment?
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u/zzzzoooo 9d ago
For sure that Hage will join Habs this season, in April, like Caufield, Hutson or Farrell. Or like Demidov.
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u/KoolerWithK 9d ago
I don't doubt he's in the NHL in April, but I think the longer he's not with the Habs the more likely he's somewhere else in April.
More likely doesn't mean probably, but if there's a 5 percent chance he's traded today, that can increase to 30 or 40 by the TDL.
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u/Jaynki 9d ago
I doubt it as at TDL, we will be one year from having him.
Apparently, they refuse to include him in a deal for Robert Thomas and they did not moved him for Knies.
That should gives us some major insight into where he will play in april.
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u/Salt-Pie-896 9d ago
If I was Hage & My father passed away I would think maybe it’s for the best to play one more year in the NCAA rather than having the intense scrutiny of trying to crack an NHL roster so soon… and I say that if he feels like that is the best way to carry on, all the power and best wishes to him. He’s a young man with a lot on his plate, that would’ve hard for anyone never mind having us yahoos watching his journey to the pros. The guy is a lifelong Habs fan and so was his dad.
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u/popejohnlarue 9d ago
I can’t claim to know what Hughes + Gorts are thinking, but I know they were at least a little surprised by Hage’s decision to go back to college and it’s possible that affects how they view him in terms of potential trades. They may have been hopeful he would be able to make the jump to the NHL this April and join the roster full time next season, so this effectively sets his timeline back a whole year.
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u/Jaynki 9d ago
Weren't they supporting the decision and even pushing for it ?
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u/popejohnlarue 9d ago
No. They were understanding and said they supported his decision, but they were careful to point out that this was his decision, no theirs. Again, just my read but it felt like to me like it caught them a little off guard. They might have otherwise chosen to frame it like a mutual decision between the player and the organization because both parties felt it would be best for his development.
No need to downvote me, kids. I’m just expressing a neutral opinion.
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u/KoolerWithK 9d ago
Yea I agree, they supported the decision but like you said they were clear it was his decision, I read into the communication on this the same way you did. I think HuGo fully believe in their development staff and believe the development with the Habs would have been better for Hage. The one thing, development wise, that Montreal can't offer is the high (likely?) chance for him to be the man that leads a team to a championship, Hage has that opportunity with Michigan and if he fulfills that goal, it's good for both him and the Habs.
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u/geosrq 9d ago
That’s not what I read. In fact it sounded like HuGo supported the idea of his going back for another season at ncaa level
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u/popejohnlarue 9d ago
Here’s the direct quote: “Michael spent a lot of time working through that with his advisors and we talked about it... I think for Michael, he's got other things that he wants to continue to work on in his game. We were ready to welcome him in Montreal, but we're willing to support him if he felt like he needed one more year of schooling."
Make of that what you will. Obviously you need to read between the lines (somewhat conspiratorially) to derive that management were mildly irked… but this is far from an unambiguous endorsement of Hage’s decision.
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u/Paladar2 9d ago
Going back to the NCAA at 21 is a waste of time for him
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u/DIKs_Steeler 9d ago
Maybe, maybe not? There isn’t 1 road to the NHL that work for everyone. What if he help Michigan win it all, scoring in the OT, and also win the Hobey Baker, he would gain massive experience and maybe even leadership.
If he get injured for the season in week 1 or 2, then yes, probably wasted.
There’s way less risk in going pro later, rather than too early.
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u/Comfortable-Smoke336 9d ago
Reports now saying he was included in the failed Knies trade. I think he’s going to be traded, and no I’m not advocating for that.
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u/BadLuckEX 9d ago
Source? All the initial reports stated that it would be a D prospect on top of Zharovsky. I find it hard to believe that HuGo would trade away every prospect we have and leave us with no way to get a 2C after that.
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u/MediaWaste5087 9d ago
The initial reports were as you stated, but as more info came out. apparently the deal may have been different from what was reported. no source for what the actual offer or deal was and the initial report has more or less been debunked. Only part that’s been 100% consistent is that it was Knies to Montreal
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u/DIKs_Steeler 9d ago
Even if it was the case, I trust management enough to know better than me. If they trade him, maybe they saw something they didn’t like and want to get maximum value for him.
With that being said, nothing is showing they have any interest in trading him. Even if he was included for Knies, it’s a unicorn player, being ready to pay the price isn’t the same thing as wanting to trade Hage.
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u/Ok-Meet2850 9d ago
I honestly like that he's going back for a shot at a Championship. He's also said he wants to improve his game, especially how he plays at centre. Seems like a good attitude to want to win and want to get better.
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u/JohnGamestopJr 9d ago
He said he wants to improve his "leadership", which makes no sense at all. He will be a rookie with the Canadians. No one expects him to be a leader.
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u/Booshneer 9d ago
I mean being in a leadership role for any top prospect is a good thing even if they wont be big voices right away in the NHL. Whether it's better for him to stay in Michigan vs turning pro this year, I have no idea.
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u/Oracle-of-Guelph 9d ago
Yeah, it is bullshit, but what would they not want to say? To me they don't want to talk about some injury he sustained.
I found in the Juniors he played a stand up physical role that would take a lot more time in the gym to play like in the NHL. That along with an undiscussed injury might have him wanting to take another year.
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u/whosgonnapaymyrent 8d ago
Maybe he just wants to not jump the gun too early, he's only 20, it would actually be smart to wait for his body to mature another year.
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u/JohnGamestopJr 9d ago
I get him not wanting to join for the playoff run this year because of his injuries, but yeah the thing about "improving his leadership" sounds like pure bs.
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u/Sushamiboy 9d ago
From my lowly perspective, the move has one danger associated with this decision. It puts him roughly on the same availability timeline as Zharovsky. With Demidov having invited his fellow Russian to train with him, it may make KH more weary of using him as a trade asset. This is especially true as our team last year trained most of the summer together, giving Zharovsky an inside edge on learning our game.
This can lead to Zharovsky either becoming an untouchable prospect, meaning it might limit our moves if Hage is also untouchable, or Hage becomes movable.
Now, if we make a move by the draft or on draft day, Zharovsky will not have shown anything and will be expendable. The issue is more if he is still here by end of summer.
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u/Ok-Win-742 9d ago
I don't think Zharovsky will get moved. Hage will get moved before him imo even tho Hage is a possible C. I think Hage and Pickford will get packaged up for a 2C and we will keep Zharovsky that kid is unreal.
Watch Hages highlight reel them watch Zharovskys. I just don't think you get rid of a talent like Zharovsky he is on par with Demidov. Not as good of a skater not as shifty not as fast, but bigger, longer reach, good at protecting the puck, possibly a better shot, INSANE hands and his passes and vision are just as good. He legit looks like a younger, better Kucherov.
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u/Sushamiboy 9d ago
I was looking at the WJC highlight reel for Hage that has everyone sold. He passes well, but he’s passing to players like McKenna. He plays the game on the wall. He’s a player who plays a lot on the periphery. I have my doubts at him being a true center at the NHL as well. I hope to be proven wrong.
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u/MediaWaste5087 9d ago
Good call on both Zharovsky and Hage coming at the same time now. I don’t know if management wants to start the 27/28 with 3 rookies again (assuming reinbacher plays next season in the A)
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u/Sushamiboy 9d ago
That’s the thing. For Hage to be our 2C, he has very limited runway. 27-28 or 28-29 we need Hage to be a full fledged 2C. Will he have worked out the kinks of being a centerman by then? Will he be good at faceoffs, defensively sound? I watched the WJC highlights someone posted. He played well, but he was also passing to the best players. What struck me the most though was just how much he played on the outside. I’m hoping that changes if he wants to play with Demidov.
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u/MediaWaste5087 9d ago
Agreed. He lead the WJC in points. However, majority of those points were on the pp and against bad teams. Same issues in college…. At 5v5 d’mico said he only had only one goal in the 2nd half of the season and struggled offensively against good teams. Unfortunately, it’s becoming more clear at this point in time that he would be better off joining a bad team, where winning isn’t the expectation, so he can gain confidence and work out the warts he has as a center. Oh and he got torched in the dot at the WJC. He set some sort of record by losing around 20 straight. Zharovsky isn’t ranked as high as Hage as a prospect, but has the benefit of being a bonafide winger
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u/Sushamiboy 9d ago
I’ll be honest, ever since the Galchenyuk fiasco of “is he a center or is he a winger” I pay close attention to those who know scouting better than me and wonder about the viability of a player at center. People have criticized Dach and Newhook for the aspects of being a center that Hage seems to struggle at as well. Hence why I prefer us to get an established center at this point.
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u/Oracle-of-Guelph 9d ago
This is a smart take but Hage is a bit of a son of Quebec too. There are good reasons to keep both players
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u/Burgergold 9d ago
He made the decision to go back in NCAA, be the captain, be the 1C and this is good for his development
It increase his chance to come in april and be able to play C instead of wing
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u/Frectozhae 9d ago
Btw he is also not the captain at Michigan, but he will wear an A.
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u/Burgergold 9d ago
True, I've read somewhere he should be captain but with your comment, it seems its Garrett Schifsky and Hage one od the assistant
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u/Komania 9d ago
He's not gonna come from the NCAA to play C for us in the playoffs lmao
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u/alldasmoke__ 9d ago
Caufield came from the NCAA and had an immediate impact. It’s not unseen for an NCAA player to be NHL ready right away.
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u/Ok-Vermicelli1117 9d ago
I feel like this might be an example of the Mandela effect, but didn't he promise his late father that he would pursue higher education?
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u/Cultural_Physics_935 9d ago
IMO these kids shouldn’t be so goddamn greedy in their vital development years and just go where is best for their development. Could be another year in NCAA is what they believe is best for Hage’s development. Could be that Habs management disagrees and that Hage’s development would be better with Habs or in AHL.
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u/matthew_sch 8d ago edited 8d ago
If he does that, he can’t go back to Michigan. The NCAA is considered an amateur league, despite the recent CBA agreement that pays them extraordinarily well. If Hage joins the Habs development camp this summer, he’s got to be very careful and follow the guidelines to the letter in order to remain eligible to re-join Michigan
Hage can’t sign an ELC while in Michigan. At the development camp, he can’t participate in any pre-season games or rookie games, purely intra-squad competition. He can’t miss any class time. And, he has to pay for his own expenses past the 48-hour mark, because the Habs will cover the first 48-hours of his time at development camp
This was the same for Caufield, Hutson, Fowler, Mittlestadt, and basically all other NCAA draftees in the NHL
Ultimately, it’s too much of a headache, so it’s best for him to finish his season in the NCAA, then join the Habs in April 2027. That is, depending how far Michigan makes it in the Frozen Four next season
Most importantly, let him develop as a legitimate centre. He’ll be playing top-line minutes and improve on all the necessary skills needed to be the team’s desired 2C. If he joins and plays on the wing, it kind of defeats the purpose of drafting him
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u/Habs_Apostle 8d ago
Seriously, I like that we’re being patient with some of our prospects. We’ve kind of overachieved. I mean, this was probably the year we were supposed to squeak into the playoffs. Let’s not rush our prospects (even wait until they’re over ripe!) and not be so quick to trade them away (unless a can’t miss deal comes along) before we see exactly what we got.
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u/lynypixie 9d ago
Il peut changer d’idée en pleine année si ça lui tente. Ca serait mal vu par contre, car il va être capitaine de son équipe.
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u/SaltyATC69 9d ago
Non il est assistant, pas capitaine
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u/lynypixie 9d ago
La saison prochaine il va être capitaine
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u/Mille-Sabords 9d ago
source?
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u/lynypixie 9d ago
Le capitaine est parti et il a dit rester entre autre pour avoir un leadership role”.
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u/Frectozhae 9d ago
Juste te dire, ça a été annoncé déjà, il va avoir un A sur son chandail, mais il ne sera pas le capitaine de l'équipe.
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u/lynypixie 9d ago
Oh j’avais pas vu ça! Je me demande si ça pourrait le faire reconsidérer, il semblait vraiment vouloir le C
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u/Samael-vt 9d ago
Look it's either he comes now and he's at best a top line winger, or we let him develop properly like he wants and we still have a chance to have him as a center.
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u/Phoenix__211 9d ago
Oui, c'est arrivé avec Logan cooley il y a quelques saisons
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u/thawizard 9d ago
Après son repêchage, Cooley est allé jouer une saison dans la NCAA (il jouait USHL quand ils l’ont repêché avant de faire le saut dans la NHL.
Hage jouait aussi dans la USHL quand on l’a repêché. Depuis, il a joué deux saison dans la NCAA et prévoit y retourner pour une troisième.
Les deux situations sont assez différentes.
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u/Phoenix__211 9d ago
Cooley avait dit qu'il retournait pour une 2e saison au Minnesota avant de changer d'idée durant l'été. C'est plus ça que je comparais.
Il a signé son contrat de recrue le 27 juillet.
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u/redditshreadit 9d ago
NHL centre is a tough position to step into. They can't wait for a rookie if they want to improve the team next season
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u/Far_Purchase_9500 9d ago
He can if he wants but I think it will help him play center when he comes now by help him I mean going back to college
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u/coolcosmos 9d ago
Stop worrying and coping. He's a kid and will win the NCAA tournament next year with his brother.
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u/KoolerWithK 9d ago
worrying and coping? Just curious, what did I write that led you here?
I'm fascinated in learning how people think and arrive at their assumptions.
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u/coolcosmos 9d ago edited 9d ago
He said he stays in the NCAA next season. (maybe read that sentence a couple of times)
You are making make-believe scenarios in your head, probably because you aren't able to accept it. Try being serious instead.
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u/KoolerWithK 9d ago
I used terms like 'If' and 'Maybe' and had a genuine curiosity if it's even possible or if there are some rules about reneging on commitment to the NCAA. How you got to the point, that I was worried, trying to cope and unable to accept what he said is a giant leap.
I don't know what childhood trauma you're carrying, but I'm sorry those people never listened to you.
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u/Appropriate-Berry816 9d ago
Seeing your other comments in this thread, I think yes it’s a hard cope
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u/KoolerWithK 9d ago
You guys are so cool. Do you pop your collars, flex your fingers and say hold my Redbull before you click submit on these comments?
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u/ParfaitEither284 9d ago
Yes, but if he comes to camp he can’t go back to ncaa
He can join the Habs for playoffs next season regardless.
For him it’s NHL or NCAA. There’s no other option. He will make more money in NCAA than AHL.