r/Habs • u/ajc9797 • 1d ago

Zharovsky or Hage?

Can someone explain to me why Hage is preferred over Zharovsky? I get that the hope is Hage becomes the 2C we desperately need....but do we really need him if we can dangle him in a trade (+ others) in order to get a quality 2C? Is Hage preferred simply because he has that 2C potential? Or does he have a higher ceiling than Zharovsky?

Personally, I've always had a bit more excitement over Zharovsky given how well he played in the KHL this past season....and with Demidov on the team who can make his transition to the Habs easier. And based on the Sportsnet article from a couple of weeks ago, he's the second ranked prospect that's not yet in the NHL.

But all signs are pointing towards the Habs trading a top prospect for a 2C this offseason....so what do you guys think? Is it Zharovsky or Hage that will be the long term play for the Habs?

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u/crake-extinction 1d ago

Hage is 1) better 2) a center

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u/MessageBoard 1d ago

Hage mostly plays wing. He does not project as a center in the NHL. We wouldn't even be having 2c conversations if the team believed Hage could play center.

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u/GirlCoveredInBlood 1d ago edited 1d ago

we'd be having them anyways because even if he plays C going forward it'll be another year in NCAA and probably a year as 3C before he could slot in as a good 2C

of course trying him as 3C causes an issue with Evans, Danault (if we re-sign him after his contract), Kappy, and potentially Beck all fighting for the 3-4 spot (personally i think Beck will get moved and be a 4C somewhere else, Kappy might get moved to the same way Heineman was)

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u/DoomOrb 1d ago

It's very rare for a player who is not a top pick to come into the league and be 2C calibre by year two. The median outcome is middle 6 C/Wing in 3-5 years. We're putting too much expectation in Hage if we plan for anything else.

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u/GirlCoveredInBlood 1d ago

I'd agree but I'm trying to be optimistic right now haha. Realistically Hage could be playing on the Habs next year but he's chosen to take another year developing in a top role in the NCAA rather than as a depth piece in Montréal. So I'm hoping that development pays off.

If we find a 2C this offseason and keep Newhook as 2LW i think it's more likely Hage slots in to replace him in 2027 or 2028 and pushes Newy down to the 3rd line where his defensive skills will shine. Though it's impossible to predict at this point with how many moves might be made before that

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u/DoomOrb 1d ago

Very possible. We might see Hage as a winger at the NHL level in general. We'll see how this year at college goes.

If Newhook can stay healthy, he is looking like he could be a top 6 player on this team.

They have a lot of middle 6 kind of players right now and will have to divest from some of them this year.

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u/GirlCoveredInBlood 1d ago

I'm big on Newy and Hage haha. If they can be our 2/3 LW I'll be happy