Michael Hage isn’t shutting the book on Montreal just yet.
The Canadiens’ top prospect has decided he’s heading back to the University of Michigan for his junior season after the Wolverines’ loss to the Denver Pioneers in the Frozen Four, but he made it clear that the NHL door is still cracked open for next year. For a Canadiens team looking for help down the middle, that matters. Hage was the name fans were hoping would step into the conversation after a strong sophomore season and a standout showing at the 2026 World Junior Championships.
For now, though, his preferred path is the NCAA route. Hage believes another year in Michigan is the best move for his development, especially as he works to become the kind of centre who can make an immediate impact once he reaches the NHL. He said at Montreal’s development camp that he wants to sharpen the parts of his game that still need work and take on more responsibility.
“I'm going to work on situations I didn't get to play in this year, improve on the parts of my game where I'm not the best yet, and work on my leadership. Being a leader is really important to me,” said Hage at Montreal’s development camp.
That leadership piece is a big part of the picture for him. Hage said he has unfinished business with Michigan after getting close to a National Championship last season, and he wants to return not just as another player, but as someone the Wolverines can lean on.
His body is already trending in the right direction, too. Hage arrived at Canadiens development camp at 205 pounds, six pounds heavier than he was last season.
There’s also a practical side to the NHL possibility. If Hage did decide to turn pro, Montreal would have a clear opening for him at second-line centre.
The Canadiens have been searching for help there, but with the centre market drying up, they’ve shifted their focus toward adding an impact winger instead. They showed interest in Mason Marchment before he signed with the San Jose Sharks, and they’ve been heavily linked to Kirill Marchenko after reports surfaced that he likely won’t extend with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
That kind of move could end up influencing Hage’s timeline. Playing with high-end talent would make the leap from NCAA to NHL easier, and if he were in Montreal next season, he’d likely start alongside Ivan Demidov.
The Russian winger already made life easier for the players around him as a rookie. Oliver Kapanen struggled at first after arriving in the NHL, but playing with Demidov last season helped him become a real contributor, and he finished with 22 goals, second among rookies.
A proven scorer like Marchenko would have a similar effect, easing pressure on Hage if Montreal lands that kind of player.
Still, Hage wants to be sure he’s ready when he finally makes the jump. He said he wants to be an NHL-calibre centre, not just a body in the lineup. And he was quick to shut down any suggestion that his return to Michigan means he’s looking for an exit from the Canadiens organization.
“The Canadiens, that's my team. I'm not going to sign with another organization. No chance," said Hage during another interview at the team’s development camp.
So the message from Hage is pretty clear: Michigan is where he wants to spend one more year, but Montreal remains the destination. He wants to come back stronger, more polished and more ready to matter when he does arrive. The Canadiens are leaving the option open, but Hage sounds convinced he needs another season before he’s prepared to be an impactful NHL player.
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So even with Bourque in view, this feels more like a negotiation puzzle than a straightforward pursuit. Montreal can explore the offer-sheet route only within a narrow band, and the low-end number being discussed is one Dallas would almost certainly match, which is why a trade may be the only realistic avenue if the Canadiens want to keep pressing the case. [Read more 🡒]