Michael Hage’s name is suddenly in the middle of a conversation that goes far beyond prospect hype.
According to Renaud Lavoie, the 20-year-old does not carry the same untouchable label as the Montreal Canadiens’ core pieces and could be moved if Kent Hughes needs to put together a major trade. Lavoie drew a clear line between Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson on one side, and Hage on the other, saying the prospect could become the centerpiece of a blockbuster deal.
That idea is turning heads because Hage was taken 21st overall in 2024 and has yet to play an NHL game. He is still at the University of Michigan, and there is no way to know exactly how high his game will climb once he turns pro. Lavoie also pushed back on the idea that a player picked that late in the first round should automatically be viewed as a future star.
He went a step further by questioning Hage’s choice to return for a third NCAA season, calling it a waste of time.
Those remarks have clearly not landed well with everyone.
The timing matters, too. Hage is seen by many as a possible second-line center, and Montreal’s need at the position is obvious. The Canadiens are playing without Nick Suzuki, which only sharpens the sense that another impact center could change the look of Martin St-Louis’ team in a hurry.
Still, the argument against moving Hage is easy to see. Kent Hughes has other paths to chase help down the middle, and giving up a prospect with Hage’s upside would be a heavy price if there are ways to land a center without putting the future at risk.
As Lavoie put it on JiC, TVA Sports: "If you thought Michael Hage was going to be a Canadien forever, think again."
Hage has real trade value. In Montreal, that may be exactly why he matters so much.
In Other News...
Brendan Gallagher Is Suddenly Under Pressure Montreal Fans Never Expected
Brendan Gallaghers start with Vancouver has been a jolt for anyone who expected the veteran winger to settle quickly into a familiar role. The 34-year-old arrived in June and instead has found himself fighting for every shift, with his usage shrinking and his place in the lineup suddenly becoming a topic of debate among fans who are used to seeing him as a dependable presence.
The frustration has spilled into calls for the Canucks to make a bigger move with him, whether that means a trip to the press box or something more drastic. Gallagher, for his part, is not entertaining retirement and says he still wants to prove he can help this team, but the early-season uncertainty around his role has made this a far more uncomfortable story than anyone around the club likely anticipated. [Read more 🡒]
Kirby Dachs Late Scratch Puts Canadiens Fans On Edge Again
Illness forced another lineup shuffle for the Canadiens, and Kirby Dach was the latest regular to get pulled from the mix just before game time. Montreal had to adjust on the fly, with Owen Beck stepping into the fourth-line role as the club tried to keep its forward group intact during a stretch where every available body matters.
The good news for the Canadiens is that Dachs absence is not expected to linger, with a return on the horizon as soon as Tuesday against the Jets. For a team already managing the usual wear and tear of the season, even a short-term scratch can feel like a reminder of how quickly the depth chart can change, especially when the margins are this thin. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Loom In Dylan Larkin Trade Drama
Dylan Larkins situation has quickly become one of the most watched trade stories around the league, and Montreal has now been mentioned as a possible late entry into the mix. The Red Wings captain has removed himself from the lineup while he pursues a move out of Detroit, and several teams have already been tied to the discussions, including Minnesota, Washington, New Jersey and Carolina.
For the Canadiens, the intrigue is obvious because a player of Larkins caliber would reshape the conversation around their roster in a hurry. The idea gaining traction is that Montreal could help move the process along if it becomes part of the trade picture, but for now it remains only speculation. The situation is still fluid, and the next step depends on how the market develops from here. [Read more 🡒]