Michael Hage’s decision to put off his arrival with the Canadiens may end up carrying a much bigger price tag than it first appears.
The Montreal prospect has changed course and will not play for the Canadiens this season. A spring injury pushed back his move to the pro ranks by a full year, and the Canadiens had been prepared to offer him a contract last spring. But after getting hurt late in the season, Hage never got the chance to play, even with the Laval Rocket.
Rather than sign while not fully healthy, Hage chose to wait. He will stay in the NCAA for the upcoming season instead.
That choice changes the timeline in a very real way. His arrival in Montreal has been delayed by one year, which also pushes back the point when he becomes eligible for a second contract. Instead of being able to sign an extension in the summer of 2027, he now has to wait until 2028.
On paper, that might not sound like a huge shift. In practice, it can be enormous. As salaries keep climbing, each extra year can raise the value of a young player who produces.
Anthony Désaulniers pointed to a useful comparison with Lane Hutson. In Hutson’s case, burning a year off his entry-level deal ended up helping the Canadiens. Hutson spent two years in the NCAA rather than three, and that allowed Kent Hughes to sign him at the right moment.
“Just imagine for a second.
Lane Hutson doesn't play those two games against Detroit in 2024 and only becomes eligible for a contract extension this summer.
After two seasons with 66 and 78 points.
How much would he have signed for?”
That is the kind of scenario Hage could be setting up for himself. If he puts together a strong rookie season in 2027-28, his next contract could climb quickly, with the injury and the delay effectively working in his favor.
Of course, there is still risk in the gamble. Another injury or a plain ordinary season would erase that edge.
For now, though, Hage is heading back to the NCAA to keep developing and enjoy himself. If things break the right way, this setback could wind up helping him the most.
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