The path to Nikita Kucherov in Montreal may come down to one young center and a very expensive bet.
Marco D’Amico has pointed to Michael Hage as the kind of cost-controlled piece that could give the Canadiens room to chase Kucherov hard. Hage, 20, was taken 21st overall by Montreal in 2024 and has yet to play an NHL game, but the idea is simple: if he grows into a top-six forward while making about $1 million on his entry-level deal, the Canadiens would have more breathing room to spend at the top of the roster.
That matters because the money being discussed for Kucherov is enormous. D’Amico is talking about a contract in the range of $18 million to $20 million per year, over four or five seasons.
That would be a huge leap from Kucherov’s current $9.5 million cap hit, but the production is still right there. The 33-year-old has 22 points in 17 games this season and 1,146 points in 896 career NHL games.
He also had a goal, an assist and nine shots in Saturday’s 4-3 overtime win over Minnesota.
That kind of output is exactly why the idea has traction. If Montreal can get real top-six production from a player on an entry-level deal, it opens up a different kind of roster math. It would allow the Canadiens to add Kucherov without having to rip apart the current group.
Still, the risk is obvious. A deal that reaches $20 million a year for a player already in his 30s would carry major long-term danger, especially with younger Canadiens eventually due for new contracts.
D’Amico laid out the logic this way:
"Like if you have a Michael Hage that’s a top six player but earning a million dollars on an entry-level deal, could you afford a Kucherov at 18 to 20 million for four years or five years? I think that’s where it makes sense.
And I’ll add one last thing, these players took discounts so that situations like Kucherov. I’m not saying it’s Kucherov, but situations like Kucherov could happen."
Montreal is not the only team in the mix. David Pagnotta has also connected the Rangers, Blackhawks and Kraken to an aggressive pursuit of Kucherov.
With the Canadiens set to host Minnesota on Tuesday, the possibility of landing one of hockey’s biggest stars is quickly turning into one of the more intriguing storylines around the team.
In Other News...
Canadiens Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern Ahead Of Bruins Trip
Nick Suzuki and Jake Evans were both absent from Canadiens practice Wednesday, with the team classifying the missed session as maintenance following the clubs most recent game. Montreal confirmed the two forwards were not on the ice but did not offer any further detail, leaving the group to sort through a little more uncertainty as it prepares for a trip to Boston.
Suzukis status is the more notable concern because he briefly left Tuesdays game before returning and scoring Montreals only goal, while Evans had already been managing discomfort since Monday. For a team heading into a divisional matchup with the Bruins, any question about the availability of two important centers is worth watching closely, especially with no immediate update on whether either will be ready to go. [Read more 🡒]
Cole Caufield Just Sparked A Bigger Canadiens Debate Than The Loss
Cole Caufield turned a frustrating night into a larger conversation for the Canadiens after Montreals overtime loss to Minnesota, shifting the focus from the result to how NHL games are being officiated. The forward took aim at the way referees handle controversial calls, adding another layer to a game that already left the Canadiens with plenty to sort through.
What made his comments resonate was the broader point behind them: Caufield wants more accountability from officials and believes they should be able to explain what they saw instead of simply signaling a penalty and moving on. For a Canadiens team still chasing consistency, it is the kind of postgame critique that can linger well beyond one loss, especially when it taps into a league-wide debate about transparency on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Suzuki Scare Had Canadiens Fans Holding Their Breath
Nick Suzuki gave Canadiens fans a scare in the third period, leaving the game briefly before returning to the ice and settling things down in a hurry. Montreals captain has been a central part of the clubs offense all season, appearing in 12 of the teams 18 games and continuing to drive play at the top of the lineup.
The good news for Montreal is that the concern did not linger long after the final whistle, with the team indicating Suzuki is fine after his short absence. Even so, any moment like that tends to tighten the mood around a team that leans so heavily on its top center, especially when he has been one of the most important contributors to the Canadiens attack. [Read more 🡒]