Michael Hage just delivered the kind of weekend performance that turns heads in NHL front offices-and it came against one of the NCAA’s top talents in Gavin McKenna.
The Montreal Canadiens prospect and his Michigan Wolverines squared off against McKenna’s Penn State squad in a two-game Big Ten showdown, and Hage didn’t just show up-he took over. Michigan edged out a 5-4 shootout win on Friday before following it up with a convincing 6-3 victory on Saturday. In both games, Hage was central to the action.
Let’s start with Friday night. Hage notched three assists on Michigan’s four regulation goals, including a slick setup on the power play.
Then, when the game went to a shootout, he stepped up and buried the eventual winner-cool, calm, and clinical. He also went 3-for-7 in the faceoff circle, showing he’s not just a playmaker but willing to battle in the dots.
Saturday? More of the same.
Hage added two more assists-again, one on the man advantage-and split his faceoffs, going 5-for-10. The consistency in his production and his ability to impact the game in multiple areas is exactly what you want to see from a top prospect.
Now, let’s zoom out for a second. Through 30 games this season, Hage has racked up 42 points-second on the Wolverines behind only T.J.
Hughes. That’s a 1.38 points-per-game clip, good for fourth-best in the entire NCAA.
He’s not just producing-he’s doing it at an elite rate. And when it comes to setting up teammates, no one in college hockey is doing it better: Hage leads the nation in assists per game at 0.97.
It’s no coincidence that Michigan is the highest-scoring team in the country, averaging 4.68 goals per game. Hage is a major engine behind that firepower, quarterbacking the offense with vision, pace, and poise that belies his age.
Let’s not forget-this is a 19-year-old who grew up a die-hard Canadiens fan and was drafted 21st overall by Montreal in 2024. And he’s not just lighting it up in the NCAA.
At the recent World Junior Championship, he led all scorers with 15 points in seven games, edging out McKenna by one and finishing two ahead of standout blueliner Zayne Parekh, a top Calgary Flames prospect. On the biggest stage for his age group, Hage showed up as the guy.
So, what’s next? Well, nothing’s official yet, but there’s been plenty of buzz around whether Hage could turn pro at the end of this season.
Canadiens GM Kent Hughes has been asked about him, and while the team can’t talk to Hage until his college season wraps, it’s clear the organization sees a player who’s trending toward NHL-ready. That said, the final call is Hage’s-and with Michigan still in the thick of their season, that decision will have to wait.
Michigan wraps up its regular season on March 5, with the Big Ten Championship game slated for March 21. If the Wolverines make a deep run, they’ll be part of the Frozen Four, which runs from April 9 to 11. Currently sitting second in the Big Ten standings, Michigan has every reason to believe they’ll be playing meaningful hockey well into the spring.
And for Canadiens fans dreaming of a late-season debut? Timing could be tight.
The Habs close out their regular season on April 14 in Philadelphia, with a game in New York against the Islanders on April 12. Both are on the road, meaning even if Hage were to sign and join the team post-Frozen Four, fans would likely have to wait until next fall to see him in action at the Bell Centre.
Still, what Hage’s doing right now is more than just promising-it’s the kind of development curve that suggests the Canadiens might have something special brewing. A smart, skilled, playmaking center who rises to the moment? That’s the kind of player you build around.