Michael Hage’s path to the Montreal Canadiens won’t be changing anytime soon.
That was the clearest takeaway from Brandon Naurato’s appearance this past week on the Basu and Godin Notebook. Naurato, who coaches Hage with the Michigan Wolverines, was asked directly whether the Canadiens prospect would be back for a junior year in the Big-10, and he didn’t leave much room for doubt. He said Hage would return, while making clear he was relaying what the player had told him and that he trusted him.
That lines up with what Jeff Gorton said, too. The Canadiens executive left the door open by noting that a lot can change over an offseason, and that Hage could still change his mind. But for now, the expectation is set: Hage is going back to Michigan.
Naurato also tackled one of the bigger questions surrounding Hage’s game - whether he can stay at center at the NHL level. His answer was straightforward.
Last season, Hage played only two of his 40 games on the wing, and those came while skating with T.J. Hughes.
That small sample became the focus, but the coach made it clear the bigger body of work points elsewhere.
And in a market like Montreal, every detail gets magnified. With the attention Hage has drawn, it’s no surprise the Canadiens and their fans have been parsing every shift, every position change and every hint about what comes next.
The coach’s most revealing comments came when he explained why Hage’s return to Michigan matters beyond the simple fact of another college season. He stressed that it is Hage’s decision to go back, but also laid out the challenge waiting for him once he does turn pro.
When Hage reaches the NHL with the Canadiens, he won’t be stepping into a rebuild built around a first-overall pick. He’ll be joining a team that wants results, which makes readiness a major part of the equation.
Naurato also dismissed the idea that Hage is staying in college because it would be financially better. He said that might apply in basketball or football, but not for hockey players.
There was another piece of the Michigan picture, too. Naurato confirmed that Alex Hage, Michael’s brother, remains committed to Michigan, though not this year. He’ll spend another season in the OHL, and Naurato said his brother was never a factor in Michael Hage’s decision to return.
Taken together with what Hage said at development camp, the message is pretty clear: this is about becoming the best version of himself before making the jump. He wants to arrive in the NHL ready to stick, not bounce back and forth between leagues.
That choice may have complicated the Canadiens’ immediate plans, since they were apparently expecting him to move up after last season. But if this extra year gives them a more complete player when he finally arrives, it may be worth the wait.
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Former Canadiens goaltender Zachary Fucale has added to the buzz by pointing to Zharovskys talent and work ethic, while also suggesting that time spent in Montreal can only help when the next stage arrives. The bigger picture for the Canadiens is obvious: if Zharovsky keeps trending this way, he could become another important piece in a young core that already has plenty of promise, which is exactly why his progress is getting such close attention. [Read more 🡒]