The grind of Montreal Canadiens rumors has begun to pick up steam. In particular, the possibility of a top prospect signing and potentially joining the club has significantly gained momentum in the last 24 hours.
The prospect in question is Michael Hage. The Michigan Wolverines star saw his team’s season come to an end on Thursday night. The top-ranked Wolverines lost to the University of Denver in the Frozen Four matchup, 4-3 in double overtime.
Michigan’s loss, as Elliotte Friedman noted, the clock has started ticking on Michael Hage signing and joining the Habs. As such, Canadiens rumors have gone into overdrive regarding when the 19-year-old could be inking an NHL contract.
“Michigan lost…the Michael Hage clock is on; I think there were a lot of people expecting that [signing] to happen, so we’ll see where that goes over the next few days.”
The Canadiens have three games remaining on their regular season schedule. While the club has officially clinched a playoff berth, there’s still the matter of settling the top three seeds in the Atlantic Division.
If Canadiens rumors prove true, Hage could be signing an entry-level contract in the coming days. In that event, it might just be a matter of time before Habs fans see Hage hit the ice as an official member of the Montreal franchise.
Canadiens Rumors Point to Similar Addition to Last Season
Last season, the biggest Canadiens rumor heading down the final stretch of the year was Ivan Demidov coming over from the KHL. The Habs were holding their breath as the KHL season ended to see if Demidov could join the team for its playoff run.
Indeed, Demidov got into a regular season game before the calendar turned to the postseason. Similarly, Hage could follow in Demidov’s footsteps, getting in a couple of games ahead of the start of the 2026 NHL playoffs.
If that’s the case, then Canadiens rumors will shift from Hage joining the team to the role he could play in the Habs’ lineup moving forward. That’s why finding a spot for Hage in the Canadiens’ lineup may be easier said than done.
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Where Hage Could Play in Habs Lineup
There’s no question that Hage is a high-end prospect. Despite being selected later in the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft, Hage has grown into a future top-line player.
That said, Canadiens rumors don’t project Hage as a first-line player right off the bat. If anything, the organization would be wise to find a relatively sheltered role for him at the outset of his time this season.
Starting Hage on the wing would be a wise choice. In that case, pushing Alexandre Texier down the lineup and inserting Hage with Oliver Kapanen and Demidov might make sense.
If Habs coach Martin St. Louis feels that Hage would benefit from starting lower in the lineup, playing Hage on third line with Phillip Danault and Kirby Dach or Alex Newhook could make plenty of sense.
Ultimately, these elements will hinge on Hage signing in the coming days. If and when that happens, the organization can worry about where he’ll play.
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