With their second first-round pick, the Canadiens have acquired Michael Hage. Like him or not?
We’ll have to hope the youngster is worth it, since the club, as we speak, doesn’t have a second-round pick. In other words, Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage will be the two biggest names in the draft.
Would he have been available at #26? Good question… but he’s the reason the Habs made their move this afternoon, according to Kent Hughes.
Elliotte Friedman to Kent Hughes: The word is, you covered Demidov for a long time. Is that true?
Kent Hughes: Yes, very.
Hughes also said Michael Hage was the player they targeted at No. 21 when they made the trade to move up.
– HabsLinks (@HabsLinks) June 29, 2024
He can’t say it was for another guy (like Sacha Boisvert, taken at No. 18) that he moved up, but we know the Habs liked him. So, the Habs were in on the action.
But hey. All this to say that Habs fans will be looking to get to know him en masse, but already, in his first interview with TVA Sports, he had a surprise in store for fans: he chatted in French.
With Renaud Lavoie, he talked about his father (who tragically died in an accident last summer), his game, his love for the Habs… and he did it in very good French, which is a surprise.
Ivan Demidov, who wants to learn French, has plenty to eat to catch up with the man who has roots in Montreal. Hehe.
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Wow !!!! Michael Hage speaks perfect French.
He was born in Ont. His father was born in MTL. His grandparents still live there.
Fans will love him!
After Jacob Fowler last year, the Canadiens continue to draft players with Montreal roots. 👏 #GoHabsGo https://t.co/V0kFLxCZnm
– Laurie Couture-Dallaire (@laurie14cd) June 29, 2024
The 6’1, 190-pound marker plays center. He therefore fills an organizational need and is a logical selection, under the circumstances, for the Flanelle.
Aside from the fact that there was no transaction involving the Habs, it’s an entertaining first round.
Extension
33 goals, 75 points in 54 USHL games for a guy whose family is from Quebec? That’s a good one.
Michael Hage is a dynamic, six-foot-one, right-handed center. Put up 33 goals and 75 points in 54 games with the USHL’s Chicago Steel. He’s now a Montreal Canadien.
– Eric Engels (@EricEngels) June 29, 2024