Hage is the rookie of the year (Big Ten): One more argument to keep him… or trade him?

Dose
Crédit: Photo by Zac BonDurant/Getty Images

It’s done.

Michael Hage has won the freshman of the year title in his conference with 34 points (13 goals) in 33 games.

A nice recognition for the one who was selected 21st overall in the last draft.

It’s deserved since the habs prospect had a great season at 18 years old.

Few players at that age are able to be that productive in the university circuit. And to see that Hage did well like that, it’s interesting.

But beware: just because he won this title doesn’t mean he’ll automatically make the leap to the pros in a few weeks.

Hage still has time to develop and before seeing him move on to the next step, he needs to be able to dominate the university circuit.

Like Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, and Jacob Fowler did.

I also wonder how much the freshman of the year title affects his value as an NHL prospect.

After all, we can ask the question because Mathias Brunet mentioned yesterday the possibility of seeing Hage being included in a big trade this summer to get a quality second center.

We know that Kent Hughes is open to giving up a lot to improve his team this summer.

But at the same time, we also know that the organization loves Michael Hage.

It’s not for nothing that Kent Hughes traded the 26th, 57th, and 198th picks to move up in the first round. It was Hage who was targeted by the management and the Habs did everything they could to have the opportunity to select him before another team.

That being said, if Hage is really part of a trade this summer, it’s because Kent Hughes will have found what he really wants.

We saw it at the last deadline: the Habs’ GM doesn’t trade his players if he doesn’t like the return offered.

And given Hage’s importance in the eyes of the organization, it’s clear that we’ll want to be satisfied with the return if he’s ever traded.

Overtime

– Note:

– Linus Ullmark will be in goal for the Senators.

– The Canucks still believe in Elias Pettersson.

– Oh well…

– Logical.