After already considerably boosting their prospect pool by selecting Ivan Demidov fifth overall, the Montreal Canadiens have added another forward to their pipeline.
The club selected centre Michael Hage 21st overall at the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday with their second first-round pick.
Hage, 18, grew up a fan of the Canadiens, despite residing and playing in Greater Toronto.
“Growing up as a kid, (they) did everything for me,” Hage said when asked by Sportsnet’s Jeff Marek about what this moment means to his family. “I couldn’t be happier. Grew up a Habs fan, both my parents were from Montreal, and my dad would be so happy right now.”
Hage’s father passed away in July 2023.
The Mississauga, Ont., native scored 33 goals and 75 points playing for the USHL’s Chicago Steel last season. He’s set to play for the University of Michigan in 2024-25.
In his U16 AAA year in 2021-22 playing for the GTHL’s Toronto Jr. Canadiens, Hage scored 46 goals and 116 points in 57 games.
When he joins the Canadiens, he’ll join a young, promising core that includes Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach and 2022 first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky.
Hage comes in at six-foot-one and 190 pounds. A two-way centre, he’s been compared to soon-to-be teammate Suzuki.