Fantasy Hockey Feature: Is Michael Hage the steal of the 2024 draft?

Michael Hage is turning heads in his first NCAA season. The Montreal Canadiens’ draft pick has fans thinking the Habs might have gotten a steal. With so much focus on the player, it’s fair to wonder, what exactly is his ceiling? Can he be a top line centre in the NHL? 

Let's dig in.

Hage was drafted 21st overall by the Canadiens in 2024. The Elite Prospects team ranked him as the 24th best player available. You might read that as a bit of a reach, but the team saw his dramatic improvement throughout the year as a big positive. They knew he could take a big next step, if he improved his pace, added playmaking, and got better at absorbing contact.

Looking at Hage’s draft-eligible season, he had 75 points in 54 games for the Chicago Steel of the USHL. You can see in his tracking data from Mitch