Should the Canadiens Michael Hage Stay in College?

There’s a funny thing about prospects. Everybody wants to know when they’re coming, but sometimes the better question is whether they’re actually ready when they get there. That’s where Michael Hage gets interesting for the Montreal Canadiens.

Hage is probably the most important forward prospect in the Canadiens’ system right now, and not simply because he had a terrific sophomore season at Michigan. He put up 51 points in 39 games, led the NCAA in assists with 39, and then went to the World Junior Championship and led that tournament in both assists and points. That’s a pretty good way to get people excited.

Hage is going back to Michigan.

At first glance, that might seem like a disappointment. If a player has shown enough to potentially make the NHL, why not get him there and let him learn on the job? Because Montreal isn't really looking for just another young player. The Canadiens need a second-line centre.

Nick Suzuki has established himself as the guy at the top of the depth chart, but Montreal will eventually need somebody who can take some of the burden off him. That's where Hage becomes particularly interesting. His biggest strength isn't simply scoring goals. It's his ability to see the ice and make plays. He can find teammates, create openings and make things happen before everybody else sees them developing. That's exactly the kind of skill you want in a centre.

Hage needs to work on his defensive game.

But there's another side to playing centre in the NHL, and that's where another year at Michigan could be valuable. Hage still has work to do on faceoffs and his defensive game. Those aren't particularly glamorous things to talk about when you're looking at a prospect who just piled up points, but they're the things that can determine whether an offensive player actually becomes a dependable NHL centre.

And now Hage has another opportunity. With T.J. Hughes turning pro, Hage should have a chance to take on an even bigger role at Michigan. Instead of rushing him into the NHL and asking him to figure everything out while learning on the fly, Montreal can let him spend another season becoming the player they eventually need him to be. That's the part I like about this.

The Canadiens don't need Hage to arrive tomorrow. They need him to arrive ready.

If he can improve his faceoffs, become more reliable defensively and continue developing that playmaking game, Montreal could eventually have something pretty valuable: a young second-line centre who doesn't just fill a position, but actually gives the team another offensive engine.

And maybe that is the real reason another year at Michigan isn't a setback at all. It's preparation. The Canadiens have waited long enough for this rebuild to develop. There’s no reason to rush one of their most intriguing pieces just because he looks ready for a taste of the NHL.

Let Hage take another year. If it makes him the centre Montreal hopes he can become, the wait will be worth it.