Non-Rocket Habs Prospect tracker

[Prime Minister Koivu]

Interesting that Hage has been played on the wing only. Is Canada’s centres just so deep or is Hage a better winger than centre?

 

Hage has been great so far at wing and today he is playing on the first line which is great. 

[Commandant]

He actually had one game at Centre earlier in the week.

 

That said team canada, whether its junior or men's team almost always has more centres than 4, leading to some playing wing.  I wouldnt read into that this means anything on his future 

[DON]

2 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

Interesting that Hage has been played on the wing only. Is Canada’s centres just so deep or is Hage a better winger than centre?

 

Hage has been great so far at wing and today he is playing on the first line which is great. 

 

2025-26 Depth Assessment: Centres – HabsWorld.net

 

While the Habs have been searching for a 2C for quite a while now, there’s some hope that Michael Hage could ultimately fill that role down the road.  A legitimate offensive threat with strong playmaking skills, there’s a possibility that he could turn pro after his sophomore year at Michigan this season although he’s still a few years away from realistically sliding into that second centre position.  It’s also possible that Hage’s best fit is on the wing in the pros but at least there’s some hope that he could be the solution.

[tomh009]

On 7/31/2025 at 3:32 PM, DON said:

Like a Galchenyuk, Kotkaniemi or Eller were?

Like Hutson would be a PP specialist at best?

[Prime Minister Koivu]

7 hours ago, Commandant said:

He actually had one game at Centre earlier in the week.

 

That said team canada, whether its junior or men's team almost always has more centres than 4, leading to some playing wing.  I wouldnt read into that this means anything on his future 

 

5 hours ago, DON said:

 

2025-26 Depth Assessment: Centres – HabsWorld.net

 

While the Habs have been searching for a 2C for quite a while now, there’s some hope that Michael Hage could ultimately fill that role down the road.  A legitimate offensive threat with strong playmaking skills, there’s a possibility that he could turn pro after his sophomore year at Michigan this season although he’s still a few years away from realistically sliding into that second centre position.  It’s also possible that Hage’s best fit is on the wing in the pros but at least there’s some hope that he could be the solution.

Thanks guys 

 

It’s exciting to have players like Hage in our system 

[DON]

 

2025 World Junior Summer Showcase: Koivu, Nilson among standouts on Day 5

#15 Michael Hage, RW (Montreal Canadiens): Hage was a bit quieter in the first half, but he was one of the few Canadians who continued to give it his all even when the game got out of hand. His goal to close out the game was really nice, but I really liked his chemistry with Boisvert the most. Hage is a lock to make the team, in my opinion. He’s just so stable, smart and committed to two-way dominance.

 

#9 Aatos Koivu, RW (Montreal Canadiens): They don’t hand out awards for this tournament, but Koivu has easily been the MVP. He had two goals today, and his ability to drive into the slot to create chances all week long has made him incredibly dangerous. Koivu wastes no time getting his shot off, and he’s always in the right spot at the right time.

 

#18 LJ Mooney, RW (Montreal Canadiens): There wasn’t a single player in this game who showed more confidence with a puck than Mooney. The small but skilled forward scored a goal today and nearly had another on the power play. I like how much power he packs into a small frame, and he clearly knows how to make things happen when uncontested by the faceoff dots. I think he’s got a legit shot to make the main team in December.

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

3 hours ago, DON said:

 

2025 World Junior Summer Showcase: Koivu, Nilson among standouts on Day 5

#15 Michael Hage, RW (Montreal Canadiens): Hage was a bit quieter in the first half, but he was one of the few Canadians who continued to give it his all even when the game got out of hand. His goal to close out the game was really nice, but I really liked his chemistry with Boisvert the most. Hage is a lock to make the team, in my opinion. He’s just so stable, smart and committed to two-way dominance.

 

#9 Aatos Koivu, RW (Montreal Canadiens): They don’t hand out awards for this tournament, but Koivu has easily been the MVP. He had two goals today, and his ability to drive into the slot to create chances all week long has made him incredibly dangerous. Koivu wastes no time getting his shot off, and he’s always in the right spot at the right time.

 

#18 LJ Mooney, RW (Montreal Canadiens): There wasn’t a single player in this game who showed more confidence with a puck than Mooney. The small but skilled forward scored a goal today and nearly had another on the power play. I like how much power he packs into a small frame, and he clearly knows how to make things happen when uncontested by the faceoff dots. I think he’s got a legit shot to make the main team in December.

 

 

I gotta say that I was as excited about Koivu as I am Mesar - not at all

 

I wasn’t expecting him to play so well. 
 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

[DON]

43 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I gotta say that I was as excited about Koivu as I am Mesar - not at all

 

I wasn’t expecting him to play so well. 
 

 

Agree 100%, hated the pick when happened, similar to Florian being chosen or Daniel Audette picked years ago, when father is a Habs scout.

Can just hope Aatos ends up shining at World Juniors and has full healthy season.

Maye he and Hage will lock horns again on a bit bigger stage.

[Commandant]

Yeah, just awful to take a guy who most saw as a 2nd rounder in the third round.... cause his father was on the team.    Who is making these terrible decisions?

 

 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

53 minutes ago, Commandant said:

Yeah, just awful to take a guy who most saw as a 2nd rounder in the third round.... cause his father was on the team.    Who is making these terrible decisions?

 

 

I certainly don’t follow Koivu closely but hasn’t he been unimpressive until now?

[Commandant]

6 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I certainly don’t follow Koivu closely but hasn’t he been unimpressive until now?

 

Its been one year since he was drafted.  

 

His year was fine, not great, not bad though, as he was an 18 year old playing in Finland's top men's league. 

 

Still instead of judging the pick and assuming he was only drafted cause his name, we could actually watch him, and I doubt DON had watched any of his games prior to the draft when he "hated the pick when happened"

 

Judging a pick based on names or a stat sheet and never having seen the player is just silliness. Even moreso when the player gets taken a round lower than where most informed people had him.

[DON]

 

2025 World Junior Summer Showcase: 3 things learned on Day 7 | NHL.com

 

Hage dominates beyond score sheet
Michael Hage scored a goal in all four games for Canada at the summer showcase, but the Montreal Canadiens forward prospect was more interested in showing other aspects of his game.

"It's obviously nice to get on the score sheet, but I think the biggest thing I just wanted to come here and show is how competitive I am," he said. "I think at times, you can't see through video how competitive and how hard a guy is. And I just wanted to come here this week and show that I'm a competitor, and I'll do anything it takes to win. It's obviously a bonus that I was able to help our group win and able to pot a couple."

Hage (6-foot-1, 187 pounds) scored an empty-net goal in the third period on Saturday, outmuscling U.S. defenseman Luke Osburn (Buffalo Sabres) to get to a loose puck.

The 19-year-old is able to do that in part because of how much stronger he's gotten after one season at the University of Michigan.

"I just feel a lot stronger than I did last year," he said. "I'm able to be more dominant in areas of the game maybe I wasn't at that time. It's an advantage. Being in shape and being strong is part of the game, and it's a really big part of the game. Just trying to continue to build in that area is a big thing for me."

[Habs Fan in Edmonton]

18 hours ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I certainly don’t follow Koivu closely but hasn’t he been unimpressive until now?

 

I haven't followed Koivu closely perhaps because the other picks have been getting more attention BUT the bottom line is that it's great to see him progressing well. 

[Prime Minister Koivu]

30 minutes ago, Habs Fan in Edmonton said:

 

I haven't followed Koivu closely perhaps because the other picks have been getting more attention BUT the bottom line is that it's great to see him progressing well. 

Yes and Yes 🎉

[DON]

 

Strong Showings from Montreal’s Prospects at World Junior Summer Showcase – HabsWorld.net

Owen Protz (Canada)
Not to take away how good it was to see him get invited to the camp but it became pretty clear early on that he was viewed as more of a field filler.  Even in practices, he was last on the depth chart, merely rotating into drills while in games, he was typically the seventh defender.  He didn’t play a lot but he brought some physicality to the table.  If he has a big first half in the OHL, maybe that can score him an invitation to main camp but even if that doesn’t happen, a week of working with Canada’s coaching staff while practicing with and against some top prospects can only help his development.

Stats: 3 GP, 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 points, 0 PIMS

 

[DON]

California kid seems intriguing. 

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/2025-montreal-canadiens-top-25-under-25-prospects-rankings-the-projects-43-36-sam-harris-riley-kidney-filip-eriksson/

 

#37 Sam Harris
Forward – 21 – University of Denver (NCAA)

Quentin Miller is about to get his first experience at Denver University but Sam Harris has already reached the peak with the team by hoisting the NCAA trophy. That happened in 2024, a year after he won the World Junior A Challenge with Team USA, so he’s enjoyed the feeling of winning in recent seasons.

His team didn’t repeat as national champions in 2025, losing in the semifinals to eventual champion Western Michigan, but Harris himself significantly improved his performance, scoring 23 goals and increasing his assist total to 12 as well.

Offence is only half of his game; he’s just as strong on the defensive side of things pressuring opponents and winning pucks back. He has all the traits you look for in a bottom-six forward, so I was surprised to see him finish this low in the ranking. I predict he cracks the Top 25 in 2026 with several players set to graduate, continuing a steady climb from his debut at 48th two years ago.

[DON]

See how he looks in September before heading back to Swiss.

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/vinzenz-rohrer-2025-montreal-canadiens-top-25-under-25-prospect-rankings-scouting-report-voting-projection-stats/

 

Rohrer was an integral part of that success, on the ice for his work ethic and finishing touch but also off the ice where his leadership skills stand out. He spent time on Zürich’s first line and the third, earning reps both on the power play and the penalty kill. The latter was a new usage and something that probably strengthened his position when it was time to vote.

[DON]

Will the big kid develop better than past similar ranked guys.

2025 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #22 Hayden Paupanekis

 

[DON]

lil LJ, more a Simoneau or a Desharnais?

https://www.habseyesontheprize.com/lj-mooney-2025-montreal-canadiens-top-25-under-25-prospect-ranking-scouting-report-stats-projection/

 

[DON]

 

How Hage Has Evolved in the Offseason | JDM

When the University of Michigan was eliminated from the NCAA championship in March, Michael Hage rolled up his sleeves. The Montreal Canadiens prospect spent the spring in school and made the school's gym his second home, so much so that he reached the symbolic 200-pound mark.

 

"The biggest change is on the nutrition side," the young forward said. It's so important. You can train as much as you want, but the results will be negligible if your diet doesn't follow."

 

 

Top prospects for Montreal Canadiens | NHL.com

[dlbalr]

An interview with Koivu from a Finnish paper (translated): https://www-iltalehti-fi.translate.goog/smliiga/a/161f8f9a-6952-4ab7-802d-7d99e89fdd9a?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US

[DON]

Bogdan with 3 pre-season games played already.

More prospects tuning up today, i guess shall see if Zharovsky can stick in the KHL and maybe get a regular shift.

 

Habs Prospects

 

All games are at Eastern time

August 29 games

Salavat Yulaev Ufa at Magnitka Magnitogorsk 4:00 am - KHL pre-season

Alexander Zharovsky -

Dinamo Minsk vs Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod 8:30 am - KHL pre-season (Megasport Arena, Moscow, Russia)

Bogdan Konyushkov - 

Shanghai Dragons at Spartak Moscow 12:30 pm - KHL pre-season

Yevgeni Volokhin -
Daniil Sobolev -

Växjö Lakers HC at TPS Turku 11:30 - Liiga pre-season

Aatos Koivu -

Brantford Bulldogs at Kitchener Rangers 7:00 pm - OHL pre-season

Owen Protz -
Andrew MacNiel -

[DON]

How will Hage's season and stint at world juniors go. 

2025 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #9 Michael Hage

We know it won’t be this year, since he’s back at Michigan for his sophomore season. What he does in 2025-26 in the NCAA could go a long way in determining his readiness. He has the talent to go the Cole Caufield route and turn professional after just two seasons, but this is decidedly harder to pull off as a centre. Hage needs to show something extra this season, and prove that he’s capable of withstanding the grind of an NHL season, or fans will once again be hoping for the team to figure out an alternative.

 

Montreal Canadiens rank No. 5 in NHL Pipeline Rankings for 2025 - The Athletic

6. Michael Hage, C

April 14, 2006 | 6-foot-1 | 190 pounds | Shoots right

Drafted: No. 21 in 2024
Tier: Middle of the lineup player

Skating: NHL average
Puck skills: Above NHL average
Hockey sense: NHL average
Compete: Below NHL average
Shot: Above NHL average

 

[DON]

81st pick Pickford starting season hot.

1st star 5-2 win; 2g1a 9 shots +4

 

Tigers Announce Bryce Pickford As 42nd Captain In Franchise History - Medicine Hat Tigers

Tigers Head Coach & General Manager Willie Desjardins says Pickford will be a strong leader and lead by example.

 

“... He’s very competitive, he sets an example in the room all the time; he’s the first guy in, he works extremely hard, and on the other side he sticks up for his teammates. He was the players’ choice, I think he was a great choice. I think he’s a guy that loves to win and will battle every night for us.”