NHL Prospect Roundup: Canadiens’ Michael Hage is tearing up the NCAA

The Montreal Canadiens could end up looking back at the 2024 NHL Draft as the one that helped bring the franchise back to glory.

Ivan Demidov was the big prize at No. 5, and fans can’t wait to see him eventually make his way over. But the club also selected Michael Hage from the USHL’s Chicago Steel later in the first round, giving them a two-way center with top-six potential.

Hage hasn’t disappointed after four NCAA games with the University of Michigan. The Wolverines freshman has points in each outing so far, with two double-point affairs against Minnesota State setting the tone. Hage finished his second week of college sitting at six points in four games, good to lead the team in scoring and putting his name high among the points leaders.

Hage has looked faster, stronger, and smarter from the get-go. The former Toronto Jr. Canadiens star is playing like the center so many knew he was capable of becoming, but he was forced to pay catchup after missing most of his USHL rookie season sitting on the sidelines with an injury.

And to think, he’s only getting started.

Anyways, welcome back to another year of the NHL Prospect Roundup on Daily Faceoff. Each Monday, we’ll look at 10 prospects making noise from all major development and pro leagues across the world. Let’s get started with Week 1:

NCAA

– Aiden Fink has been a man on a mission for Penn State. He had an assist in his first game against the University of Alaska-Fairbanks before exploding for four points in the rematch the next day. A two-assist effort against Quinnipiac on Saturday put him at seven points in three games, making him one of the most dangerous producers early in the season. The Nashville Predators took the playmaking winger 218th overall in 2023, but Fink has been exceptionally effective over his two years of college hockey. You can’t ask for much more out of a seventh-rounder.

AHL

– Luca Del Bel Belluz currently leads the AHL in scoring after opening weekend with three goals and five points in two games for Cleveland. It’s off the heels of a solid showing at the Buffalo Prospects Challenge, as well as his first full year in pro hockey last year. LDBB scored in his NHL debut last year, and now he’s already looking like a man on a mission after scoring a hat-trick against Hershey on Sunday. Cleveland has plenty of high-end pieces to watch thanks to an influx of young talent in the Columbus Blue Jackets‘ system, and LDBB is easily one of the key pieces.

OHL

– Niagara Ice Dogs forward Kevin He had an excellent draft season in 2023-24, scoring 31 goals and 53 points to become one of the more underrated prospects out of the OHL. Early on this year, He has established himself as must-watch viewing. The Winnipeg Jets draft pick had a six-point game against Brampton earlier this month and followed it up with his fourth multi-point effort of the season against Owen Sound. He is quick and a dynamic shooter, and while he was a bit more fearless last year, he’s still capable of handling himself physically. Look for He to continue ripping up the OHL and establishing himself as one of the best early steals of the 2024 draft after going 109th overall.

– I caught Ilya Protas‘ game against Brampton on Friday and he scored two goals and added an assist. His transition from USHL Des Moines to the Windsor Spitfires has been mightily successful, with him sitting at five goals and six points in four games – including at least one in all four outings. A third-round pick by the Washington Capitals in 2024, Protas is coming off a solid first year in North America, where he looked more like an all-situation setup guy. Now, he’s leading the charge as a playdriver, and the success is following.

– When Nick Lardis is on his game, he’s an unstoppable shooter. After returning from Chicago Blackhawks training camp, he had a three-point season debut with the Brantford Bulldogs. From there, he failed to get on the board for two straight games, but he has eight points in his past three games – including three goals and an assist in a 5-1 win over Sarnia on Wednesday. Lardis is a high-volume shooter, having taken at least six games in five of his six games this season. Injuries derailed Lardis’ 2023-24 campaign, but he has still had 29 goals and 50 points in 37 games. This year, look for him to smash the 50-goal mark for the first time in his career.

QMJHL

A third-round pick by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023, Mathieu Cataford has had a wild start to the 2024-25 campaign. He’s had at least two points in each of his six games and has four goals and 15 points in six games – putting him on pace for well over 160 points. Cataford is one of the most skilled wingers in the QMJHL and is already coming off a 40-goal, 90-point season as a Draft+1 player last year. Now in a leading role with Rimouski, look for Cataford to put himself firmly in the discussion to make Canada’s World Junior team if he can keep this type of pace up. Only two QMJHLers have broken the 150-point barrier over the past 20 years – Sidney Crosby in 2004-05 (168) and Alexander Radulov in 2005-06 (152).

WHL

– I am a Scott Ratzlaff believer – I think he’s a serious threat to make the Buffalo Sabres one day. And while he did allow five goals on Saturday against Portland, he was exceptional in his first two games against Tri-City and Kamloops, stopping 79 of 82 shots. Ratzlaff can be a hit or miss at points – the Buffalo Prospects Challenge is an example of that – but the highs are quite fascinating because he tracks pucks so well and is so athletic. Ratzlaff isn’t big at 6-foot-1, but he makes up for it with pure speed – and that’s why he’ll be in the hunt to make Canada’s World Junior team.

Liiga

– After registering three goals and 12 points in 44 Liiga games last year, Los Angeles Kings fifth-rounder Otto Salin is already up to four goals and 10 points in 12 games. The TPS defender has three multi-point games and his ice time has continued to grow as the season has worn on. TPS has struggled lately, so they’ve allowed some of their younger players a chance to show themselves, which should work in Salin’s favor. And, honestly, it’s just good to see him playing so well in his fourth year of men’s league action. There have been times when his mistakes with the puck have cost him opportunities, but Salin has been on an absolute rampage offensively this year, setting himself up for a 50-point pace.

KHL

– There’s been plenty of hype around Philadelphia Flyers prospect Yegor Zavragin this year, and for good reason. He started the KHL season as a rookie with HK Sochi, posting a 3-3-0 record with a shutout and a .941 save percentage. He then joined SKA St. Petersburg in sort of a “call-up” moment – Zavragin signed a KHL deal with SKA over the offseason, but, like many young players, was loaned out to Sochi to get playing time. He earned his first start with SKA on Saturday and made 35 saves – the fifth time he has saved at least that many this season. Zavragin has been busy, but he’s already looking like one of the best young goaltenders in the KHL. At 19, it’s rare for someone his age to get as many big opportunities early on. The Flyers have already have Ivan Fedotov and Alexei Kolosov in the system so you know they love going through the KHL well, but Zavragin has quickly established himself as a potential No. 1 of the future.

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NHL Prospect Roundup: Canadiens’ Michael Hage is tearing up the NCAA

NCAA

AHL

OHL

QMJHL

WHL

Liiga

KHL

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