Michael Hage might finally be pulling on a Canadiens sweater this season, and it sounds like the wait is almost over.
Martin St-Louis could have the young center available for a real playoff push, according to a report from TVA Sports insider Nicolas Cloutier on Tuesday.
Fans have spent months worried Hage might sign elsewhere, or head back to Michigan for another college season. That fear appears to be fading fast.
Cloutier reports the Canadiens want Hage under contract as soon as possible. The organization's preference has been clear for a while now.
Montreal reportedly wanted Hage turning pro in the spring of 2026, rather than returning to the University of Michigan for another year.
"The CH wants to sign Hage as quickly as possible," Cloutier wrote. "Their preference was that he turn pro as early as spring 2026."
That timeline points toward one specific outcome. Hage joining the Canadiens for the stretch run of the 2026-27 season, with a playoff spot potentially on the line.
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A blockbuster addition in Michael Hage could completely change Montreal's season
Nothing would stop Hage from suiting up for Montreal down the stretch and into the postseason under this scenario. It's the logical bridge between college hockey and the NHL.
His Michigan coach, Brandon Naurato, has already backed the plan. He's pointed to Hage's maturity and his focus on preparing properly for the NHL jump.
If Hage wraps his college season in the spring and then heads straight to Montreal, that lines up exactly with what the organization wanted from the start.
It's the kind of staggered entry that lets a young player find his footing without the full grind of an 84-game season. Think of it as easing into cold water instead of jumping in.
Kent Hughes and the Canadiens front office have been building around exactly this kind of young talent all year. Adding a playoff-tested rookie to that mix only raises the stakes.
Nothing is signed yet, and plans built on insider reporting can shift fast. But the direction here feels unmistakable heading into training camp season.
If it plays out the way Cloutier describes, Montreal fans could be watching Hage's NHL debut arrive with the games that matter most already on the schedule.
Should the Canadiens rush Michael Hage into the lineup for a playoff push?
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