Habs Daily: Michael Hage’s Potential, Dev Camp Highlights

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed during the weekend.

Montreal Canadiens News

By adding players such as Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage to the prospect pool the Habs have adding an important element of quality to the high quantity of prospects in the system. Consequently, the team is described by a recent NHL prospect pool ranking as a “… a nearly perfect pool that doesn’t need much of anything else at this point.“‘  [Montreal Canadiens Prospect Pool Among Best In NHL]

The Montreal Canadiens made news when traded to move up five spots a few hours before the 2024 NHL draft, securing the 21st overall pick. After much debate about the goal of the trade, the Habs used the pick to select forward Michael Hage, a player Kent Hughes said was their target all along. Take a look at why the Habs brass believe they’ve added a key player to the team’s rebuild. [Canadiens Top Prospects: Michael Hage’s Road To The NHL]

Development camp gave young players an opportunity to make a name for themselves as they learn what it take to make it to the next step in their hockey careers. Several Canadiens prospects stood out, including Hage, Florian Xhekaj, and Tyler Thorpe. [Canadiens Prospect Highlights: Hage, Xhekaj, & Thorpe Standout]

It’s already been two years since the Habs shocked some by picking Juraj Slafkovsky first overall at the 2022 NHL Entry Draft.

On this day 2 years ago, the Habs selected Juraj Slafkovsky 🇸🇰 with the 1st overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft at the Bell Centre in Montreal. pic.twitter.com/ZgJt8yQjyN

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) July 7, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• The off season seemingly started early for New Jersey Devils General Manager Tom Fitzgerald. By the time the 2024 NHL Trade Deadline rolled around, the Devils’ GM knew his team wasn’t going to clinch a spot in the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs. [New Jersey Devils]
• The Philadelphia Flyers signed Jett Luchanko to his three-year, entry-level contract immediately after the development camp scrimmage at the Flyers Training Centre in Voorhees, New Jersey, on Saturday night. [Philadelphia Flyers]
• Having coached the Big Three defence of the dynastic 1970s Montreal Canadiens, Scotty Bowman is historically enthused at the sight of size on the blue Boston Bruins blue line, especially when it all comes in the Hall of Fame packages to which he was accustomed. [Boston Bruins]