Key Decisions Await Canadiens’ St. Louis on Hage’s Future
Brossard, Que. — The Canadiens continued to tinker with their lineup during Tuesday’s 4-3 shootout win over the Florida Panthers. Coach Martin St. Louis showed flexibility, but Michael Hage’s status remains unresolved.
Hage’s status and the Frozen Four
The 19-year-old Hage was Montreal’s 21st-overall pick in the 2024 draft. He has 26 goals and 85 points in 71 games across two seasons at Michigan.
Michigan advances to the Frozen Four. They face Denver in a semifinal on Thursday. If Michigan loses, Hage could be available before Saturday’s championship game.
Tuesday’s lineup experiments
St. Louis made several notable changes for the game. Brendan Gallagher was scratched to allow Kirby Dach back after an 11-game absence.
Alex Texier returned after a seven-game absence for a lower-body injury. Texier replaced Joe Veleno, who missed the game due to illness.
Texier moved into Oliver Kapanen’s spot on the second line. Kapanen slid to the fourth line alongside Phillip Danault and Josh Anderson.
Immediate effects
The new look produced encouraging results. Texier’s puck possession and ability to extend offensive-zone time stood out.
Ivan Demidov became Montreal’s most dangerous player opposite Texier. Alex Newhook’s speed and recent faceoff improvement balanced the line.
Player roles and playoff experience
Veleno offers physicality and penalty-kill value. He ranks third on the team with 149 hits and remains defensively responsible.
Gallagher has the most playoff experience on the roster. His playoff track record argues for his inclusion in postseason games.
Kapanen has shown maturity but only has three playoff games. St. Louis must judge how his role shifts before the postseason.
Coaching dilemmas and next steps
The Canadiens have four regular-season games left. They sit four points back in the Eastern Conference and share the Atlantic Division lead in a three-way tie.
St. Louis said winning and securing playoff positioning are top priorities. He also opened the door to experimentation to find better combinations.
Key decisions will shape Hage’s future with the Canadiens. St. Louis must weigh age, experience, talent, energy, and specific roles.
Voices inside the room
Defenceman Lane Hutson praised Hage’s skating and hockey instincts. Hutson noted Hage competes hard and brings high-end skill to games.
Hutson also moved from college to the NHL late last season. He reminds the staff that transitions can happen quickly in April.
With playoff positioning still undecided, more lineup choices are likely. Those moves could allow Hage to join the Canadiens as soon as he becomes available.
