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Michael Hage could be involved to get a guy like Dylan Cozens
Félix Forget
Michael Hage could be involved to get a guy like Dylan Cozens
Credit: Getty Images
The injury of Kirby Dach in recent days has changed things in Montreal. In fact, more than ever, we realize that the second center seat on the team in the long term is, at the moment, a big question mark.

Because clearly, there are good reasons to doubt that Dach will be that player in the long term, so the CH must evaluate its options.

And among these options, there is Michael Hage. The center player, drafted in the first round of the last draft, is very promising… but he is still a prospect. He is not a sure thing, far from it.

With the Canadiens being more and more competitive, one can wonder how much the club can afford to wait. This means that we look at external options, including Dylan Cozens.

And before the game, during the Hockey 360 show, François Gagnon discussed Cozens’ case… and he noted an interesting point:

Michael Hage could be involved in getting a guy like Dylan Cozens. – François Gagnon

In summary, such a transaction would be made with the goal of “bringing forward” the arrival of a second center. The Canadiens would trade a very promising prospect who could become that second center for another center who, to a certain extent, is already that second center.

He is not a perfect second center, however, so it would be a big gamble.

But in a world where Buffalo trades Cozens to the CH (so, to a team in their division), we have to think that Kent Hughes would have to pay a high price to force the Sabres’ hand. François Gagnon also mentioned the names of Alex Newhook and Logan Mailloux, but the big fish that could really interest Buffalo is Hage.

In all cases, however, this says that it’s a gamble for a guy who earns over $7 million per year until 2030. The CH must be sure of its move.

If it’s a gamble that the managers are not ready to take, there are also short-term options that could temporarily fill the gap until Hage is ready. The RDS informant is also interested, and he mentioned the names of Brayden Schenn and Ryan O’Reilly.

Schenn ($6.5 million per year) is under contract until 2028, while O’Reilly ($4.5 million per year) is until 2027. These are guys who, for a year or two, could help until reinforcements arrive.

However, it is essential that the two be interested in playing in Montreal (Schenn has clauses to avoid certain teams in transactions until the end of his contract, while O’Reilly had decided to sign with Nashville to move away from the Toronto media reality), but these are options that, without costing Michael Hage, could help the Canadiens to some extent.

But clearly, this is the problem of the hour in Montreal. Let’s see how the managers will settle it all, because with Ivan Demidov arriving next year, finding him a good center player will be crucial.


In rafale

– No defenseman in CH history has scored 50 points in fewer games than Lane Hutson.

– Almost.

– It’s rare to see a player talk about family reasons to justify signing with the Blue Jays.

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