Cowan: Canadiens have big hopes for towering prospect Hayden Paupanekis
Paupanekis wasn't in Los Angeles for last weekend's draft, instead staying home to watch on TV with his family, including his parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts. The Canadiens moved up in the draft to select him, acquiring the 69th overall pick from the Boston Bruins in exchange for the 79th and 108th picks.
Article content
'It was kind of a weird moment,' Paupanekis said. 'It was a commercial break during the draft and then out of nowhere Montreal's picking and I was like, 'What the heck's going on?' And then I hear my name. Once I learned they traded up for me it meant a lot. They didn't think I was going to be there at 79.
Article content
The 6-foot-5, 203-pound Hayden Paupanekis with shootout goal at end of #Habs development camp scrimmage. pic.twitter.com/TxDxEERlGc
— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 3, 2025
Article content
Article content
'I was glad that I stayed home with my family and took that moment in with them and celebrated with them,' he added. 'It was crazy. I didn't really expect anybody. I just wanted to know who it was going to be and then once I found out it was Montreal everybody was screaming. Just a lot of excitement. My mom was crying.'
Article content
There's a lot to like about Paupanekis, starting with his size and the fact he plays centre, a position where the Canadiens lack depth. The Canadiens are hoping Paupanekis can follow a similar trajectory to 6-foot-5, 212-pound right-winger Tyler Thorpe, who they selected in the fifth round (130th overall) of last year's NHL Draft.
Article content
After last year's development camp, Canadiens management told Thorpe they wanted him to return to the WHL's Vancouver Giants and show he could play a physical game. He responded by posting 27-25-52 totals with 69 penalty minutes in 68 games and was rewarded with an NHL entry-level contract. Thorpe played one game with the AHL's Laval Rocket at the end of last season and picked up two assists.
Article content
Article content
Article content
'He's got some work to do, but he's young,' Rob Ramage, the Canadiens' director of player development, said about Paupanekis. 'He's in Kelowna, they're going to host the Memorial Cup (next season). I have not seen him until today and yesterday, for that matter. But, apparently, he's going to be their go-to guy. Once again, with so many of these guys it's maturity, physically growing into their bodies. But he's got a big frame, so it's just going to be a matter of time for him.
Article content
'It's going to be a big year for him,' Ramage added. 'With the Memorial Cup coming he's going to be one of the focus guys. So hopefully they build a good team around him.'
Article content
Living in Winnipeg, Paupanekis said he has learned a lot about protecting the puck, using his size and going to the net by watching the Jets' Adam Lowry — a 6-foot-5, 210-pound centre — in action. Paupanekis added that versatility is the strongest part of his game at this point with him able to play on the power play, the penalty kill and in the last two minutes of a game, whether his team is winning or losing.
Article content
'I have lots to grow still,' he said. 'I'm still young, I still want to gain weight, get stronger. I think once I do that I'll have a really good chance at making the NHL and staying in the NHL and that's the goal for me, obviously.
Article content
'You dream of that stuff,' he added about putting on a Canadiens sweater for the first time at development camp. 'At a young age I never really thought I'd be in this position. To finally see myself to be wearing the logo, it's an honour. I'm just super-excited for what the future holds for me.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
National Post
3 hours ago
- National Post
Lions vs. Alouettes: Montreal looks to rebound versus B.C. squad
MONTREAL — The Montreal Alouettes will once again turn to veteran backup quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson on Saturday night when they host the B.C. Lions at Percival Molson Stadium. Article content The 37-year-old gets his second straight start behind centre in place of injured starter Davis Alexander. Alexander, who suffered a hamstring injury during Montreal's win over the Edmonton Elks on June 19, is expected back in time for Montreal's next game against the Toronto Argonauts on July 17, according to head coach Jason Maas. Article content Article content Article content Bethel-Thompson will look to rebound following a 35-17 loss last Friday in Hamilton against the Tiger-Cats, during which he completed 24 of 41 passes for 203 yards and was intercepted twice. Article content 'Every day I get more reps, I feel more and more comfortable,' said Bethel-Thompson. 'I feel like we were prepared last week. I felt like we had a good week of practice and we were ready to go. Obviously that game didn't go the way we wanted it to, but I felt like we had a good preparation again this week. Article content 'I'm excited for the opportunity to come back home, protect our house, and find a way to get a win.' Article content One area of emphasis for the Alouettes in practice this week was their execution on first-down opportunities. Last week, Montreal (3-1) converted on a season-low 16 first-down chances, a statistic Maas understands is crucial to his team's overall success on offence. Article content 'You stay on the positive side of things; you have a much better chance of executing,' said Maas. 'If you just look at second-down conversion percentage in this league, anything eight-plus (yards) is very difficult to manage, but anything under that is more manageable.' Article content 'It's obviously a hard down to execute on, but the first down is huge,' Bethel-Thompson added. 'The difference between conversion rates on second and medium and second and long is big in this league. It's big in every league. Article content 'We got to be good at first down and we got to be good in the red zone. I think we'll do that and we got a good game plan for it.' Article content While the Alouettes will be without their starting pivot, the Lions (1-3) will welcome back their No. 1 quarterback, Nathan Rourke, on Saturday. Rourke has missed B.C.'s last two games with an oblique injury he sustained late in his team's 34-20 Week 2 loss to Winnipeg on June 12. Article content 'I feel good,' Rourke told reporters following Thursday's practice. 'I think, again, it's one of those things that's just been based on how it responds. I've done a fair amount of stuff this week and continue to try to progress.' Article content The Lions, who are in search of their first road win of the season, will also be counting on Rourke to lead the team out of a three-game losing streak. The 27-year-old Victoria native threw for 573 yards, recording four passing touchdowns to go along with one rushing major in just two games this season.
Ottawa Citizen
3 hours ago
- Ottawa Citizen
Canadiens prospect Michael Hage has taken great strides at Michigan
Article content Canadiens prospect Michael Hage got off to an impressive start last season as a freshman at the University of Michigan. Article content Rob Ramage, the Canadiens' director of player personnel, was in Michigan to watch Hage — selected in the first round (21st overall) of last year's NHL Draft — play his first two NCAA games at centre against Minnesota State. Hage, who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds when the Canadiens drafted him, had a goal and three assists as Michigan split the two-game series. Article content Article content Article content Ramage was also there a couple of months later, when Hage got bounced around by a very physical and heavy Michigan State team. Article content Article content 'From the development standpoint, that was great and he was aware of that,' Ramage said about the game against Michigan State Thursday when Hage was among the 31 Canadiens prospects who scrimmaged in Brossard as the Canadiens wrapped up this year's development camp. Article content Hage finished his freshman season at Michigan with 13-21-34 totals in 33 games and was named the Big Ten's rookie of the year. Michigan didn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, finishing the season with an overall record of 18-15-3. Article content As the season went on, Hage became a target for older and stronger opposing players. Article content 'As I said to him, 'Michael, if you're an elite player get used to it,'' Ramage said Thursday. 'The good players, the elite players, they find a way. He's a really solid young man. He takes it to heart. He really cares. One thing we talked about being with him last night is that it's good to take it to heart, but don't let it affect your game. It's a game of failures some times.' Article content Article content Article content Smooth is the best way to describe Hage's game. Everything he does is smooth, from his skating, to his stickhandling and his playmaking. He stayed at the University of Michigan after the season ended to work out in the gym and put on about 10 pounds ahead of the Canadiens' development camp. Article content 'I feel like it has really helped me,' the 19-year-old said. 'The strength and conditioning coaches and just the resources that we have at school are unbelievable. It's really helped me so far and I think it's going to help me next year.' Article content Hage will be going back to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season. When Ramage was asked when Hage might be ready to turn pro, he said: 'We're one year at a time right now. He was a freshman last year playing against older guys. Let's give him this year, we'll see where he's at.' Article content Michael Hage (No. 25 red), Canadiens' first-round pick (21st overall) at last year's NHL Draft, in action at #Habs development camp. — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 2, 2025
Edmonton Journal
3 hours ago
- Edmonton Journal
Canadiens prospect Michael Hage has taken great strides at Michigan
Article content Canadiens prospect Michael Hage got off to an impressive start last season as a freshman at the University of Michigan. Article content Rob Ramage, the Canadiens' director of player personnel, was in Michigan to watch Hage — selected in the first round (21st overall) of last year's NHL Draft — play his first two NCAA games at centre against Minnesota State. Hage, who was listed at 6-foot-1 and 188 pounds when the Canadiens drafted him, had a goal and three assists as Michigan split the two-game series. Article content Article content Ramage was also there a couple of months later, when Hage got bounced around by a very physical and heavy Michigan State team. Article content Article content 'From the development standpoint, that was great and he was aware of that,' Ramage said about the game against Michigan State Thursday when Hage was among the 31 Canadiens prospects who scrimmaged in Brossard as the Canadiens wrapped up this year's development camp. Article content Hage finished his freshman season at Michigan with 13-21-34 totals in 33 games and was named the Big Ten's rookie of the year. Michigan didn't qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, finishing the season with an overall record of 18-15-3. Article content As the season went on, Hage became a target for older and stronger opposing players. Article content 'As I said to him, 'Michael, if you're an elite player get used to it,'' Ramage said Thursday. 'The good players, the elite players, they find a way. He's a really solid young man. He takes it to heart. He really cares. One thing we talked about being with him last night is that it's good to take it to heart, but don't let it affect your game. It's a game of failures some times.' Article content Article content Article content Smooth is the best way to describe Hage's game. Everything he does is smooth, from his skating, to his stickhandling and his playmaking. He stayed at the University of Michigan after the season ended to work out in the gym and put on about 10 pounds ahead of the Canadiens' development camp. Article content 'I feel like it has really helped me,' the 19-year-old said. 'The strength and conditioning coaches and just the resources that we have at school are unbelievable. It's really helped me so far and I think it's going to help me next year.' Article content Hage will be going back to the University of Michigan for his sophomore season. When Ramage was asked when Hage might be ready to turn pro, he said: 'We're one year at a time right now. He was a freshman last year playing against older guys. Let's give him this year, we'll see where he's at.' Article content Michael Hage (No. 25 red), Canadiens' first-round pick (21st overall) at last year's NHL Draft, in action at #Habs development camp. — Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) July 2, 2025
