Confirmed with Link: Alex Newhook for 31st, 37th and Fairbrother

[Runner77]

Not saying you are. My statement is focused on your contention that he's not an area of need, when mine is that he aligns with one of the team's most glaring areas of need: high-quality centers, of which we have only two, and maybe 2 1/2, depending on Monahan's durability.

Does Newhook still project as a center? That remains to be seen.

 

[Whitesnake]

Not against the deal by the way. I wanted Newhook a lot in 2019. And I think that opportunities could help him a lot. Just saying it sucks for the draft show that it is. But it's just that. If Newhook gets us 55 points next year, nobody will remember the draft show....

I really hope though that they do the right think at pick 5.

 

[26Mats]

Lol at people thinking this was an overpayment

Newhook will be given top 6 opportunities and add elite speed to our forward group.

In a year he could be a steal, though could perhaps be dealt with a guy like Barron for PLD.

Dealt for PLD?

 

[FerrisRox]

I don’t think he’s a bad skater at all, but coming out of the draft he was touted as a high-end skater and I’ve never seen that in the NHL.

He’s just not as fast and explosive as you’d like for that size.

His best attribute is his shot imo.

Thanks, I appreciate the response.

 

[Runner77]

The armchair scouts here usually nail the draft, most scouts just watch video anyways like we do. The head scouts and GM travel, I know a few scouts in the W and they rarely travelled the last 3 years, and it made no impact on their decisions or rankings.

BTW a ton of franchise goalies are later picks, this isn't exactly breaking news

The armchair scouts may have had Kulich right. We’ll see.

 

[John B]

Feels a bit like the Dvorak deal. Late 1st and early 2nd for a middle six center. The only good part is there's the possibility Newhook has room to grow with a bigger role. Newhook is likely better than anything the Habs could have drafted with the 31st pick, unfortunate they had to give up #37 as well though.

 

[VirginiaMtlExpat]

Does Newhook still project as a center? That remains to be seen.

He can certainly play in a pinch, and as he evolves, given that he took the third most faceoffs last year for the Avs, despite playing under a vet-favoring coach. He played as their 3C. Whether he sticks there depends on deployment: does MSL want to concentrate skill in his top 6, or does he want to match up while rolling a balanced top 9? And does Monahan stay fit finally and put his injuries behind him? If I were coaching, I'd shoot for a balanced top 9, with three strong Cs who make their linemates better while playing 200 feet, which I think we get with Newhook as 3C, given his elite skating. While giving him PP and PK time. The only argument against that is that he's a bit short to be a defensive juggernaut, but he has other qualities that mitigate that limitation.

 

[DAChampion]

Has a single post discussed Fairbrother over 56 pages?

 

[Lebowski]

I don’t know Newhook well enough to complain, but that seems like a hefty price to pay. I don’t like trading relatively high picks before knowing what’s available at those picks.

Hopefully this turns into a Dach 2.0 trade.

 

[DAChampion]

Feels a bit like the Dvorak deal. Late 1st and early 2nd for a middle six center. The only good part is there's the possibility Newhook has room to grow with a bigger role. Newhook is likely better than anything the Habs could have drafted with the 31st pick, unfortunate they had to give up #37 as well though.

I think the Dvorak trade is a good analogy.

Yes, the Habs probably got the better player ... But should we really care when the comparison is slightly good versus bust?

The Habs need quality, they should have simply swung for the fences with their picks, with the risk of busting, rather than acquiring a guy who might be an adequate second liner.

 

[CharleyHorse]

This is the way

 

[Runner77]

He can certainly play in a pinch, and as he evolves, given that he took the third most faceoffs last year for the Avs, despite playing under a vet-favoring coach. He played as their 3C. Whether he sticks there depends on deployment: does MSL want to concentrate skill in his top 6, or does he want to match up while rolling a balanced top 9? And does Monahan stay fit finally and put his injuries behind him? If I were coaching, I'd shoot for a balanced top 9, with three strong Cs who make their linemates better while playing 200 feet, which I think we get with Newhook as 3C, given his elite skating. While giving him PP and PK time. The only argument against that is that he's a bit short to be a defensive juggernaut, but he has other qualities that mitigate that limitation.

Well, if Newhook can still thrive at center, that would be great news.

I’d give him the Dach pathway — bring him along slowly with increasing levels of responsibility the more he shows that he can handle it. Give him some starts at centre and adjust.

 

[superstar436]

way too early to call it a fleece job, but this is an overpayment whether newhook pans out or not.

classical reconstruction acceleration move.

 

[NeptunesTrident]

I’m thinking they are trading down and going to be acquiring more picks in the range of the ones they just traded to Colorado.

 

[sheed36]

McGuire on 690 today said that Newhook could become a 20-25 goal and 60-70 point player. I really hope you're right on this one Pierre.

 

[JRichard]

Feels a bit like the Dvorak deal. Late 1st and early 2nd for a middle six center. The only good part is there's the possibility Newhook has room to grow with a bigger role. Newhook is likely better than anything the Habs could have drafted with the 31st pick, unfortunate they had to give up #37 as well though.

31st doesnt matter but too bad we dont have 37th?

 

[BLONG7]

I don’t know Newhook well enough to complain, but that seems like a hefty price to pay. I don’t like trading relatively high picks before knowing what’s available at those picks.

Hopefully this turns into a Dach 2.0 trade.

True............but he is in the league now, and 31 and 37 are, 3 years away?
Did Gorton want this kid when the Avs picked him?
It seems like it has the chance, to be Dach 2.0 and he will certainly get more TOI with us, than he was ever going to get with the Avs.

 

[Nedved]

I don’t mind the hyperbole and it can be entertaining at times but man, how many times do the same individuals have to say the same thing ad nauseam, and in some instances assorted with incantations and cult-like mantras?

We get it and we got it. And thank-you, I think.

I remember when I was in a cult. The Barginbin cult. Each year, we all would stand around the dumpster and pick up absolute garbage players. And then we would all be excited for our dumpster deals.

People would try to save me, "Hey, he hasn't made any good trades for center depth", and I would always reply back, shark-eyed, "centers are hard to get" and go for another hit of the dumpster dive.

 

[HabsWhiteKnightLOL]

Does Newhook still project as a center? That remains to be seen.

Not at all. Most likely left wing . I hope they put Slaf in the AHL so Newhook can play in the top 6 with PP minutes

 

[Ezpz]

I don't think the value is off but I don't particularly like Newhooks development curve and also feel like this isn't the draft to give up two high picks. Could end up like the Shaw deal.

 

[River Meadow]

way too early to call it a fleece job, but this is an overpayment whether newhook pans out or not.

classical reconstruction acceleration move.

I agree.

It's a lot to give up, tbh.

 

[Takeru]

I don’t see this as likely because prospects need to play and skill prospects need to play skill roles with appropriate TOI.

Farrell, for instance. RHP. Heineman. Ylonen. What’s going on with them? They won’t get top6 TOI in the NHL, but in the AHL we could also have Mešar and Slafkovsky and Joshua Roy and who knows who else.

I don't assume they'll all develop perfectly.
But we may see a couple of these guys in a top6/9 role in rotation through the year, with another handful hopefully on the top line in the AHL.
Then I assume we'd be willing to trade them on a more "known quantity" basis.

 

[Grate n Colorful Oz]

I’m not writing him off, he’s a good player and he was even my choice in 2019

Even after Caufield fell to us?

 

[River Meadow]

Does Newhook still project as a center? That remains to be seen.

MSL can make Newhook do any dang thing.

 

[MarioLeMoose]

way too early to call it a fleece job, but this is an overpayment whether newhook pans out or not.

classical reconstruction acceleration move.

So, if Newhook pans out as a 20-25g 60-70pt player you think that a late 1st and a 2nd is still an overpayment?