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

[WeThreeKings]

What I mean is that it's a lot to pay for a 3rd line player. Yes, a very good chance that those picks don't even play in the NHL one day, but for me it was more as to could have we done better in another trade for another player with those picks.

Like I said, I think he is a 3rd liner at the end of the day and he will still be a young RFA in 2-3 years when we will be more competitive

They traded the picks because the floor is the likely pay off if they hit on one of those picks and the ceiling was higher.

The thing now is even if Newhook finds 2nd line upside he's unlikely to play there. We will draft a forward with one of our two picks in this draft. We acquired Laine. We drafted Demidov and Hage. There's only so many top 6 spots. His speed is an element we needed and so I'm sure they won't lose any sleep if they have Newhook to move between L1 and 3 depending on where he fits and supplies the right complement to the players on that line.

 

[Egresch]

Well they traded for him and expected for him to be a top 6 player, which personally I don't think he is. It's fine now, assets were already traded and his cap hit isn't that bad, once we are ready to compete say in 2 -3 season, he will still be 25-26 so that's ok

Sure, he will be OK as 3rd line winger, but that trade did not make sense at the time anyway. We already had Suzuki and CC and they wanted to add 5'10 player to our top 6. If you want to speed up rebuild, you look for D, C (which they tried with Dach) or G. D and G need more time to develop and C is hard to find.

 

[Wats]

He's pretty disappointing so far but maybe might have some resale value.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Sure, he will be OK as 3rd line winger, but that trade did not make sense at the time anyway. We already had Suzuki and CC and they wanted to add 5'10 player to our top 6. If you want to speed up rebuild, you look for D, C (which they tried with Dach) or G. D and G need more time to develop and C is hard to find.

Newhook and Suzuki are both 5'11" and 200 pounds, they are a lot bigger than Caufield and both guys are willing to go to the dirty areas.

 

[sampollock]

Newhook and Suzuki are both 5'11" and 200 pounds, they are a lot bigger than Caufield and both guys are willing to go to the dirty areas.

and yet Capt Hook is weak

 

[teamfirst]

Seriously? Every season absolutely matters. We're supposed to be building something.

So many here want us to become the next Sens or Sabres. It's nuts.

Don't think anybody want's us to be the next Sens or Sabres, it's just that some are so invested in this management being right they would say anything to counter anyone who critics them

 

[teamfirst]

A rebuild is over when the team shows you it can win. We're not there yet.

An some rebuild end up like the Sabres one, just hope it wont happen here

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

An some rebuild end up like the Sabres one, just hope it wont happen here

It could.

Rebuilding is not a guarantee of success. But without rebuilding your chances of winning a cup are much lower. And that's the ultimate goal.

At the end of the day, if we fail this year we accumulate another pick. It's another player for the future. The team isn't going to try to lose but if it does, that's the consequence. And it will continue until the team can finally start winning.

It's not a switch. You can't declare that it's over and then start winning. Your team wins when it wins.

That doesn't mean the start to this year hasn't been massively disappointing. It has. But we've got to stay the course.

 

[Trembz]

He's pretty disappointing so far but maybe might have some resale value.

Marché aux Puces value...

 

[Runner77]

Holy Shit you are Howie Meeker, I knew it!
View attachment 925778

Unfortunately for @OldCraig71 , he’s stuck with a Habs-generated cartoon sidekick, Petered Puck — plucked from a peewee league where plays go to die.

 

[Runner77]

PACKAGE Capt Hook and a draft pick and see what KH can snag

Hook, Primeau and a 2nd?

 

[Tyson]

Hook, Primeau and a 2nd?

I would take a bucket of pucks and a Howie Meeker poster for him.

 

[teamfirst]

That doesn't mean the start to this year hasn't been massively disappointing. It has. But we've got to stay the course.

Do we, at what point are we starting to question the non-developpement of ou young D, are we gone wait another 2 seasons, it's been 3 yars of Ghule-Xhekaj-Barron and their worst than they where when they started, Strubble started well and has been declining since then not to mention Kovacevic that also begin well with us then declined too and now doing well elswhere.

It's so obvious to me that MSL is way over his head that it makes me worry about our management evaluation capacity

 

[LaP]

Do we, at what point are we starting to question the non-developpement of ou young D, are we gone wait another 2 seasons, it's been 3 yars of Ghule-Xhekaj-Barron and their worst than they where when they started, Strubble started well and has been declining since then not to mention Kovacevic that also begin well with us then declined too and now doing well elswhere.

It's so obvious to me that MSL is way over his head that it makes me worry about our management evaluation capacity

When they are older.

There is curently only 27 dmen playing in the NHL who are younger than 23. Of that amount there's maybe 5 or 6 who are playing a relatively important role with their team. Best two are probably Power (2nd overall) and Clarke (8th overall). Also of those 27 dman in the NHL younger than 23 a great total of 4 (15%) belong to Montréal (Mailloux, Hutson, Guhle and Barron).

Xhekaj is an undrafted player you should have 0 expectation. It's a nice story but until proven otherwise it's just that a nice story. Struble is a 2nd round pick again expectation should be low. Yes we should absolutely wait at least another 2 years. Expecting a rebuild to be over after only 3 years is 100% delusional imo.

 

[teamfirst]

When they are older.

There is curently only 27 dmen playing in the NHL who are younger than 23. Of that amount there's maybe 5 or 6 who are playing a relatively important role with their team. Best two are probably Power (2nd overall) and Clarke (8th overall). Also of those 27 dman in the NHL younger than 23 a great total of 4 (15%) belong to Montréal (Mailloux, Hutson, Guhle and Barron).

Xhekaj is an undrafted player you should have 0 expectation. It's a nice story but until proven otherwise it's just that a nice story. Struble is a 2nd round pick again expectation should be low. Yes we should absolutely wait at least another 2 years. Expecting a rebuild to be over after only 3 years is 100% delusional imo.

That's the thing tho, i'm not expecting the rebuild to be over but i'm not expecting the young guy to be worst that they where coming in after 3 seasons either, and i'm ready to say that Hugo doesn't either......if thing are not improving i don't think MSL is back next year......he may not even be here after christmas

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

It’s not a lot to pay, the chances of those picks even becoming a 3rd line player is very low.

But then you realize Colorado kept 31 and traded 37 for Ross Colton… much better asset management

 

[Whitesnake]

They traded the picks because the floor is the likely pay off if they hit on one of those picks and the ceiling was higher.

The thing now is even if Newhook finds 2nd line upside he's unlikely to play there. We will draft a forward with one of our two picks in this draft. We acquired Laine. We drafted Demidov and Hage. There's only so many top 6 spots. His speed is an element we needed and so I'm sure they won't lose any sleep if they have Newhook to move between L1 and 3 depending on where he fits and supplies the right complement to the players on that line.

Or so they thought....yet...it all comes down to this...how are our amateur scouts are able to sell their players. Your evaluation is right on point. They did evaluate that Newhook's potential outweight those picks. But will they be right? As I personnally look at it....I don't know....Étienne Morin...Gavin Brindley, Halttunen (big body we would need), Strbak, Misiak, Sawchyn, Heidt...)...time will tell.

In the end though, no matter how it is...he will be evaluated on how it ends up to be. Right now....it looks bad. And the AVS are doing extremely well in the asset management category...both Barron and Newhook let go for high prices...and neither will make them regret it...

 

[Twisted Sinister]

This trade has always been a sign to me that this management group is a lot less infallible than people seem to think.

Even if Newhook had worked out, he was never the player profile we needed in our top 6 (or even out top 9) given our roster and prospect makeup.

It was a silly trade that smacked of Quartexx nepotism.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

This trade has always been a sign to me that this management group is a lot less infallible than people seem to think.

Even if Newhook had worked out, he was never the player profile we needed in our top 6 (or even out top 9) given our roster and prospect makeup.

It was a silly trade that smacked of Quartexx nepotism.

The nepotism was largely defended here as a smart business move to bring in players and personnel who you have a close personal relationship with.

Most hated when Bergevin did it but now love when Hughes does it.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

This trade has always been a sign to me that this management group is a lot less infallible than people seem to think.

Even if Newhook had worked out, he was never the player profile we needed in our top 6 (or even out top 9) given our roster and prospect makeup.

It was a silly trade that smacked of Quartexx nepotism.

The trade was fine. Looked great last year.

This year our players can’t tie their own skates. He’s just part of a larger problem right now.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Do we, at what point are we starting to question the non-developpement of ou young D, are we gone wait another 2 seasons, it's been 3 yars of Ghule-Xhekaj-Barron and their worst than they where when they started, Strubble started well and has been declining since then not to mention Kovacevic that also begin well with us then declined too and now doing well elswhere.

It's so obvious to me that MSL is way over his head that it makes me worry about our management evaluation capacity

MSL could be part of it. I don’t know what’s wrong. The players can’t make basic plays. Why? No idea. But they’re completely lost right now.

Maybe they need to change to a different system for now. Or it’s a new coach or new blood… or, they suddenly start playing better.

Lots of teams got off to terrible starts and then right the ship. It’s far enough into the season to be concerned but early enough to think we could bounce back.

To me, we need a steady vet on the blueline- preferably right side. I think that would help a lot.

 

[Twisted Sinister]

The nepotism was largely defended here as a smart business move to bring in players and personnel who you have a close personal relationship with.

Most hated when Bergevin did it but now love when Hughes does it.

People are still unwilling to call them out for bad decisions because they "seem" smarter and are more well-spoken than Bergy.

The trade was fine. Looked great last year.

This year our players can’t tie their own skates. He’s just part of a larger problem right now.

Even if he hits his ceiling as 60-point speedy weakling along the boards, we just have too much of that in our system at the moment.

 

[River Meadow]

Even if he hits his ceiling as 60-point speedy weakling along the boards, we just have too much of that in our system at the moment.

PREACH!!!!!!!!!

 

[G0bias]

I don't mind rolling the dice on upside, in fact i absolutely loved the Dach swing and still like it.

But Newhook's profile, considering our top 6 lacks a bit in size and alot in sandpaper, isn't suited for a 3rd line role on the type of offensive lineup we'll be running + Demidov, Laine and Hage.

We'll have to counter the lack of bite in the top 6 with some big bois that play with an edge. Someone like Barbashev would be incredible.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

People are still unwilling to call them out for bad decisions because they "seem" smarter and are more well-spoken than Bergy.

It's the same as the draft for need/size vs BPA argument.

Remember when drafting for size and need was endlessly critiqued under the Bergevin administration? The same posters will now jump through extreme hoops to rationalize and justify Hughes doing the exact same thing.