Player Discussion Alex Newhook (Part 2) : Book an Appointment with New Look Edition

[The Great Weal]

Newhook breaking out next year is the easiest prediction of all. There are people on this board that are in for a very good surprise.

The guy will be on the 3rd line, not sure what you consider a break out when he won't get offensive opportunities or linemates.

 

[Natey]

Before the game, they said he's the player with the most chances off zone entry in the whole league since being moved to center. Definitely more involved and can use his speed more. Didn't predict that, thats for sure.

He has some nice assets (but a limiting IQ), lets see if he can use them adequately over a full season. Still a young player, a middle player that can play all 3 positions is a good asset.

Still which they'd develop him for the PK with his speed. Then he'd be really useful.

I disagree, I think he's got pretty good IQ.

I think his biggest problem is that sometimes he gets going too fast and can't handle the puck cleanly.

 

[domiwroze]

He can have the 3rd C spot next year as long as he practices faceoffs all summer long and how to handle pucks full speed. Plus maybe learn some PK2 duties if our newly acquired #2C isn’t a PK specialist. If he wants extra TOI, that’s another spot that he can take over once Dvorak is gone.

In case of injury he can go back to the top6.

I think the Dach experiment is over and they will move on. Sad for Kirby but when healthy his 200ft game was non existant and we can’t have that.

 

[JianYang]

Personally, I think there's more there with Newhook...there's too much raw skills/ability.

Don't think we've seen the best of him, not by a long shot

He's certainly got some qualities. I just wish he had a better finishing touch. Sometimes he does some amazing solo efforts. Or he gets himself in prime scoring position only to not score.

You can't waste thay many opportunies in a consistent top 6 role, but i have changed my mind about him in the sense that with some tweaks, he's has what it takes to evolve into a good 3rd line guy. I used to think top 6 or bust.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I disagree, I think he's got pretty good IQ.

I think his biggest problem is that sometimes he gets going too fast and can't handle the puck cleanly.

.....that would be an IQ problem as he should know that there are better ways to create time and space on the ice and if he had better IQ he would know exactly how to do it.

I am a Newhook fan but his IQ is limited and he needs to keep his game simple even if that means charging at full speed because we have all seen how he is less effective when he tries to break down defences without using his speed. Much like Anderson, he is simply more effective when he plays with his hair on fire despite the failure rate on his rushes. At least he is pushing defenders backwards and they can't immediately transition his turnovers into offence whereas when he is static and making less than ideal decisions that are more likely to go back the other way in the form of dangerous rushes.

 

[ExReHabs]

.....that would be an IQ problem as he should know that there are better ways to create time and space on the ice and if he had better IQ he would know exactly how to do it.

Yeah, I concur. I think panicking with or over-handling the puck is a telltale sign of weak decision-making conviction.

Newhook is both fast and has good acceleration, everything else will fall into place (inasmuch as it can) if he relies on his strengths.

I hesitate to use the term “hockey IQ” because there doesn’t seem to be a consensus definition and it just leads to semantic confusion and digression.

 

[ExReHabs]

He's certainly got some qualities. I just wish he had a better finishing touch. Sometimes he does some amazing solo efforts. Or he gets himself in prime scoring position only to not score.

You can't waste thay many opportunies in a consistent top 6 role, but i have changed my mind about him in the sense that with some tweaks, he's has what it takes to evolve into a good 3rd line guy. I used to think top 6 or bust.

His points/TOI is rather bad. He’s not top6 quality right now but maybe with a superb playmaker he can sneakily earn a spot in the top6 by playing shotgun but he needs to improve his puck handling regardless.

 

[70Stang]

I'm sure Colorado is thinking he would look real good playing with McKinnon. If If I'm a GM I'm targeting a player like Newhook to play with my #1 centre. Habs problem for 30 years has been lack of legit #1,#2 centre. Its safe to assume having him with a proven centre and a healthy Laine would go a long way. I'm not so sure he is a full time centre. He's more of a Byron type currently less the PK minutes. I'm still confident when he figures out where and how he fits best he will explode. His line currently spends way too much time in the D zone. Lots of different reasons for that but I think that is because he is not a centre and Laine is not 100%.

 

[MarkovsKnee]

He has a really heavy shot & a great release. He needs to sacrifice some of the weight of that shot to improve accuracy.

He needs to exhibit more patience, too. Too often he misses because he's in front of the puck off a pass, so he ends up shooting with the tip of the stick, and flings it wildly. He needs to wait til the puck is actually on his blade.

His ability to get shots on net has dropped drastically since being moved from Colorado. With the Avs, 55-60% of his shots got through to the net. With Montreal that's dropped massively to only 45%. His shooting percentage has actually gotten better in Montreal, though, which is why he's still getting 15 goals.

If he can improve his accuracy & improve his shots through to 50%, he's easily a 20+ goal scorer on the 3rd line.

I'm not convinced he's a center though.

 

[Hope Of Glory]

I disagree, I think he's got pretty good IQ.

I think his biggest problem is that sometimes he gets going too fast and can't handle the puck cleanly.

That's a possibility, I just very rarely see clever plays from him. Although I don't see dumb shit like Anderson does, so "lack of IQ" is probably harsh. Maybe just average, but that could also just be a case of him being too fast like you say.

 

[Saundies]

He's got a cannon and he can fly. He's a good player but like many have mentioned here, the scoring touch leaves you wanting more.

The speed reminds me of Byron except Paulie could always finesse his chances in where Newhook's more raw power. Hopefully he can figure it out. I can see him having a big year goals-wise in the future where everything goes his way in a season, but I'm not sure about consistency.