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

Not a guy you want to count on , dude chokes when the puck is on his stick at crucial times. The newhook fanclub will rant about how good he is and one day he may crack 35 pts again
It's not even his points but his points/TOI. He's a brutal producer.

He suffers from Gomezitis... can skate fluidly and win the zone but accomplishes nothing afterward.
 
I think the truth lies in the middle. I don't think his current production reflects his play but I don't think he'll blow up once luck is on his side. Some players simply have no finish and look good on expected goals chart. At this point it's hard to think Newhook can be more than a 20 goals 40-45 pts guy and that's honestly fine if he adds more elements to his game
 
This is the kind of guy that ends up on an expansion team and becomes a totally different player. Everyone can see he has the tools, everyone can see he tries, but hockey is weird like that : lack of confidence is like a hex, and everything that could go in, just doesn't.
 
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I think the truth lies in the middle. I don't think his current production reflects his play but I don't think he'll blow up once luck is on his side. Some players simply have no finish and look good on expected goals chart. At this point it's hard to think Newhook can be more than a 20 goals 40-45 pts guy and that's honestly fine if he adds more elements to his game

Totally fair to question where Newhook will top out...

But it's surprising to me how few people remember that guy Lekhonen.

@291 games (after 4th season, Draft +7) = 54 goals, 107 points. (.37ppg, .19gpg)... 15:19 you/gp

* The next year, 5th season/D8, he put up 7 goals & 13pts in 47 games (.15gpg, .28ppg)

** His last year in Mtl, 6th season/D9, 13g & 29pts in 58 games .22gpg, .5ppg ... Then traded to Colorado at deadline.

Since then, with Colorado,
183 games, 70 goals, 127pts (D9-D10-D11 seasons) .55gpg, .55ppg

Newhook today = D6, 4th season 55g 122pts, 282 games, .20gpg, .43ppg... Basically matching Lekhonen's output in his 6th NHL season, 9 years post draft... Can you imagine the uproar if Newhook is still pacing this way in 3 years from now 😲

(13:46 toi for first 153 games with Colorado, 15:55 for next 123 with Mtl)



Again, no one can say for certain if/how Newhook will continue progressing...

We can state that statistically speaking, Newhook is scoring more at an earlier age than Lekhonen was...

Different players, to be sure, but from the pov of wether or not there's reason for optimism that Newhook's finishing and offensive consistency will improve over time, like Lekhonen I think there is ample evidence in his current play & production to believe there is more to come.

To this observer, Newhook is already well ahead of where Lek was with us, and very much like Lek, Newhook's game sense and effectiveness at creating scoring opportunities suggests a much higher offensive ceiling than most infer from a narrow view of the stat sheet this far.

Future is bright 😎
Book it!
 
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Is he the answer at 2C?
288.jpg
 
It's not even his points but his points/TOI. He's a brutal producer.

He suffers from Gomezitis... can skate fluidly and win the zone but accomplishes nothing afterward.
He can't make plays I'm sure everyone is aware of this right?
We need to find him a role or find an upgrade for him.
This team has a glut of bottom 6 players yet people want to hold on to all of them.
 
I think Newhook has the speed and skill to play as a 2C, but it would not be ideal with the current makeup of the Habs. I would like the 2C to have a bit more size so they can match up against top line if needed. That's why Cozen was the perfect fit - although I understand that we did not have the assets to complete that trade.
 
Totally fair to question where Newhook will top out...

But it's surprising to me how few people remember that guy Lekhonen.

@291 games (after 4th season, Draft +7) = 54 goals, 107 points. (.37ppg, .19gpg)... 15:19 you/gp

* The next year, 5th season/D8, he put up 7 goals & 13pts in 47 games (.15gpg, .28ppg)

** His last year in Mtl, 6th season/D9, 13g & 29pts in 58 games .22gpg, .5ppg ... Then traded to Colorado at deadline.

Since then, with Colorado,
183 games, 70 goals, 127pts (D9-D10-D11 seasons) .55gpg, .55ppg

Newhook today = D6, 4th season 55g 122pts, 282 games, .20gpg, .43ppg... Basically matching Lekhonen's output in his 6th NHL season, 9 years post draft... Can you imagine the uproar if Newhook is still pacing this way in 3 years from now 😲

(13:46 toi for first 153 games with Colorado, 15:55 for next 123 with Mtl)



Again, no one can say for certain if/how Newhook will continue progressing...

We can state that statistically speaking, Newhook is scoring more at an earlier age than Lekhonen was...

Different players, to be sure, but from the pov of wether or not there's reason for optimism that Newhook's finishing and offensive consistency will improve over time, like Lekhonen I think there is ample evidence in his current play & production to believe there is more to come.

To this observer, Newhook is already well ahead of where Lek was with us, and very much like Lek, Newhook's game sense and effectiveness at creating scoring opportunities suggests a much higher offensive ceiling than most infer from a narrow view of the stat sheet this far.

Future is bright 😎
Book it!
Except the thing with Lehkonen is he offered value aside from offence. So even if he didn’t start producing, he was still a great two-way player and excellent PKer. You could put up with waiting because he wasn’t useless without offence.

And you seem to forget Lehkonen started producing when he played on an elite offensive team…Newhook was literally on that same team and couldn’t produce.

It’s also silly to compare the two players as if they are anything alike. Just because one started producing doesn’t mean anything, there is zero correlation. You’re comparing a player that was stuck on the 3rd and 4th lines at ES with no PP time with a player that’s got ample opportunity.
 
He can't make plays I'm sure everyone is aware of this right?
We need to find him a role or find an upgrade for him.
This team has a glut of bottom 6 players yet people want to hold on to all of them.
To me it seems people honestly don’t see any problem with Newhook’s playmaking and decision making.
 
The fact he looks good at C definitely boosts his chances of sticking around long term. If Armia needs to sit at one point I'd like to Newhook get some reps with Evans
 
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Except the thing with Lehkonen is he offered value aside from offence.
So does Newhook. That you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there... We've already covered this.

So even if he didn’t start producing, he was still a great two-way player and excellent PKer.
"Great" is an interesting qualifier... Are you then suggesting Newhook is a "great" one - way player lol
You could put up with waiting because he wasn’t useless without offence.
Fantasy hyperbole.

Newhook is getting more usage on a better roster at a younger age than Lekhonen did his last season here despite near identical offensive production
And you seem to forget Lehkonen started producing when he played on an elite offensive team…Newhook was literally on that same team and couldn’t produce.
You really need to watch the game a bit more. This is yet another remarkably poor take that reflects a lack of understanding of how the game is played.
 
Except the thing with Lehkonen is he offered value aside from offence. So even if he didn’t start producing, he was still a great two-way player and excellent PKer. You could put up with waiting because he wasn’t useless without offence.

And you seem to forget Lehkonen started producing when he played on an elite offensive team…Newhook was literally on that same team and couldn’t produce.

It’s also silly to compare the two players as if they are anything alike. Just because one started producing doesn’t mean anything, there is zero correlation.

Newhook was playing centre with guys like Cogliano, O'Connor and Rodrigues. Lehkonen has been stapled to Mackinnon for the majority of the time in Colorado, a guy who has managed to make Drouin even look good.
 
Newhook is not a guy who will play on a line that cycles. Similarly to a Byron his chances will come off the rush or counter attacking
I think he's decent value for a 3C or 3LW. He should be tried on the PK too. I don't like thinking of him as a top6 player, he's not capable of helping a team in such a deployment.
 
So does Newhook. That you can't see it doesn't mean it's not there... We've already covered this.


"Great" is an interesting qualifier... Are you then suggesting Newhook is a "great" one - way player lol

Fantasy hyperbole.

Newhook is getting more usage on a better roster at a younger age than Lekhonen did his last season here despite near identical offensive production

You really need to watch the game a bit more. This is yet another remarkably poor take that reflects a lack of understanding of how the game is played.
What is this magical thing that Newhook does aside from provide offence? You keep alluding to it but you never actually say it. Just like the remainder of your posts, nothing of substance.
 
Newhook was playing centre with guys like Cogliano, O'Connor and Rodrigues. Lehkonen has been stapled to Mackinnon for the majority of the time in Colorado, a guy who has managed to make Drouin even look good.
Yeah a contending team up against the cap whose biggest need was a 2C decided to get rid of a supposed 2C on a small contract that they drafted.

Oh they must have done it for immediate help! No, they got rid of him for draft picks.

That should tell you everything you need to know.
 
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Yeah a contending team up against the cap whose biggest need was a 2C decided to get rid of a supposed 2C on a small contract that they drafted.

Oh they must have done it for immediate help! No, they got rid of him for draft picks.

That should tell you everything you need to know.

They moved him because they traded for Ryan Johansen right before to be their #2 C and then they used one of the picks in the Newhook trade for Ross Colton.. which were moves to help immediately rather than wait for Newhook to develop.
 
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What is this magical thing that Newhook does aside from provide offence? You keep alluding to it but you never actually say it. Just like the remainder of your posts, nothing of substance.
Watch the game, you'll find what you're looking for.
 
They moved him because they traded for Ryan Johansen right before to be their #2 C and then they used one of the picks in the Newhook trade for Ross Colton.. which were moves to help immediately rather than wait for Newhook to develop.
Lol... You'd think it was so obvious and easy to figure out, but I guess stating the obvious is necessary when replying to hot takes.
 
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They moved him because they traded for Ryan Johansen right before to be their #2 C and then they used one of the picks in the Newhook trade for Ross Colton.. which were moves to help immediately rather than wait for Newhook to develop.
You mean the Ryan Johansen that had less points than Newhook the season he was acquired? What a vote of confidence.

We’d rather have an injury prone player that had less points than the guy that we drafted.
 
Except the thing with Lehkonen is he offered value aside from offence. So even if he didn’t start producing, he was still a great two-way player and excellent PKer. You could put up with waiting because he wasn’t useless without offence.

And you seem to forget Lehkonen started producing when he played on an elite offensive team…Newhook was literally on that same team and couldn’t produce.

It’s also silly to compare the two players as if they are anything alike. Just because one started producing doesn’t mean anything, there is zero correlation. You’re comparing a player that was stuck on the 3rd and 4th lines at ES with no PP time with a player that’s got ample opportunity.
He likely never gets up to Lehkonen's level of defensive play but he has made significant strides in that department this year. He's also been way more physical this year throwing about twice as many hits, and whether it's getting healthier or the change to center his speed has also picked up this last little bit.

Long term he'll either need to produce more or he'll need to add a specialist element to his game, likely on the PK. We haven't really seen him on the PK, but that doesn't really mean he wouldn't be good, we did give Anderson much of a shot until this year and he's taken to it extremely well. Newhook has the speed that can make a PK dangerous so it would be worth exploring. Perhaps at the end of this season we tell him we want to explore that next season so he has the offseason to buy in and work on it.
 
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