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

[le_sean]

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.

Well I hope he has that ability. But a poster here keeps pointing to the fact Newhook is given icetime by the coaching staff as some type of proof that he’s good. So why isn’t he given icetime on the PK if he’s supposedly good two-way? We can’t have it both ways here.

 

[Miller Time]

Exactly, a non-answer as per usual

Just because you don't like, or understand something, doesn't mean it's not there.

 

[le_sean]

Just because you don't like, or understand something, doesn't mean it's not there.

No you literally provide nothing as an answer and you skirt around when you get called out on it. Time for me to move on from this

 

[Miller Time]

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.

Again, the pts line on the stat sheet may be how some fans assess players, but that's not how coaches or anyone who understands the game of hockey grounds their assessments.

It works in video games, but not in real life.

 

[Miller Time]

No you literally provide nothing as an answer and you skirt around when you get called out on it.

The answer is on the ice. Tune in, pay attention to more than the highlight reel, and maybe you'll come away with a different perspective

 

[417]

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.

 

[Sorinth]

Well I hope he has that ability. But a poster here keeps pointing to the fact Newhook is given icetime by the coaching staff as some type of proof that he’s good. So why isn’t he given icetime on the PK if he’s supposedly good two-way? We can’t have it both ways here.

Same reason Josh Anderson given PK until this season. We have a lot of players who have a good history of PK work so you'll go with them over the guys who have the tools but don't have that history.

Heneiman, Beck got zero PK time, it's not because they can't become good PK players. For non-rookies Struble gets almost no PK time, but he's obviously a guy who down the line will probably be a PK presence. Xhekaj gets slightly more as he's the guy up next when Matheson/Savard/Carrier/Ghule are the ones in the box.

 

[le_sean]

Same reason Josh Anderson given PK until this season. We have a lot of players who have a good history of PK work so you'll go with them over the guys who have the tools but don't have that history.

Heneiman, Beck got zero PK time, it's not because they can't become good PK players. For non-rookies Struble gets almost no PK time, but he's obviously a guy who down the line will probably be a PK presence. Xhekaj gets slightly more as he's the guy up next when Matheson/Savard/Carrier/Ghule are the ones in the box.

But Suzuki doesn’t have a PK partner. The spot is open. Why not try him there if we think he can be good. The team literally uses two sets of PK forwards (Evans/Armia, Dvorak/Anderson) and Suzuki. You’d think if they thought Newhook had the capacity to think the PK and to execute on it, that they’d give him a shot.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

He almost ended it in OT yesterday on a nice rush, with his speed he should be a 3v3 specialist.

I wish he was a bit better with possession, because he can get to the open spaces he just needs to be smarter with his passes, and it doesn't hurt to dump it in once in a while. He needs a big body he can trust with a dump in rather than trying to thread passes to Dach and Laine cherrypicking.

I've seen Heineman-Newhook-Dach mentioned as a potential 3rd line next year and I can get behind that, with Newhook moving to W when one of our C prospects is ready.

It also won't really hurt to move on from him down the road so I could easily see him as the roster player going back in a package for a better player.

 

[Sorinth]

But Suzuki doesn’t have a PK partner. The spot is open. Why not try him there if we think he can be good. The team literally uses two sets of PK forwards (Evans/Armia, Dvorak/Anderson) and Suzuki. You’d think if they thought Newhook had the capacity to think the PK and to execute on it, that they’d give him a shot.

They don't really use Suzuki on the PK, he's at 39s a game. Which for the record is by design, they have been cutting his PK time the last few seasons to keep him fresh for offensive opportunities.

 

[Lshap]

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.

Completely agree. The knock against Newhook is that he's a 'tools but no toolbox' player, however someone with no tool box doesn't generate so many prime chances and come close to converting them so often. It reminds me of the problem Paul Byron had in his early years – breakaway after breakaway without results because his hands weren't in sync with his skates. Byron was 27 by the time he figured it out and became an effective offensive threat.

Newhook just turned 24. He has more talent than Byron and, I believe, still has more potential. If he figures out how to make his hands work at higher speed he could become a legit top-six forward.

 

[The Great Weal]

lol he has 1 point in his last 8 games and people think he’s playing well. 38.3% on faceoffs. Man the standards are so low.

But I was told he's better at center? It's one thing to whiff on this many chances, but it's another thing to not bring anything else in terms of defensive play, faceoffs, and high end playmaking. He busts his ass off but he's just not good. We're all hoping he starts producing again, we need to use him as a trade chip.

If he had physicality and a sound defensive game, I'm all for keeping him even if he whiffs a million chances and scores 30 points max a season. His forte is supposed to be offense because he doesn't bring anything else.

 

[417]

Completely agree. The knock against Newhook is that he's a 'tools but no toolbox' player, however someone with no tool box doesn't generate so many prime chances and come close to converting them so often. It reminds me of the problem Paul Byron had in his early years – breakaway after breakaway without results because his hands weren't in sync with his skates. Byron was 27 by the time he figured it out and became an effective offensive threat.

Newhook just turned 24. He has more talent than Byron and, I believe, still has more potential. If he figures out how to make his hands work at higher speed he could become a legit top-six forward.

Reminds me of Lehkonen personally.

Different players but similar in the sense that there was more there and people kept pigeonholing them into specific boxes.

He's a great skater, great shot, he's feisty, decent playmaker...I think he needs to find the right balance between playing "slow" and playing fast, but I think he can get there.

A player he reminds me of who also played in the BCHL and took a bit of time before he found his niche in the NHL was Kyle Turris.

 

[Natey]

Huge fan. He's still young too and you can see the development continuing. He's extremely snake-bitten right now, but he's doing ALL the right things on the ice.

This year he's become much more feisty and annoying to play against.. and I love that.

Really excited to see this player continue to grow.

I honestly thing he's been one of the best players night in, night out lately. His effort level is off the charts.

 

[DAChampion]

Again, the pts line on the stat sheet may be how some fans assess players, but that's not how coaches or anyone who understands the game of hockey grounds their assessments.

It works in video games, but not in real life.

Production matters, yes, even for coaches and GMs.

 

[Redux91]

He'll be a great 3rd liner

 

[Andrei79]

But I was told he's better at center? It's one thing to whiff on this many chances, but it's another thing to not bring anything else in terms of defensive play, faceoffs, and high end playmaking. He busts his ass off but he's just not good. We're all hoping he starts producing again, we need to use him as a trade chip.

If he had physicality and a sound defensive game, I'm all for keeping him even if he whiffs a million chances and scores 30 points max a season. His forte is supposed to be offense because he doesn't bring anything else.

Sound defensive games take time to develop. This is the first year in 9 that Dvorak has a clearly strong defensive game, even if he was known as a two way center. Newhook seems to have the will to improve and the work ethic during games to do it. He's also done a better job than anyone has up to now as the 2C.

Newhook has to come in better shape at camp next year however. He, Dach and Laine werent in "top 6" shape at all.

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

He'll be a great 3rd liner

Most likely but honestly I think he should get an extended look at the #2 spot. I’d rather give him a serious audition between Laine and Demidov than trade f***ing Guhle or Reinbacher for a #2 lol.

I know those aren’t the only options but I don’t see where the fire is to pay a premium for a #2. I don’t think it’s impossible or even THAT unlikely for Newhook to win that spot and even excel at it

 

[Miller Time]

Production matters, yes, even for coaches and GMs.

No one said otherwise.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Alex Newhook is one of the most underrated players in the NHL.

I am positive that in the right circumstances, he can be a PPG player.

 

[Andy]

Alex Newhook is one of the most underrated players in the NHL.

I am positive that in the right circumstances, he can be a PPG player.

I can’t tell if this is a joke

 

[Skip Bayless]

I can’t tell if this is a joke

I know how incredulous it can be, but you do not see the things that I see.

We are different.

 

[Andy]

I know how incredulous it can be, but you do not see the things that I see.

We are different.

I like Newhook and think he can be a 45-50 point player, but I don’t see PPG

 

[The Great Weal]

Sound defensive games take time to develop. This is the first year in 9 that Dvorak has a clearly strong defensive game, even if he was known as a two way center. Newhook seems to have the will to improve and the work ethic during games to do it. He's also done a better job than anyone has up to now as the 2C.

Newhook has to come in better shape at camp next year however. He, Dach and Laine werent in "top 6" shape at all.

I don't think Newhook's issue is being in poor shape. It's a hockey IQ limitation.

 

[Skip Bayless]

I like Newhook and think he can be a 45-50 point player, but I don’t see PPG

I see PPG and beyond. It's unusual to have a player with such tools that is missing just that little thing that will unlock great production.

He needs a full summer of stickhandling skills at full speed. But everything else is there.