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.

 

[CzarDemidov]

.....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.

 

[CzarDemidov]

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.

 

[Quatre Vingt Treize]

Every game he's creating 1-2 high grade slot scoring opportunities... Just can't seem to bury them.

If/when it comes, watch out.

Newhook playing better since move to center

 

[Archijerej]

My question is : how bad would it be to have a Laine-Newhook-Demidov second line going into next season?

Laine - Newhook combination does not work this season.

Seems a bit risky to expect Demidov to come over and make it work.

 

[Artaud]

Laine - Newhook combination does not work this season.

Seems a bit risky to expect Demidov to come over and make it work.

You're right, but I don't think there are many players that could work with this version of Laine. The guy is soft and slow. Next season, the whole second will have to be built around Demidov, not Laine.

 

[ginomini]

We need to be patient with him, I can see him having a later offensive break through like Lehkonen or Donato. Guys with tools, but low offensive IQ, often learn later what works for them and they stop trying to develop what doesnt.

 

[Redux91]

Gonna be SUCH a great 3rd liner for us man, watch out

 

[OldCraig71]

Newhook looks better without Dach, just sayin.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Newhook looks better without Dach, just sayin.

While both things can be true he also looks better at center

 

[KevSkillz4]

Gonna be SUCH a great 3rd liner for us man, watch out

I have no problem to see Newhook on a 3rd line, he would be perfect for that role.

He isn't a top 6 guy, for sure. But he have great qualities to be a solid 3rd line player with offensive production aswell.

I like his speed and work ethic.

 

[le_sean]

He's underappreciated due to a rough start of the year. I think he was affected by the start of the year the same way Kapanen was. Both good players, but the team was in disarray and that second line was just brutal, especially Dach. It's been two years though that he's shown better play at center than on the wing.

There was also a shift where he spent some time with Anderson and Gallagher. I liked how he was distributing. He might be a good answer to the third line. Dach can take Armia's spot, as in any event, he'll need to be reintegrated slowly to the lineup after the last two years.

He must be frustrated by the end of the year too then because he has 3 points in his last 15 games.

Players don’t learn how to stickhandle at 25 years old. He is what he is, a fast and frustrating player. Now on the 3rd line he can be effective because he’ll provide a bit of punch without any expectations. I can see him as the centre to Anderson and Gallagher if Dvorak isn’t re-signed. That could work.

 

[bsl]

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.

An Anderson newhook gally line would be effective I think.

 

[ahmedou]

Newhook when he sucks:

 

[CHarlie]

Newhook reminds me of Russ Courtnall for anyone who remembers him......his feet moves so fast his hands cant keep up lol

 

[Balthazar]

Newhook reminds me of Russ Courtnall for anyone who remembers him......his feet moves so fast his hands cant keep up lol

Le chevreuil!

Courtnall had a 76 pt season, Newhook will never sniff that though.

 

[Erika]

We need to be patient with him, I can see him having a later offensive break through like Lehkonen or Donato. Guys with tools, but low offensive IQ, often learn later what works for them and they stop trying to develop what doesnt.

Lehkonen and low offensive IQ doesn't match...
He is twice the player Newhook is and will be. Lehkonen always had good offensive production in his junior leagues, world championships and SM Liga years. The skills were always there and all he needed was offensive opportunities with good players. In MTL he was buried on the 3rd or 4th line. Lehkonen never had the chance to play with a Laine caliber of player. Lehkonen skills were pretty obvious to me and was ready to explode elsewhere given the chance. That's exactly what happened with Colorado.

Heck, Newhook wish he had Lehkonen offensive skills. His TOI and production rate is abysmal for a guy consistently given top 6 and pp minutes.

Newhook is a 4th liner on a good team.
Put Newhook on the Dallas Stars or the Florida Panthers and he might be a healthy scratch no joke.