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

[JianYang]

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

Pierre mcguire mentioned that name as well.

I still think courtnall generally had better finishing ability though.

 

[salbutera]

Pierre mcguire mentioned that name as well.

I still think courtnall generally had better finishing ability though.

Newhook’s a top end 3rd liner whereas Courtnall was a top-6 player … expectations

 

[JianYang]

Newhook’s a top end 3rd liner whereas Courtnall was a top-6 player … expectations

Regardless of what he is, we can move the bar of expectations now, but I do not think the canadiens acquired him with the hopes that he would pan out as a bottom 6 player.

 

[LaP]

Regardless of what he is, we can move the bar of expectations now, but I do not think the canadiens acquired him with the hopes that he would pan out as a bottom 6 player.

You don't give a 32nd overall pick and 37th overall pick in the middle of a rebuild for a bottom 6 player. So they acquired him with the hope he would develop as a quality middle six player at the very least. A guy able to score 20 goals and do 40 points (in 82 games) with no PP usage.

 

[Nedved]

He looks like a 3rd line winger. He needs to learn the PK or he doesn't have much value to this team. I'm curious what his role is going forward, but maybe his stick gets hot in the playoffs and helps us win a game or two.

 

[salbutera]

You don't give a 32nd overall pick and 37th overall pick for a bottom 6 player. So they acquired him with the hope he would develop as a quality middle six player at the very least. A guy able to score 20 goals and do 40 points (in 82 games) with no PP usage.

A long term high end 3C option. Danault was a 1st round pick, HuGo gave up two 2nd round picks

 

[LaP]

A long term high end 3C option. Danault was a 1st round pick..

Danault was a borderline 2nd line center. I would say he was closer to a being an okay 2nd line center than a 3rd line center. At the very least he was a very high quality deluxe middle six center able to cover for injuries in the top 6 while playing an almost selke worthy defensive game. Newhook is miles behind that atm. Needs to improve his defensive game substantially while slightly improving his offensive game at the same time. Hard task for a a guy his age. Not impossible but lot of work to do.

 

[CrazyBob]

Newhook is the new Oleg Petrov. Small, super fast but cant finish for shit

 

[JianYang]

You don't give a 32nd overall pick and 37th overall pick in the middle of a rebuild for a bottom 6 player. So they acquired him with the hope he would develop as a quality middle six player at the very least. A guy able to score 20 goals and do 40 points (in 82 games) with no PP usage.

Yep, that's pretty much my point... the cost of acquiring him is telling in itself of what the Habs thought of him.

 

[Kennerback]

Kent needs to tell him he has no holidays this summer. Just full time shooting practice in the morning and 4 hours of stick handling drills every afternoon. If this guy’s to be saved it needs to happen now.

 

[JianYang]

Newhook is the new Oleg Petrov. Small, super fast but cant finish for shit

Haha, that's a comparison I've used in the past. I think petrov was a bit more combative, but newhook does have a better shot even if he seems to struggle with his finish. I don't ever recall petrov scoring a goal unless he was fairly close to the net.

There was an underdog vibe to petrov though which I think shades my memories as more positive in his case.

 

[MasterD]

Danault was a borderline 2nd line center. I would say he was closer to a being an okay 2nd line center than a 3rd line center. At the very least he was a very high quality deluxe middle six center able to cover for injuries in the top 6 while playing an almost selke worthy defensive game. Newhook is miles behind that atm. Needs to improve his defensive game substantially while slightly improving his offensive game at the same time. Hard task for a a guy his age. Not impossible but lot of work to do.

Danault is a very very good two-way 2nd line center, and his younger self would be a dream come true for this team right now.

Newhook isn't in the same league, offensively OR defensively. Just skates faster.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Regardless of what he is, we can move the bar of expectations now, but I do not think the canadiens acquired him with the hopes that he would pan out as a bottom 6 player.

Yes and it will bring another question : Habs are filled with top 6 players who are actually playing on the bottom 6. Habs management have to be careful not repeating those mistakes. Habs are paying a big price for their bottom 6 right now. Gallagher and Anderson moved to the bottom , Dvorak was supposed playing 2nd C, Armia and Evans were used once in a while on the second line. It all started when Dach was injured so many players were in the wrong chair. Monahan was traded, etc, the second line is a mishmash since the last 3 years. The bottom 6 is half of ex top 6 liners. And they are paid like top 6 players. Newhook at 3c isn't bad for the moment. Eventually this place is for Beck. It's hard to find the perfect chairs for Dach and Newhook in the next year line-up if a second C is signed.

 

[Catanddogguitarrr]

Haha, that's a comparison I've used in the past. I think petrov was a bit more combative, but newhook does have a better shot even if he seems to struggle with his finish. I don't ever recall petrov scoring a goal unless he was fairly close to the net.

There was an underdog vibe to petrov though which I think shades my memories as more positive in his case.

Petrov became a kind of Gretzky in the swiss league after playing for the Habs. It's paradoxal. A long time ago a swiss fan of Petrov came here asking questions why he didn't scored much goals here. All we can say is different leagues, different results. I remember I liked the energy of Petrov and he did everything except score, lol. He played a bit too much east-west and in shorter rinks it doesn't work as well as olympian rinks.

 

[Rapala]

Pierre mcguire mentioned that name as well.

I still think courtnall generally had better finishing ability though.

Courtnall was much better much much better. I don't see Newhook hitting 25 goals and 50 points never mind the 76 points Courtnall put up as a Hab.
Take a look at Courtnall's first three years as a Hab and the steady improvement.
Newhook's lack of growth is concerning it's like he's reached his plateau.

 

[salbutera]

Petrov became a kind of Gretzky in the swiss league after playing for the Habs. It's paradoxal. A long time ago a swiss fan of Petrov came here asking questions why he didn't scored much goals here. All we can say is different leagues, different results. I remember I liked the energy of Petrov and he did everything except score, lol. He played a bit too much east-west and in shorter rinks it doesn't work as well as olympian rinks.

Especially during clutch & grab era

 

[salbutera]

Courtnall was much better much much better. I don't see Newhook hitting 25 goals and 50 points never mind the 76 points Courtnall put up as a Hab.
Take a look at Courtnall's first three years as a Hab and the steady improvement.
Newhook's lack of growth is concerning it's like he's reached his plateau.

G were also much worse technically as were Dman mobility- can’t compare eras like that.

What would McDavid with his speed & skill done during Gretzky era?

 

[Kennerback]

Courtnall was much better much much better. I don't see Newhook hitting 25 goals and 50 points never mind the 76 points Courtnall put up as a Hab.
Take a look at Courtnall's first three years as a Hab and the steady improvement.
Newhook's lack of growth is concerning it's like he's reached his plateau.

Newhook needs to take the Hutson and Demidov approach of extreme self-improvement. Especially his stick handling and shot.

 

[Habs]

Courtnall was much better much much better. I don't see Newhook hitting 25 goals and 50 points never mind the 76 points Courtnall put up as a Hab.
Take a look at Courtnall's first three years as a Hab and the steady improvement.
Newhook's lack of growth is concerning it's like he's reached his plateau.

Russ and Geoff were 10x the player Newhook is, and ever will be. Russ even had a little set of nuts on him, not like Newhook

 

[Rapala]

G were also much worse technically as were Dman mobility- can’t compare eras like that.

What would McDavid with his speed & skill done during Gretzky era?

Doesn't change my impression one bit. A line of Carbonneau Courtnall and McFee would be just as effective now as they were then.

 

[JianYang]

Courtnall was much better much much better. I don't see Newhook hitting 25 goals and 50 points never mind the 76 points Courtnall put up as a Hab.
Take a look at Courtnall's first three years as a Hab and the steady improvement.
Newhook's lack of growth is concerning it's like he's reached his plateau.

I don't disagree. I think newhook just reminds people whose speed looked better than their finish.

In that sense, I get the comparison.

 

[teamfirst]

Pierre mcguire mentioned that name as well.

I still think courtnall generally had better finishing ability though.

Courtnall had way way better finishing ability, McGuire is way wrong there, compating Newhook and Courtnall is like saying Jordan Weal was a bit like Paul Byron

 

[JianYang]

Courtnall had way way better finishing ability, McGuire is way wrong there, compating Newhook and Courtnall is like saying Jordan Weal was a bit like Paul Byron

To be fair, mcguire was not breaking them down to a microscopic level when making the comparison. It was more of a side comment to a different topic that he was discussing.

On a high level, I can see specific aspects where watching newhook cam remind someone of Courtnall. It's not the first name that would come to my head, but I can see it.

 

[Habs]

Doesn't change my impression one bit. A line of Carbonneau Courtnall and McFee would be just as effective now as they were then.

Oh for sure, McPhee was tough as nails, Russ's speed and Guy's 2 way play would still be a deadly line. Speed, smarts, toughness, a great line

 

[Habs]

let it be known that on this day after 20+ years, @Miller Time liked one of my posts. I'm growing on him, just very slowly