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

[Miller Time]

I've defended Newhook a lot, I still think he will blossom at some point. But he wasn't good at all tonight. Plays died every single time he touched the puck.

That's not what I saw at all.

The line as a whole struggled with timing and spacing, not terribly surprising given how little time they've been together and Demidov is a week into picking up the Habs style of game...

But he stood out in a positive way in his minutes... Was a puck hound all over the ice and created most of the scoring chances his line had with his speed and reads.

The only area of his game that was noticeably weak was in the faceoff circle, and that's a known area of weakness for him.

 

[26Mats]

I'll never understand this trade. At best he's an undersized third line winger, those are a dime a dozen.

Like the -layers we would have drafted, there’s no guarantee what they’ll become. Newhook I don’t think, will take ever a step up and become a top six forward.

 

[Tyson]

2nd line minutes, 2nd PP unit and he gets 26 points, he is so frustrating. Habs have to address this in the off season.

 

[DAChampion]

I honestly can't tell if he has a low IQ or very low confidence / bad nerves.

 

[That Habs Fan]

I've been trying to think of a comparable for Newhook and the best I can think of is he plays like he's a dog with "zoomies".

For everyone struggling to understand Newhook, I stand by this statement.

He's an amazing skater in terms of speed and acceleration, that's about it. He's basically Anderson without the size/physicality/shot.

 

[Tyson]

I honestly can't tell if he has a low IQ or very low confidence / bad nerves.

He has only one skill...elite skating.

 

[CzarDemidov]

I honestly can't tell if he has a low IQ or very low confidence / bad nerves.

It's functionally the same thing: an issue between the ears.

 

[DAChampion]

It's functionally the same thing: an issue between the ears.

The difference is that low confidence can theoretically be improved over time.

If it's low IQ might as well trade Newhook for a 2nd round draft pick.

 

[ahmedou]

I miss Kirby Dach on the lineup as a 2C.

Alex Newhook is clearly not a 2C.

 

[le_sean]

I honestly can't tell if he has a low IQ or very low confidence / bad nerves.

If you have low confidence for 83 games then you should be in the AHL.

 

[Tyson]

I miss Kirby Dach on the lineup as a 2C.

Alex Newhook is clearly not a 2C.

Yeah I miss Dach and his -29 too.

 

[DAChampion]

If you have low confidence for 83 games then you should be in the AHL.

Who can replace Newhook on the second line?

 

[The Great Weal]

I miss Kirby Dach on the lineup as a 2C.

Alex Newhook is clearly not a 2C.

Expectations are low here. I don't miss Dach at all. He's in the same boat as Laine/Newhook. We almost traded for Zegras too. Kent needs to stop going after projects and players who are cap dumps.

 

[ahmedou]

Yeah I miss Dach and his -29 too.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Who can replace Newhook on the second line?

His truly terrible pts/60 rate indicates that he’s easily replaceable.

 

[Ezpz]

He's so good at finding space and creating space but he's so bad with puck decisions. He can never understand when to shoot the puck and when to pass it. And whenever he's the "one pass too many" he passes is straight onto the stuck of an opposing player.

It's completely mental with him because he literally skates circles around guys with the puck every game. He's a faster and terrible around the boards version of Lars Eller. Without the defense too.

He's absolutely a guy who could be a difference maker but isn't. I wouldn't necessarily throw him out this summer but holy shit does he need some one-on-one coaching. I could absolutely see him as a 60-70 point guy, but could also see him in the KHL two years from now setting point records there.

 

[The Great Weal]

His truly terrible pts/60 rate indicates that he’s easily replaceable.

No man, he's a good 5v5 player and competes hard and skates fast. It's the lack of linemates that make him unable to produce. It's not like he gets 5 chances a game because of his speed and misses them all horribly.

 

[DAChampion]

His truly terrible pts/60 rate indicates that he’s easily replaceable.

I mean during the current series.

 

[CzarDemidov]

No man, he's a good 5v5 player and competes hard and skates fast. It's the lack of linemates that make him unable to produce. It's not like he gets 5 chances a game because of his speed and misses them all horribly.

It’s a circular argument because the same sort of excuses are made for Laine but (admitting my bias here) I’m a lot more sympathetic to Laine because he puts up goals.

This playoffs isn’t the time for roster discussion but Newhook should’ve been used on the PK to see if he works out there. If he can’t PK he can’t play for our team because he does NOT belong on our top6. His speed is refreshing but everything else is bad.

 

[CzarDemidov]

I mean during the current series.

I mentioned elsewhere that I would swap him and Dvorak.

Dvorak with Laine and Demidov + Newhook with Anderson and Gallagher.

It’s not a very inspiring swap but we don’t have a very inspiring roster.

 

[le_sean]

Who can replace Newhook on the second line?

Well I mean right now we need to use him. I’m more discussing next year.

Right now I’d switch Heineman and Laine. Heineman can play at the speed of Newhook and Demidov, while being tenacious. Laine has two guys that can cover for him and they can play a cycle game.

 

[teamfirst]

Who can replace Newhook on the second line?

Anybody, even Dvorak or Evans would be better suited to play with Demidov and Laine

 

[CzarDemidov]

Well I mean right now we need to use him. I’m more discussing next year.

Right now I’d switch Heineman and Laine. Heineman can play at the speed of Newhook and Demidov, while being tenacious. Laine has two guys that can cover for him and they can play a cycle game.

Yeah or Laine goes to the Evans Armia line as the misfit and we just see what happens.

Something has to change there and it’s both Newhook and Laine who are dysfunctional right now.

 

[DAChampion]

I agree with the three ideas presented above.

MSL needs to break up the second line for the Habs to have a legitimate chance.

 

[LaP]

I'd try

Heineman-Evans-Demidov

Heineman brings forecheck and physicality.
Evans bring some defense and center responsability
Demidov brings the offense

Laine-Newhook-Armia

You hope it gels between the two fins.