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

[Habitant#1]

Newhook is basically Paul Byron but without the finish

 

[Andrei79]

Newhook is basically Paul Byron but without the finish

Byron was Byron without the finish before he turned 27.

 

[Miller Time]

Newhook is basically Paul Byron but without the finish

Newhook is light years better than Byron at the same age.

 

[The Great Weal]

Byron was Byron without the finish before he turned 27.

Where do you see Newhook fitting in next year? I think Habs would be crazy to not resign Dvorak and it's very clear that Newhook isn't a center.

 

[Andrei79]

Where do you see Newhook fitting in next year? I think Habs would be crazy to not resign Dvorak and it's very clear that Newhook isn't a center.

No idea. The only thing that's set right now is the first line. Then you have Demidov and a pêle-mêle of players both to be potentially resigned and upcoming that we have no idea where they fit. While I've mentioned multiple times that Dvorak has played very well without the puck, I'm not sure if bringing him back is going to be the right move. He'll want too much term and they need to free up spots. Losing him would definitely be a blow to team defense though.

 

[The Great Weal]

No idea. The only thing that's set right now is the first line. Then you have Demidov and a pêle-mêle of players both to be potentially resigned and upcoming that we have no idea where they fit. While I've mentioned multiple times that Dvorak has played very well without the puck, I'm not sure if bringing him back is going to be the right move. He'll want too much term and they need to free up spots. Losing him would definitely be a blow to team defense though.

I have a hard time seeing Dvorak asking for a good bit of term considering how he's been ass for like 80% of his time here, but if he does you definitely move on.

Should be an interesting offseason.

CC-Suzuki-Slaf
XXX-XXX-Demidov
Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher
Heineman-Evans-XXX

I really don't see how you can gamble on Dach/Laine to be healthy enough to be good enough all year on the 2nd line and it's becoming more and more clear that Newhook is a bottom 6 option but I just don't know where on our team.

 

[Andrei79]

I have a hard time seeing Dvorak asking for a good bit of term considering how he's been ass for like 80% of his time here, but if he does you definitely move on.

Should be an interesting offseason.

CC-Suzuki-Slaf
XXX-XXX-Demidov
Anderson-Dvorak-Gallagher
Heineman-Evans-XXX

I really don't see how you can gamble on Dach/Laine to be healthy enough to be good enough all year on the 2nd line and it's becoming more and more clear that Newhook is a bottom 6 option but I just don't know where on our team.

This is a good point. Armia is gone, it would be a mistake to bring him back. He's good when healthy, but that rarely happens more than half a season. Laine needs to get his surgery and, in any case, I'm not sure if he's there even if healthy. I see posters being in denial of it, but there are true concerns regarding his attitude from people around the team. Dach has missed so much time that you can't peg him in the lineup. That means 4 spots as you've mentioned. Dvorak could make sense, but I kind of have the feeling he'll want to go back to the US, notably Chicago. I don't know where Newhook fits either btw.

 

[The Great Weal]

This is a good point. Armia is gone, it would be a mistake to bring him back. He's good when healthy, but that rarely happens more than half a season. Laine needs to get his surgery and, in any case, I'm not sure if he's there even if healthy. I see posters being in denial of it, but there are true concerns regarding his attitude from people around the team. Dach has missed so much time that you can't peg him in the lineup. That means 4 spots as you've mentioned. Dvorak could make sense, but I kind of have the feeling he'll want to go back to the US, notably Chicago. I don't know where Newhook fits either btw.

Laine getting surgery and being on LTIR would be the best case scenario with him. I do believe that Dach could find a role on that 4th line RW if he's healthy and it's a position where we aren't really counting on him at all. I guess technically Gally could slide down to the 4th line RW, Anderson goes back to 3rd line RW, and then Newhook on the left side but I have a hard time justifying putting the 21 goalscorer on the 4th line to give Newhook another chance.

It's been my biggest issue with Newhook. I'd be a fool (more than usual) to ignore how even if he figures out how to convert on even a fraction of his attempts, his play would improve big time. Hell, last year he was looking pretty promising and the lack of finishing wasn't this glaring. But not being a center, a PKer, or a physical monster makes it hard to keep him. Would probably make sense for him to go to a team that can afford to be patient with him in the top 6.

 

[Tyson]

I think his chair is on the wing playing on the 3rd line. He is not a top 6 player.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

Given how he's been deployed, is it not fair to say he's not really a fit in a bottom 6 role either?

 

[Soaker]

Newhook is light years better than Byron at the same age.

Newhook is bigger and stronger and Paul was often injured early on in his career and had just a few healthy seasons before his career being cut short due to injuries.

 

[Sorinth]

Newhook is basically Paul Byron but without the finish

Byron also had no finish until he came here. Lehkonen had no finish until he went to Colorado. The whole can't finish label can change at any moment. And yes for a lot of players it didn't change and never got better.

Regardless of his finish his future comes down to defensive play. He improved significantly on it over the course of this season, but he'll need to take another step if he wants a secure spot.

 

[Wats]

He's been good in playoffs, just need to think of him as a healthier Byron.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Newhook is basically Paul Byron but without the finish

Friendly reminder that the reason Montreal got Byron on waivers is that he didn't develop finishing ability until his mid-20s.

 

[badi]

Should be gone over the summer
I Just wonder how much he has value around the league ...

 

[Bombshell11]

Should be gone over the summer
I Just wonder how much he has value around the league ...

Why? guy makes 2.9 mil for another 2 years, he's a good 3rd liner.

 

[badi]

Why? guy makes 2.9 mil for another 2 years, he's a good 3rd liner.

Because you can get an upgrade with a bigger player on you're 3 rd line
That's what helps come playoff time
Newhook has speed ....Thats IT

 

[Mrb1p]

Its the same question with him as Dvo, Evans, Anderson, etc.

Would you rather have Newhook or Gallagher ? Would you rather have Newhook or Armia?

To me its Newhook.

 

[Mrb1p]

Because you can get an upgrade with a bigger player on you're 3 rd line
That's what helps come playoff time
Newhook has speed ....Thats IT

Newhook is 200 lbs +. Hes probably our best forechecker, on a team that has basically no good forechecker.

 

[GrandBison]

Gallagher-Newhook-Anderson is an energy line I would be confortable with. Lets him grow as a center. The guy had to deal with Laine and "anyone available" as wingers this year.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

Gallagher-Newhook-Anderson is an energy line I would be confortable with. Lets him grow as a center. The guy had to deal with Laine and "anyone available" as wingers this year.

I think Gallagher & Anderson would be a good fit with whoever wins a spot between Beck/Kapanen. Newhook - Evans - Heineman could be a good energy line that chips in offensively.