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

[Marioesque]

I agree but Laine also sucks bad. Need an upgrade on both of them in our top6.

There's nothing in common with the two.

 

[TomKosto]

There's nothing in common with the two.

Yea theres one thing in common, both would not play top6 on a contender team. There’s a reason we got paid to take on Laine contract. Newhook just doesnt have it and I dont want him on our bottom6 either.

 

[Marioesque]

Yea theres one thing in common, both would not play top6 on a contender team. There’s a reason we got paid to take on Laine contract. Newhook just doesnt have it and I dont want him on our bottom6 either.

You can have your opinion on Laine but this is about Newhook. Newhook being the player he is has nothing to do with someone else.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Thanks for the advice, for you if you aren't going to respect the players at least respect yourself.

It wasn't advice, it was a request. I want to talk about hockey, that's what we're all here for -- you like to use personal comments to make a point, it's unnecessary and doesn't contribute to the discourse. Smart people ignore it, as I do.

This is a discussion about Alex Newhook, who had a terrible year, not about Patrik Laine. Alex Newhook went from 34in55 (50pt pace) to 26in82 (26pt pace).

Newhook's TOI between last season and this season

Newhook's 5on5 /60 stats (not my fav measure) show across the board decline

Insisting that Patrik Laine was the reason Newhook couldn't get anything right, as if we would forget he had 4 points in 24 games to start the season while Laine was nursing a ligament injury? Laine returned after Dec 2, Newhook was worse than waiver-level until then.

Newhook's TOI this season until Dec 2nd, 2024

Newhook's 5on5 /60 stats until Dec 2nd 2024

Newhook got better as the season went on... from negative influence to waiver-level warm body. This is likely due to slow Laine's presence on his line attracting some of the opponent's attention, which largely neutralized Laine but gave Newhook some more room to zoom around, impress people who don't think scoring matters in a scoring game, and generally accomplish precious little.

Depending on the severity of Laine's injuries, he is or is not entitled to a mulligan. That's for Hughes to decide. But it has nothing to do with Newhook and his season.

 

[Marioesque]

It wasn't advice, it was a request. I want to talk about hockey, that's what we're all here for -- you like to use personal comments to make a point, it's unnecessary and doesn't contribute to the discourse. Smart people ignore it, as I do.

This is a discussion about Alex Newhook, who had a terrible year, not about Patrik Laine. Alex Newhook went from 34in55 (50pt pace) to 26in82 (26pt pace).

Newhook's TOI between last season and this season
View attachment 1027988

Newhook's 5on5 /60 stats (not my fav measure) show across the board decline
View attachment 1027989

Insisting that Patrik Laine was the reason Newhook couldn't get anything right, as if we would forget he had 4 points in 24 games to start the season while Laine was nursing a ligament injury? Laine returned after Dec 2, Newhook was worse than waiver-level until then.

Newhook's TOI this season until Dec 2nd, 2024
View attachment 1027992

Newhook's 5on5 /60 stats until Dec 2nd 2024
View attachment 1027991

Newhook got better as the season went on... from negative influence to waiver-level warm body. This is likely due to slow Laine's presence on his line attracting some of the opponent's attention, which largely neutralized Laine but gave Newhook some more room to zoom around, impress people who don't think scoring matters in a scoring game, and generally accomplish precious little.

Depending on the severity of Laine's injuries, he is or is not entitled to a mulligan. That's for Hughes to decide. But it has nothing to do with Newhook and his season.

Amen

 

[Cole Caulifield]

The Habs had no depth to sit people this is a total fabrication to avoid accepting a fact

Pezzeta played 25 games. I rest my case your honor.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Pezzeta played 25 games. I rest my case your honor.

With all the walking wounded in the playoffs, this proves the point doesn’t it.

The Habs had such bad depth that Kapanen was the next man up. There’s no way healthy Newhook was going to be scratched for simple bad performances.

 

[Tuggy]

I really dislike him at C but I don't mind him on the wing.

Ultimately I think he's best suited as a 3rd line winger. I really hope he's not a top 6 player for this team next season.

 

[calder candidate]

He seem to improve as the season progresss creating and getting more chances but could never finish. The issue I have is that even when he is creating chaos with speed it doesn’t really seem to benefit teammates only him…

But considering he is only 24yo their is still some upside and need to learn to play PK could be a good option on the 3rd kinda like Byron

 

[Cole Caulifield]

I really dislike him at C but I don't mind him on the wing.

Ultimately I think he's best suited as a 3rd line winger. I really hope he's not a top 6 player for this team next season.

I will not hide I am not a fan of Newhook. BUT I could see him being back under the scenario that he's worth nothing in a trade, we have so many holes to fill this summer that we leave the wing slot on the 2nd line open for whoever is better between Dach, Newhook, rookie surprise. But then you're kind of stuck with bad options again if no one pans out. Although under that scenario I would think we would have at least scored a 2nd line center. A solild one. In that scenario, we could showcase him and maybe find a taker during the season. Hopefully.

 

[26Mats]

I will not hide I am not a fan of Newhook. BUT I could see him being back under the scenario that he's worth nothing in a trade, we have so many holes to fill this summer that we leave the wing slot on the 2nd line open for whoever is better between Dach, Newhook, rookie surprise. But then you're kind of stuck with bad options again if no one pans out. Although under that scenario I would think we would have at least scored a 2nd line center. A solild one. In that scenario, we could showcase him and maybe find a taker during the season. Hopefully.

I would argue we onky have two real holes to fill:
2Nd line C and 2nd line RW opposite Demidov. The 1st line, dcore, and bottom six are fine, though upgrades would by definition help:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Xxxxx(Laine?) - xxxxx - Demidov
Anderson - Dvo/Newhook - Gallagher
Heineman - Evan's - Armia/Dach

Kapanen, Beck, Roy, F. Xhekaj, Tuch, Condotta in Laval for depth.

Guhle - Hutson
Matheson - Carrier
Xhekaj/Struble - Reinbacher

Monty
Dobes

If Laine or Dach can get healthy and increase their level of play from being healthy, we'll only have one hole.

 

[Cole Caulifield]

I would argue we onky have two real holes to fill:
2Nd line C and 2nd line RW opposite Demidov. The 1st line, dcore, and bottom six are fine, though upgrades would by definition help:

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Xxxxx(Laine?) - xxxxx - Demidov
Anderson - Dvo/Newhook - Gallagher
Heineman - Evan's - Armia/Dach

Kapanen, Beck, Roy, F. Xhekaj, Tuch, Condotta in Laval for depth.

Guhle - Hutson
Matheson - Carrier
Xhekaj/Struble - Reinbacher

Monty
Dobes

If Laine or Dach can get healthy and increase their level of play from being healthy, we'll only have one hole.

I don't like that bottom 6 personally. Also, don't like the defense like this.

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
X1 - Acquisition - Demidov
Anderson - Evans - Gallagher
Heineman - Dowd type - Duhaime type (Florian?)

Where X1 is the best of Laine, Dach, Newhook, rookie surprise. I don't bring back Armia or Dvorak. It's REALLY time to move on from these guys IMHO. My only pause is Dvorak because he seems to be part of the little celebration at the end with our best players. I'd be worried to upset chemistry of the room too much. But that's just me from my armchair GM seat having too little info and possibly worrying about nothing.

Also that top 4 defense is way too small. It's ok for the regular season but can we get a real right-handed partner that can fit with Hutson for real ? We speak about Demidov needing a center because he's our jewel and we want to put him in a position to succeed. We should want the same thing for Hutson who is just as much of a jewel. Like a right-handed Beauchemin type (yes I know Beauchemin was LD, just saying that type of player but RD). Someone who is solid defensively, happy to stay back and let Hutson do his thing and cover for his mistake, be the guy to go dig pucks out along the boards ? I don't know players around the league enough anymore to suggest an actual player that would fit. Ideally that guy will be a stop gap waiting for Reinbacher who seem to be the ideal partner for Hutson. But to me having just Guhle who is a big body in your top 4 defense is a recipe for disaster. And you don't want to be forced to play Matheson 25-30 minutes again. And ideally you want LD-RD on every pair. So I see it like this :

Hutson-Big Physical solid vet RD
Guhle-Carrier
Matheson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj

Another thing I don't like about the roster you posted is that there is not enough injury insulation. If we get injuries and we revert back to this year's lineup, that's ok, we know we can hold the fort. But if this year's lineup had gotten significant injuries... it would have missed the playoffs.

 

[le_sean]

Watch some hockey, you might like it.

Yeah I watch it, that’s why I know he’s shit. The statsheet just confirms it.

 

[Balthazar]

I really dislike him at C but I don't mind him on the wing.

Ultimately I think he's best suited as a 3rd line winger. I really hope he's not a top 6 player for this team next season.

That's the sweet spot for him. He won't help you much but he won't hurt you much either.

 

[habbubba]

He's 24 with great speed and tenacity and this upcoming season will show what he is. If he can finish more than he has, great, if not, maybe turn into a reliable defensive forward. A guy on my team said that Newhook is Gaelic for stone-hands, don't know if he was serious or not though.lol

 

[Rapala]

I really dislike him at C but I don't mind him on the wing.

Ultimately I think he's best suited as a 3rd line winger. I really hope he's not a top 6 player for this team next season.

I feel we are currently playing with 4 reliable top 6 players one of which will be a raw rookie.
It's hard to argue that our defacto second line was being centered by Evans during a good portion of the season and then Dvorak down the stretch. It also goes to show just how brutal the Laine Newhook Dach numbers really were as a sheltered contingent. It's hard for me to see any of those three as being core pieces and I'm certainly not sure if any of them become advantageous for us as bottom 6 skaters.

 

[The Great Weal]

I like how he's supposedly good defensively when he's not trusted on the PK and is known for terrible backchecks.

 

[Miller Time]

I like how he's supposedly good defensively when he's not trusted on the PK and is known for terrible backchecks.

Known by whom? Legit questions... I don't think I've come across that critique and curious where you pull that from

 

[SI]

What is the value of Newhook this offseason?
3 y at 2.9 AAV? Are we talking about 3rd third-round pick? More.
Does he stay put?

Acquiring a 2C via trade or Free agency would go along for the HABs

 

[CzarDemidov]

What is the value of Newhook this offseason?
3 y at 2.9 AAV? Are we talking about 3rd third-round pick? More.
Does he stay put?

Acquiring a 2C via trade or Free agency would go along for the HABs

Newhook has 2 years left, not 3. He signed a 4 year deal @ 2.9m/year.

The question is a bit complicated, which team will want him and for what purpose?

Does a tanking team want him as a warm body: what would they give to get him? (unlikely to be 'futures', if they're tanking -- right?)

Does a competing team want him for middle6 depth: how much are they willing to allocate to their bottom6? 2.9 isn't a heavy cap hit but you can imagine a team with a top6 that's cup-contender competitive will want to optimise as much as possible wherever possible

Does an ascendant team want him for 2nd line purposes? What performance and production do they expect to get from him that the Habs do not?

Abstractly, I don't see how he could be worth more than a 2nd round pick in any circumstance. Better players than him have gone for 2nd round picks at the trade deadline, and his past season performance was much worse than the season before so we see a mix between the two seasons while a buying team probably argues more toward the cheaper valuation. 3rd round pick seems about right...

 

[Balthazar]

So what's the plan with him next season? 3rd line wing?

 

[windycity]

So what's the plan with him next season? 3rd line wing?

That would be my preference, I think he can be useful

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

So what's the plan with him next season? 3rd line wing?

It is hard to say at this point as we could see a bunch of changes to the roster before the season starts. In my opinion based on our current roster I think he might work best in the bottom six on a line with Evans & Heineman. All 3 play a north/south game and with lower expectations offensively hopefully he'll chip in more points.

 

[LaP]

With all the walking wounded in the playoffs, this proves the point doesn’t it.

The Habs had such bad depth that Kapanen was the next man up. There’s no way healthy Newhook was going to be scratched for simple bad performances.

Why would you scratch Newhook anyway? Newhook is disappointing but at one point we'll have to accept the fact that he is what he is. He's not a top 6. You sit a guy when he's not working hard. Newhook was working hard but he had no chain on his bicycle so he was going nowhere.

 

[CzarDemidov]

Why would you scratch Newhook anyway? Newhook is disappointing but at one point we'll have to accept the fact that he is what he is. He's not a top 6. You sit a guy when he's not working hard. Newhook was working hard but he had no chain on his bicycle so he was going nowhere.

I wouldn’t have. I’m saying we didn’t have the depth to scratch him out.