Player Discussion Alex Newhook

[Kudo Shinichi]

I like Dach's upside a lot, but is there a reason to think he'd have the breakout or stir the drink relative to, say, Newhook or Roy.

Newhook and Roy have been more effective 5v5 and Dach benefited from playing with Suzuki and Caufield (and more PP time).

I don't like projecting point totals because it misses context, but I'm not sure Dach would be the guy on a line.

Dach was dominant in the 2nd half of last season (had a Slaf-like growth), and he was the habs best player at camp this year. He looked poised to have a dominant season, and could've been the habs best player.

Dach will still be on the top pp, so he's going to play with Suzuki and Caufield there. Outside the pp, Dach was not playing with Suzuki or Caufield in the 2nd half of last season. He was playing with Hoffman/Anderson/Drouin. Roy and Newhook should be a good upgrade over those wingers.

 

[Canadiens98]

I'd like to see a 2nd line of Newhook-Dach-Caufield next season

 

[Miller Time]

This just in, other people's opinions can be different than yours, you don't neet to be all enraged by it and find a safe space to recover. It will be ok

indeed, some people have the opinion that the world is flat.

bad take is a bad take. nobody's enraged... you can keep the gas in the tank.

Newhook, he of 30+ points in 50 games, at 22/23, in his first shot at top-6 minutes, isn't affected either way, of that I'm sure we can both agree

 

[Rapala]

I wonder if Alex gets an invite to the Worlds his speed could be important on that large ice surface.

 

[BaseballCoach]

A balanced lineup next year (as of now, there will probably be moves):

Roy - Suzuki - Slaf
Caufield - Dach - Dvo
Gallagher - Newhook - Armia
RHP - Evans - Anderson
Pez, Ylo

And $15M in unused cap space, which would be criminal.

 

[Non Player Canadiens]

And $15M in unused cap space, which would be criminal.

next year is the year to start competing, don't make us wait forever... we don't want to become the Sabres or the Sens ...

 

[Wats]

And $15M in unused cap space, which would be criminal.

That would be a MB special. Hughes has shown he weaponizes cap (see Monahan) so hopefully he'll figure out a way to use it to his advantage unlike MB who just sat on it for rainy day.

 

[417]

And $15M in unused cap space, which would be criminal.

Well 10.# of that is technically tied up in a player who can't play.

 

[Rapala]

And $15M in unused cap space, which would be criminal.

They won't spend it on just anything.
If you are looking at older players you want very short term even 1 year if you can get away with it.
That Cap is super important for when the right pieces become available.
We are entering the third year of digging out of Cap Hell the last thing we are going to do is jump right back into it.

 

[BaseballCoach]

They won't spend it on just anything.
If you are looking at older players you want very short term even 1 year if you can get away with it.
That Cap is super important for when the right pieces become available.
We are entering the third year of digging out of Cap Hell the last thing we are going to do is jump right back into it.

I agree in general. Short-term deals for older players. Longer term deal for one or two building block younger pieces, and maybe ONE 28-30 yo D to replace Savard.

 

[1909]

I'd like to see a 2nd line of Newhook-Dach-Caufield next season

If so, who's gonna play with Slaf and Suzuki ? A UFA like Marchesseault ????

 

[Canadiens98]

If so, who's gonna play with Slaf and Suzuki ? A UFA like Marchesseault ????

Not sure, but I don't think it needs to be another star. We just need a complementary piece, look at Matthews since having Domi on his line. Edmonton putting Hyman with Mcdavid.


I was thinking someone like Duclair

 

[Captain Mountain]

next year is the year to start competing, don't make us wait forever... we don't want to become the Sabres or the Sens ...

The Sens are in the position they are because they got too aggressive too soon.

 

[jaffy27]

next year is the year to start competing, don't make us wait forever... we don't want to become the Sabres or the Sens ...

How will they start competing?

Cause I look at the Habs and they 100% competing!

What are they doing different next year from this year?

 

[jaffy27]

They won't spend it on just anything.
If you are looking at older players you want very short term even 1 year if you can get away with it.
That Cap is super important for when the right pieces become available.
We are entering the third year of digging out of Cap Hell the last thing we are going to do is jump right back into it.

Summer of ‘25 will be the off season where money coming off the books and Prime UFA’s become available. (Potentially)

Should coincide with Slaf hitting his stride, Suzuki becoming a 90pt guy, Dach emerging as a #2C , Cole becoming that 40 goal scorer, this years 1st round pick making the NHL and our young D being the envy of the NHL.

 

[Rapala]

How will they start competing?

Cause I look at the Habs and they 100% competing!

What are they doing different next year from this year?

Hopefully we are competing in a different tier. We've been competing in the below .500 tier.
With Dach I expected we would be competing in the .500 - .560 tier.
We absolutely need to take that step next season.

 

[Goalfield13]

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Roy-Newhook-Dach
RHP-Dvorak-Armia

 

[Apfel Struble]

I'd be interested to see what Newhook could do next to Slaf and Suzuki, but it's not like Caufield has done anything to be sent down to the 2nd line to be honest

I really like the player, I want to see what he'd do with the best forwards on the team for a while

 

[BaseballCoach]

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Roy-Newhook-Dach
RHP-Dvorak-Armia

Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky
Roy-Dach-Necas or Zegras
Newhook-Monahan-Armia

RHP and Dvorak have no business in the top 3 lines of a playoff contender.

 

[Spring in Fialta]

Alex Newhook is going to be paid 2.9 for the foreseeable future. Even if he remains what he is that's excellent value.

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Alex Newhook is going to be paid 2.9 for the foreseeable future. Even if he remains what he is that's excellent value.

100%. He's a steal at 2.9M for the next 3 x years. If he puts up 50 points (his current pace playing with scrubs), what a deal.

Newhook-Dach-???

 

[Canadiens98]

100%. He's a steal at 2.9M for the next 3 x years. If he puts up 50 points (his current pace playing with scrubs), what a deal.

Newhook-Dach-???

Cole !

 

[Junohockeyfan]

Cole !

Probably end up being Armia. lol

 

[Apfel Struble]

So I wanted to look at Newhook's season in terms of a timeline and see I could see some trends patterns. Just something simple so points only. Advanced stats are honestly a pain to harvest on a game to game basis on nhl.com. The white rectangles are the most stable linemates during the span and the coloured ones are for the position played

Newhook's season debut very shortly went of the rails with the Dach injury as he needed to play 3C for 9 games until Dvorak returned. Getting saddled with Anderson was not good for his point totals (3A in 9 games). Playing on Dvorak's and Monahan's wing for 7 games, things were a bit better (1G, 3A in 7 games). Then he was tried with Suzuki and Caufield on the 1st line for 6 games with decent success (3G, 1A in 6 games) before getting injured

When he returned after the Monahan trade, he played 2C and had to readapt to C once again (2A in 5 games). He became more confortable with Armia (and Roy for a time) and picked up the pace a bit for the next 13 games until Roy injury (2G, 5A in 13 games). Since then, he's been in fire with 4G, 7A in 12 games. He's also leading the team and 17th league wide in P/60 in that span, though I don't think it's sustainable

As a winger, Newhook has 6G, 4A in 13 games while he has 8G, 15A in 40 games as a center. Since returning from injury, Newhook has 20 points in 30 games as a center (55 points pace) and he's been ramping up the production more recently. Unsurprizingly, his goalscoring shines much more on the wing albeit on a low game count. Without Anderson, Newhook has been in a 56 points pace in 82 games

After the Monahan trace, he's been the only forward able to sustainably create offence apart from the 1st line. I don't see a 3rd liner at all personally and it would be an utter waste not to play him in the top 6. This team is starved enough for talent as is...

 

[BaseballCoach]

I'd like to see a 2nd line of Newhook-Dach-Caufield next season

I'd like to pick up a Zegras or Necas or similar player for the second line, and have a 3rd line of Newhook-Monahan-Armia. Much better depth to gain a playoff spot with.

To @TesseractPrice's point, I'd want my third line to be almost second line level anyway. Newhook brings speed to Monahan and Armia.

But I agree if the 3C is someone like Evans, and he won't have another 2nd liner to play with, Newhook should be on the 2nd line.