Player Discussion Alex Newhook

[Victoire HuGo]

His exit meeting this year will be all about how he can invent himself kind of like Anderson has.. use your speed on the forecheck, use your speed on the PK, and define yourself as a premium 3rd liner who can pitch in at center when needed.

I think this should be done sooner. Prefer to have answers and do a test run down the stretch if Armia and Dvorak are traded. Cut our losses if he can't be that guy. Anderson for all the flack he got was still more consistent in showing his speed when bull rushing.

Newhook will slot in as Dvorak’s replacement as 3C w Demigod slotting next to Laine & Dach

I think we'll see Beck in that role but a lot of things can change obviously

 

[WeThreeKings]

I think this should be done sooner. Prefer to have answers and do a test run down the stretch if Armia and Dvorak are traded. Cut our losses if he can't be that guy. Anderson for all the flack he got was still more consistent in showing his speed when bull rushing.

I think we'll see Beck in that role but a lot of things can change obviously

They don't have to cut their losses.. he's on a very small contract and I believe retain his rights as a RFA for one more year when it expires, like Dach.

As of this year he's gonna get the runway to see what he can do in the top 6, which is completely fine because there's really no internal pressure for that spot.

 

[Victoire HuGo]

They don't have to cut their losses.. he's on a very small contract and I believe retain his rights as a RFA for one more year when it expires, like Dach.

As of this year he's gonna get the runway to see what he can do in the top 6, which is completely fine because there's really no internal pressure for that spot.

I meant this summer. Demidov would be that internal option.

If he can't cut it as a middle 6 piece and he's not cutting it as a top 6 piece either. His value will be minimal. That's why I was talking about cutting your losses by trading him for a late 2nd Round pick rather than a 4th the next season. I'd want to make this realization fast enough to know if Evans should be prioritized and allocate some of Newhook's money to him.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I meant this summer. Demidov would be that internal option.

If he can't cut it as a middle 6 piece and he's not cutting it as a top 6 piece either. His value will be minimal. That's why I was talking about cutting your losses by trading him for a late 2nd Round pick rather than a 4th the next season. I'd want to make this realization fast enough to know if Evans should be prioritized and allocate some of Newhook's money to him.

I think it's clear that Evans should be prioritized, we saw what happened when we were too green on defense.. doesn't matter how much potential Beck and Kapanen have; until they get eased in and established, they would be getting caved in too much. Can't go that green down the middle or on the back end.

 

[26Mats]

I think it's clear that Evans should be prioritized, we saw what happened when we were too green on defense.. doesn't matter how much potential Beck and Kapanen have; until they get eased in and established, they would be getting caved in too much. Can't go that green down the middle or on the back end.

It really will be interesting to see what HuGo do. It's a challenge to not overpay for a vet like Armia.

Caufield - Suzuki - Slaf
Laine - Dach - Demidov
(I could see Laine and Slaf swapping spots)
Heineman - Evan's- _________
Gallagher - Newhook - Anderson
__________

Two spots open for Beck, Kapanen, Roy, and possibly Armia to fight for.

 

[le_sean]

Apart from skating fast, he brings absolutely nothing to the team. Nothing defensively, nothing offensively. Can’t be used on the PK or PP. Low IQ player

 

[70Stang]

Its safe to say Newhook is the new outlier on the Habs. 9 points so far. A trade of Fairbrother, a 1st in 2023, 2nd-round pick in 2023. He's getting top 6 minutes with below expectation returns. I think he might be the next player on the move if Hughes can find something that works. I would think Hughes will want to fix his mistake just like the Barron trade.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Its safe to say Newhook is the new outlier on the Habs. 9 points so far. A trade of Fairbrother, a 1st in 2023, 2nd-round pick in 2023. He's getting top 6 minutes with below expectation returns. I think he might be the next player on the move if Hughes can find something that works. I would think Hughes will want to fix his mistake just like the Barron trade.

Newhook is not a bad middle 6F to have around. A winger who can play center in case of injuries (call it insurance). Certainly has more to offer with the skills/skating he has but it just does not appear to be working out for him.

 

[sampollock]

he has the flu...faker

 

[The Great Weal]

Its safe to say Newhook is the new outlier on the Habs. 9 points so far. A trade of Fairbrother, a 1st in 2023, 2nd-round pick in 2023. He's getting top 6 minutes with below expectation returns. I think he might be the next player on the move if Hughes can find something that works. I would think Hughes will want to fix his mistake just like the Barron trade.

You just have to hope some team sees the potential in him. Hughes should call up Trotz again.

 

[HuGort]

I think it’s time we stop trading with Colorado. Absolutely fleeced us for Lehky and now Newhook.

Zero assists half way through a season is mind boggling

Terrible trade. Not worth his caphit alone. He's a fringe player, costs us 2 first picks. Has speed but that is all.

 

[ReHabs]

Has to be said this has been a terrible acquisition for the price paid. They don't all work out but the logic behind acquiring him in the first place seemed thin and specious. His upside was non-physical, agile, playmaker-ish. The odds of reaching his upside were looooong. Colorado cut him loose despite winning a Cup with him in the lineup... see how much fans fall in love with players who contribute to winning, see how in love with Evans and Armia this fanbase has become after a hot 6 weeks... Colorado won a friggin Cup with Newhook and still cut him loose the following summer.

I don't love pts/60 as a stat but it works in certain cases to show a larger trend:
In 22-23 with COL he had 1.56pts/60 (EV) and 0.37ppg and a s% 12.1 [TOI/gp: 13:57 | PP TOI/gp: 1:22]
In 23-24 with MTL he had 2.11pts/60 (EV) and 0.62ppg and a s% 17.6 [TOI/gp: 16:56 |PP TOI/gp: 3:02]
In 24-25 with MTL he has 0.90pts/60 (EV) and 0.21ppg and a s% 13 [TOI/gp: 15:03 |PP TOI/gp: 1:46]

Between 22-23 and 23-24 with more minutes (3rd liner -> 2nd liner) his pts/60 (even strength) stayed the same, with more PP time he picked up more points.

In 22-23 with COL, among forwards, Newhook was 7th in TOI, 5th in EV TOI, 7th in PP TOI, 8th in TOI/GP, 7th in EV TOI/GP, 7th in PP TOI/GP and 8th in shifts. He was a third liner who didn't play on the PK. He produced 30pts/82gp, which is a not great depth for a competitive team like COL.

Newhook was given more minutes/game, being firmly a 2nd liner in 23-24 with MTL and had raised his s% and so his production went up with extra PP time 8 PPpts). Among Habs forwards that season he was 8th in TOI, 8th in EV TOI, 5th in PP TOI, 5th in TOI/GP, 4th in EV TOI/GP, 5th in PP TOI/GP (Monahan leaving raised his TOI imo). He was as second line player who didn't play the PK. As a second line player with second line PP minutes he produced... 34pts/55gp (50pts/season) pretty much what you'd expect from a 2nd line player on a sub-elite team.

His progress doesn't look like progress, it looks like a function of being fed more minutes and opportunities. This year with 15mins/gp his production is down on a per/60 basis and he will lose more PP TOI as Laine and (I think) Armia/Gallagher/Heineman start to eat his lunch which will further impact his points per/game. I think he will pick up points from now until the end of the season but it will look a lot like his 22-23 season. No progress. He's on pace for 17pts this year but maybe he will pot a few in a row and finish closer to 25-27. It seems unlikely he will be given more TOI or better linemates in the near-future.

The problem isn't this season, the problem is what will his opportunities be next season and can the Habs feel happy to have him as a 3rd liner with little PP time and no special aspect to his game? Maybe he can be re-invented as a nimble PKer (a la Byron)? I still think it was a terrible acquisition for the price paid all the same but it would help resolve the What To Do With Newhook problem.

 

[Egresch]

The only excuse he has, he is playing almost whole season alongside Dach. Dach was one of the worst players in whole league and he was dragging everyone down.
The problem is, he does not have a chair in team structure. Next season, he will be out of top 6 with Demidov coming. Can he finally play center and be our left-handed option? If not, he is competing for bottom 6 winger spot with Heineman, and Anderson who are way better options. Gallagher is a lock for next couple years and few other guys knocking on the door.
For me, it is basically decision between him and Anderson. Anderson is way better now in the role, but he is also 2.6M more expensive with the same term.

 

[ReHabs]

The only excuse he has, he is playing almost whole season alongside Dach. Dach was one of the worst players in whole league and he was dragging everyone down.
The problem is, he does not have a chair in team structure. Next season, he will be out of top 6 with Demidov coming. Can he finally play center and be our left-handed option? If not, he is competing for bottom 6 winger spot with Heineman, and Anderson who are way better options. Gallagher is a lock for next couple years and few other guys knocking on the door.
For me, it is basically decision between him and Anderson. Anderson is way better now in the role, but he is also 2.6M more expensive with the same term.

In my post above I came to the conclusion that he should be shifted to replacing Evans/Dvorak if possible. It should be done this year after Evans/Dvorak are sold at the TDL. It's the best possible solution and way to recoup some value because there's no way any team intends to acquire a soft, non-productive lesser 2nd line winger for the value we gave up to acquire him.

 

[Habs Halifax]

In my post above I came to the conclusion that he should be shifted to replacing Evans/Dvorak if possible. It should be done this year after Evans/Dvorak are sold at the TDL. It's the best possible solution and way to recoup some value because there's no way any team intends to acquire a soft, non-productive lesser 2nd line winger for the value we gave up to acquire him.

He's probably here to stay for a little while yet. But if we were to get into a trade and we are offering a pick, prospect, and NHL player type package, it's very likely Newhook is that NHL player. Newhook, Flames/Panthers 1st, and Mailloux for R Andersson. Something like that.

I always liked Newhook and dates all the way to predraft. When we acquired him, I was less excited than adding Dach and my gut feel is correct. Dach is better regardless of the up/down level of play. I still think Newhook will be a good middle 6 winger but he has to put up some more points because it's just not lining up to this ice time and opportunity.

He has to know that if he continues on this lack of production path, he is in jeopardy from even getting a RFA contract offer from us. If he were to get one with this level of production, it's more like $2.5M max. There is still 2.5 years left to go on his bridge. Perfect timing to figure out how good this 23 year old is.

 

[morhilane]

Terrible trade. Not worth his caphit alone. He's a fringe player, costs us 2 first picks. Has speed but that is all.

This year, he might not be worth his $2.9m, but last year he was (34 pts in 55 games). No idea what the problem is this year (can't be just Dach, Newhook had 2 pts playing ~10 games with CC/Suzuki), but I kept saying since the season started that he looked like he forgot everything he learned last year.

And he's going to be out of a spot on the team fast, if he can't learn a bottom 6 utility roles.

 

[salbutera]

This year, he might not be worth his $2.9m, but last year he was (34 pts in 55 games). No idea what the problem is this year (can't be just Dach, Newhook had 2 pts playing ~10 games with CC/Suzuki), but I kept saying since the season started that he looked like he forgot everything he learned last year.

And he's going to be out of a spot on the team fast, if he can't learn a bottom 6 utility roles.

How do?

Newhook will fill 3C hole once Demigod comes over adding speed quotient to that 3rd line. He’s only playing top-6 due to “need”

 

[Egresch]

In my post above I came to the conclusion that he should be shifted to replacing Evans/Dvorak if possible. It should be done this year after Evans/Dvorak are sold at the TDL. It's the best possible solution and way to recoup some value because there's no way any team intends to acquire a soft, non-productive lesser 2nd line winger for the value we gave up to acquire him.

Unless this team gets hit by some major injury to key player, I expect them to be wildcard team at TDL. Therefore, my prerequisite is zero trades. I expect Dvorak, Pezzetta and probably Armia leave in the summer. This leaves 2/3 spots for Demidov, Beck, Kapanen and all other candidates. He really has the rest of season to show something.

 

[Egresch]

How do?

Newhook will fill 3C hole once Demigod comes over adding speed quotient to that 3rd line. He’s only playing top-6 due to “need”

Well, you also have Beck and Kapanen coming next year. I expect they extend Evans and they will start next season with Suzuki, Dach, Evans and one of Beck/Kapanen as their centers.

 

[Rapala]

Roster ready low level trade chip to send in a package to some tanking team for a viable 2C.
That's what we have here. Just have to wait for a team to decide to pull the plug or the off-season.

 

[Deebs]

At this stage of his career, Newsy is a utility knife that can move up and down the lineup. Ideally he stays in the bottom 6 and will be for us starting next year. He's a solid forechecker and with his speed, will help helm opponents in their zone. At $2.9M, he's a solid depth player until a replacement takes his job.

 

[sampollock]

Capt Hook won't be a Hab by the draft

 

[morhilane]

Capt Hook won't be a Hab by the draft

How sure of that are you?

 

[CTHabsfan]

I know there's more to hockey than just scoring goals, but it's funny how so many people are crapping on Alex Newhook right now, while loving Jake Evans (who was getting majorly crapped on two years ago). Newhook is 4.5 years younger than Evans, and has three seasons of scoring 30 or more points versus none for Evans. Newhook only makes $2.9 million for the next two seasons, while Evans will be getting more years and dollars, with some people be fine (for now) with Evans making a lot more than $2.9 million.

 

[Dagistitsyn]

I know there's more to hockey than just scoring goals, but it's funny how so many people are crapping on Alex Newhook right now, while loving Jake Evans (who was getting majorly crapped on two years ago). Newhook is 4.5 years younger than Evans, and has three seasons of scoring 30 or more points versus none for Evans. Newhook only makes $2.9 million for the next two seasons, while Evans will be getting more years and dollars, with some people be fine (for now) with Evans making a lot more than $2.9 million.

Evans has been way better defensively, better on faceoffs, one of the best on the penalty kill, and has been a big factor in how his line has been dominating consistently with forechecking and o zone possession time.

Newhook has been struggling and making a bad play with the puck seemingly 8/10 times this season and it results in losing puck possession and putting us back on defense. He also played with our two best goal scorers for a good stretch and it took him half a season to register his very first assist. It’s not just about points. We’re crapping on Newhook because he’s overrated. Thankfully he’s not overpaid or he’d be getting crapped on way more. He’s fast and has a decent shot, but we overpaid for him big time, and sadly he’s easier to replace than Evan’s.