Avalanche Trade Alex Newhook To Canadiens For Draft Picks

Avalanche Trade Alex Newhook To Canadiens For Draft Picks

Joe Sakic is staying busy and reworking the center spot on his team. Earlier this offseason, Sakic made a deal to bring in Ryan Johansen to be the new second line center. A few days later, Alex Newhook has been sent packing. Newhook is being sent to Montreal for multiple draft picks.

#GoHabsGo have acquired Alex Newhook from #Avs in exchange for 1st and 2nd round picks.

Nos. 31 and 37 overall.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 27, 2023

Here's Newhook's projection card for next season. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/IpDECuKV5G

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) June 27, 2023

Newhook, 22, was taken in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft by Colorado. Newhook hasn’t really lived up to the hype of a former 16th overall pick thus far. The former Boston College product posted 30 points in 82 games during his third NHL season. On paper, this seems like a wise trade by Colorado. Maybe Newhook figures it out but they still were able to acquire two fairly high picks to recoup some value.

Newhook is also an undersized player at 5-10, 190. If he wasn’t going to be the team’s second line center, there was no use for him. Newhook was given every opportunity to be that player and hasn’t come through. Maybe he can figure it out down the line but speed only gets you so far if you don’t bring much else to the table.

Colorado still needs to get the third line center spot worked out. I think they would love to bring back JT Compher as long as the price isn’t too prohibitive. If that happens, then there really isn’t any room for Newhook on the roster.

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For Montreal, they can afford to be more patient. They aren’t in a win-now mode like the Avs are. Newhook can slot right behind Nick Suzuki and they can see what they have. For a team that already has a lot of draft ammo, maybe this move was worth the risk.

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