Coincidentally, a lot has changed this summer for the Montreal Canadiens.
In fact, there was still a lot of action involving the CH.
There was all the controversy surrounding the selection of David Reinbacher, there was the trade that brought Jeff Petry back to Montreal, but the “big” acquisition of the summer for the Montreal Canadiens is without a doubt Alex Newhook.
It’s not Erik Karlsson or another big name who changed direction this summer, but for the Habs, it’s THE player who was acquired to help the team right now.
The problem is that opinions have been very mixed towards Newhook since its acquisition.
First, the transaction itself was heavily criticized by some, given that giving away, among other things, two such good draft picks, 31 and 37, for a player who has never scored more than 33 points in the NHL is something big.
Now, if we talk only about Newhook, and not about the transaction itself, opinions are once again very varied.
Some see him as a player who will have a Kirby Dach-style future development, while others sincerely believe that Newhook is a failure.
In short, no one really agrees on what Newhook will offer the Habs.
People just can’t agree on what contribution Newhook will have to the CH.
This worries a lot of people, including George Laraque and Tony Marinaro.
https://twitter.com/thesickpodcasts/status/1702759940782432586?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Here’s why both men are worried.
Laraque is concerned that many people in Colorado were happy with the departure or rather did not regret the departure of a talented young 22-year-old forward.
According to him, this is worrying, because a young player like him cannot be abandoned so quickly.
For Marinaro, this is not a concern because he said Newhook did not have the opportunity to develop behind so many talented players in Colorado.
What worries Marinaro most is Newhook’s unknown roof.
Marinaro’s point is that in the case of Newhook, we have no idea of its ceiling and how far it could expand.
Marinaro then gives the examples of Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, whose ceilings we know.
Suzuki could/should become a point-per-game player in one season, while Caufield could/should become a 40-goal scorer.
In the case of Newhook, it is unclear what it can achieve and how far it can go.
This is the worrying thing, because we gave a lot for a player with mysterious potential.
It’s a big risk, but we hope it’s calculated considering Kent Hughes knows Newhook very well.
He knows him very well as a player, but also as a person, since he was his agent.
In short, let’s hope Newhook’s speed, game vision and hockey IQ allow him to establish himself in Montreal as a top 6 player.
Otherwise, Mikhail Gulyayev (31st pick) and Ethan Gauthier (37th pick) risk CH regrets.
A lot
– Hiring has really been better in recent years at the CH.
https://twitter.com/MLeclerc_Hockey/status/1703003874968101024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Read.
https://twitter.com/lapochebleue/status/1702740031952113999?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
– Hockey is also slowly returning for the Trois-Rivières Lions.
https://twitter.com/AZadarski/status/1703043023485952232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
– Wow.
https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/1703049174856397262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
– Inter Miami’s playoff race will be something to follow very closely.
https://twitter.com/NiltonJorge/status/1703051541068792033?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
