Trade Completed Between the Canadiens and the Colorado Avalanche: A Troubling Detail About Alex Newhook Surfaces and It's Generating Buzz

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Julien Trekker
September 2, 2023 (9:39)

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Kent Hughes was active again this summer in an attempt to improve his team in the medium and long term, while also successfully bringing in young talent to accelerate the team's rebuild.

Specifically, I'm talking about the acquisition of Alex Newhook, which is reminiscent of last year's trade that brought Kirby Dach to Montreal.

While many experts and analysts believe it was an excellent move by the Canadiens to add the 22-year-old forward to the organization, one person isn't sold on his arrival, and that's former player agent and regular contributor to BPM Sports, David Ettedgui.

According to him, comparing his acquisition to that of Dach is completely unjustified.

"We're not talking about the same player; we're not talking about the same size; we're not talking about the same ceiling as Dach."

David Ettedgui

Although he's not wrong on this point, it should be noted that there's a reason why CH's number 77 was the third overall pick and the other was the 16th player drafted in the same year. It's true that Dach has a higher potential at his peak than Newhook.

However, it's another concerning point from Ettedgui that has particularly sparked conversation; he raised the fact that Colorado isn't mourning his departure.

"In Colorado, people weren't crying over his departure. I spoke to several people around the Avalanche, and they all say the same thing: they gave this guy every chance. They gave him opportunities, put him on the second line, gave him the chance to prove himself, and he just failed. He was a disappointment there."

David Ettedgui

Ouch!

He concludes by adding this about the organization not wanting to repeat past mistakes:

"They didn't want to be stuck like they were with [Tyson] Jost and all the other young talents they waited too long on and couldn't leverage in a meaningful way. So they said: we're not making the same mistake with Newhook; we're moving him."

David Ettedgui

Well, there are several things I don't completely agree with in Ettedgui's statements, but let's summarize with one element that explains the situation quite well: it was only Newhook's second season in the NHL.

Everyone is well aware of the "sophomore slump," and it hit the Newfoundland-born forward hard. He's not the first one this has happened to, and he won't be the last.

Moreover, in his case, it's even worse because he won the Stanley Cup in his first NHL season. The hangover from a championship is extremely difficult for a multi-season veteran, and it's even harder for a young rookie like him.

Finally, the comparison with the situation of Tyson Jost is really not justifiable. Jost has never reached the 30-point plateau in six NHL seasons, while Newhook did it in his first two professional campaigns.

I believe in the potential of the newcomer to the Canadiens; I have no doubt that he will take a new step in his development this year with his new organization.