The Montreal Canadiens have gotten a deal worked out for their big trade addition this offseason. After nabbing the signing rights to former first-round pick Alex Newhook via trade from the Colorado Avalanche last month, the team’s now inked him to a four-year contract with an average annual value of $2.9MM. CapFriendly reports the breakdown of the deal as follows:
2023-24: $3.5MM salary
2024-25: $3.3MM salary
2025-26: $2.7MM salary
2026-27: $2.1MM salary
Newhook will still be a restricted free agent at the end of this semi-long-term commitment, given he’s still just 22 years old and has only two full seasons of pro experience. This is the longest contract possible for Newhook without surrendering his signing rights at the end – a five-year deal would have walked him directly to unrestricted free agency in 2028.
While Newhook may not have taken the step forward most hoped for in Colorado last season, a $2.9MM cap hit is still fair value for his services, even if he doesn’t pan out as hoped with the Canadiens. The 2019 16th overall pick played in all 82 games for the Avalanche last season but posted just 14 goals, 16 assists, and 30 points despite being given top-six minutes to start the season. He’d later fall down the depth chart in favor of J.T. Compher, who earned himself a payday in free agency by signing a five-year contract with the Detroit Red Wings.
As it stands right now, Newhook is a fine third-line center whose game translates to the wing rather seamlessly. The contract may be a slight overpay based on last year’s performance, but it could be a significant bargain in a couple of years should he approach his ceiling – a bonafide top-six playmaking center.
Newhook projects to fit in somewhere among Montreal’s second or third lines, although predicting line combinations at this stage in the offseason isn’t a prudent exercise given the team’s backlog among forwards of depth veterans and up-and-comers alike. It does seem likely he’ll start the season on the wing, however, unless the team pursues trading someone like Christian Dvorak.
Seems a bit rich of you ask me. But nobody did :)
I thought so too but he only played 12 min a game and still got 14 goals. I thought the same about Dachs deal last year and it looks good so far so we will see
Love that Sakic got two high picks for Newhook and then flipped the lesser of the two for a better player while keeping the higher pick.
Has to play top 6 mins to be effective…if not probably only 10 goals 35 pts
Plenty of room to play top 6 minutes in Montreal’s lineup
Good for newy. He wasn’t gonna get that money from colorado.