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Alex Newhook

Avalanche Notes: Toews, Johnson, Newhook

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In the second part of this latest mailbag series for The Athletic, Avalanche beat reporter Peter Baugh commented on many of the pressing issues surrounding the 2022 Stanley Cup champions over the coming months.

One such question is the future of standout defender Devon Toews, whose team-friendly four-year contract earning him $4.1MM per season expires in 2024. While Colorado will have some extra cap space for the 2023-24 campaign due to Gabriel Landeskog’s injury, Toews is due a gigantic raise that may complicate the long-term financial picture, especially with the trajectory of the salary cap uncertain.

Some would entertain the idea of trading the player behind him on the Avalanche depth chart, Samuel Girard, to create cap space, but Baugh says that’s not likely without an extension for Toews already in place. Given Girard’s cost certainty at a $5MM cap hit through 2027, Baugh even went so far as to suggest Toews being a potential trade candidate himself if an extension appears unlikely to materialize late into next season.

  • Baugh also said he believes defender Erik Johnson, the team’s longest-tenured player, is interested in returning to the team next season. The 35-year-old is a pending free agent upon expiration of his seven-year, $6MM cap hit extension signed in 2015 and likely wouldn’t command much above the league minimum on a one-year deal. Johnson registered just eight assists in 63 games last season while again dealing with some injuries.
  • Despite a lack of development this season, Baugh doesn’t think the Avalanche have lost faith in young center Alex Newhook. Expected to step into the vacated second-line center spot to begin the season, Newhook quickly slipped back into a bottom-six role and ended his regular season with 30 points in 82 games. While Colorado will likely use their additional cap flexibility this summer to add higher-end depth at center, the organization still needs more out of important young players like Newhook to maintain Cup contention.

Avalanche Notes: Waivers, Newhook, Helm

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Saying the Colorado Avalanche have had a flurry of waiver-wire activity over the past couple of days surely wouldn’t make them unique; that would make them about a dime-a-dozen amongst other NHL clubs. However, their situation has created some buzz, and now we’re getting some clarity on it as well that not all teams necessarily provide. For one, as reported by Colorado Hockey Now’s Adrian Dater, former top prospects Shane Bowers and Martin Kaut, who were both placed on waivers yesterday, cleared and have been assigned to the Colorado Eagles of the AHL. Given the sheer number of players being placed on waivers this weekend, it’s not shocking that this pair would clear, especially given their lack of NHL success, however it was interesting to see the two placed on waivers given their former status as prospects and their still relatively young age (both are 23).

Turning to today’s waiver players, we noted earlier in today’s Waivers tracker that the Avalanche have put forwards Anton Blidh and Mikhail Maltsev on waivers. When head coach Jared Bednar met with the media, including Dater, earlier today, he shed some light on why that decision was made, indicating the two players were placed on waivers for “cap flexibility” purposes. That itself is not particularly surprising, considering that’s likely the reason for many waiver placements around the league right now, but Bednar did continue, saying that he felt Maltsev was “too quiet” in camp. The coach also added, without naming any specific names, “there’s a lot of guys that can ’play hockey.’ But we’re trying to win.”

  • For the most part, training camp is used as a time to decide who makes the roster, and for those who have already secured a spot, it may be about deciding where they play and what role(s) they occupy. That was set to be the case this camp for Avalanche center Alex Newhook, who appeared to be in line for the open second-line center job that was left vacant by Nazem Kadri who signed with the Calgary Flames. However, the team also inked veteran center Evan Rodrigues to a one-year, $2MM contract his offseason, giving Newhook formidable competition for the role. With camp in the rear-view and a focus on the regular season ahead, it seems as though the Avalanche have not made a concrete decision on who will occupy what role. Instead, Bednar told the media, including Dater, that he will give Newhook a real, everyday chance to win the job over “a couple of months.” The decision to essentially not make one, appears to make sense. Operating this way will not only to allow Colorado to evaluate team chemistry and see how Newhook’s development continues, but also to see where Rodrigues stands, who broke out with 43 points in 82 games last year.
  • On the injury front, Bednar said veteran forward Darren Helm likely won’t be able to play until “some time” early in the season. Helm, who played through an abdominal injury during Colorado’s Stanley Cup run last spring, is still recovering. A lack of a concrete timetable at this juncture is a bit concerning, however an early season return is nonetheless encouraging.

Andre Burakovsky Expected To Re-Enter Colorado Lineup

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The Colorado Avalanche are expected to make a lineup change for tonight’s game against the St. Louis Blues, re-inserting Andre Burakovsky after he was made a healthy scratch the last two matches. Burakovsky was working with the second powerplay unit at morning skate, while Alex Newhook was on the ice late with the other expected scratches. Speaking to reporters including Peter Baugh of The Athletic, head coach Jared Bednar explained that if Burakovsky does play tonight he wants “to see him come in and work and play his best game.”

Burakovsky, 27, has always been something of an enigma. Armed with all of the skills and measurables that should make him an elite offensive player in the league, he has struggled with consistency for his entire career, both with the Washington Capitals and once he got to Colorado. It seemed as though he had put some of that behind him this season when he set new career highs with 22 goals and 61 points in 80 games, but a difficult run of play in the postseason had him down on the fourth line and then up in the press box. He has three points in seven playoff games, all of them coming in the deciding game four against the Nashville Predators.

Perhaps the most interesting part of the whole saga is that Burakovsky is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. Currently in the final season of a two-year deal he signed in 2020, which carries a cap hit of $4.9MM, the 6’3″ winger could be a highly sought-after commodity on the open market. He also could be an important piece for the Avalanche to bring back, but with nearly half their roster headed for free agency, it might not be financially possible if he’s looking for a raise. Burakovsky is joined by Nazem Kadri, Valeri Nichushkin, Josh Manson, and Darcy Kuemper among the team’s many pending UFAs, meaning some difficult decisions will have to be made.

There’s no doubt that on many teams, Burakovsky would be nowhere near the press box despite his inconsistent play. The Avalanche are one of the deepest forward groups in the league at the moment, and have the luxury of moving someone like Newhook in whenever necessary. Make no mistake though, this is the time of the year that can really change a player’s perception around the league and add millions of dollars to a contract negotiation; Burakovsky has a chance to take advantage of that opportunity, and show he can be relied on in the most important situations.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Colorado’s Valeri Nichushkin Week-To-Week With Upper-Body Injury

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The Colorado Avalanche are being hit with the injury bug early this season, as The Athletic’s Peter Baugh reports that forward Valeri Nichushkin is sidelined week-to-week with an upper-body injury.

With the team already missing Devon Toews and Pavel Francouz from their lineup prior to the season’s start, the team’s forward core has now lost three members in the past three days. Captain Gabriel Landeskog is suspended for the next two games, Nathan MacKinnon’s season debut is on hold as he remains on COVID protocol, and it’s now apparent the Avs have lost a third top-nine forward for the time being.

The 26-year-old Nichushkin has had somewhat of a career renaissance with Colorado after a rough start with the Dallas Stars, the team that drafted him 10th overall in 2013. He’s received Selke votes in back-to-back seasons, scoring 23 goals and 48 points in 120 games from 2019 to 2021 in an Avalanche uniform. Nichushkin had one assist in 15:03 of ice time on Wednesday against the Colorado Avalanche.

The team will now turn to Mikko Rantanen to carry the offensive load in the absence of MacKinnon and Landeskog. They’ll look towards forwards like Andre Burakovsky, Tyson Jost, and a pair or rookies in Alex Newhook and Sampo Ranta to increase production in depth roles to compensate for the loss of Nichushkin.

Snapshots: Newhook, Smith, Hardman

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With Avalanche top prospect Alex Newhook turning pro late last month, it looked as if he’d become an interesting late-season recall option if for no other reason than to get his feet wet in the NHL before the playoffs.  However, head coach Jared Bednar told Mike Chambers of the Denver Post that the plan for the 20-year-old is to remain in the AHL for the rest of the season.  Newhook, the 16th pick in 2019, had 16 points in just a dozen games with Boston College this season while picking up six more in six contests at the World Juniors.  As Colorado will need to inject some cheaper players into their lineup for next season, he should have an opportunity to push for a roster spot in training camp but it appears that will be his first crack at an NHL opportunity.

Elsewhere around the NHL:

  • Golden Knights winger Reilly Smith left this afternoon’s game against Anaheim in the third period with an undisclosed injury. Following the game, head coach Peter DeBoer told reporters, including Jesse Granger of The Athletic (Twitter link) that the forward is day-to-day.  Smith has had a quieter year offensively with nine goals and seven assists in 44 games after putting up at least 53 points in each of his first three seasons with Vegas.
  • Blackhawks winger Mike Hardman is expected to see some game action with Chicago before the end of the season, notes Ben Pope of the Chicago Sun-Times. The 22-year-old signed late last month with a commitment to play this season and was able to get that offer with several other teams showing interest.  Hardman had 22 goals over his two seasons at Boston College.

Colorado Avalanche Sign Alex Newhook

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Boston College has lost another key member as the Colorado Avalanche have convinced Alex Newhook to sign his three-year entry-level deal, ending his college career. The top prospect will leave BC after just two seasons and turn pro, giving the Avalanche another explosive weapon to build around. His contract will kick in for this season, meaning the first year will be burned and he’s available to play once through COVID protocols. CapFriendly reports the breakdown of the deal is as follows:

2020-21: $875K salary (including performance bonus), $50K in performance bonuses
2021-22: $925K salary (including performance bonus), $850K in performance bonuses
2022-23: $925K salary (including performance bonus), $850K in performance bonuses

Newhook, 20, was the 16th overall pick in 2019 and dominated the college circuit in his freshman campaign. The winner of the Tim Taylor Award as rookie of the year in 2020, he scored 32 points in 34 games. It was an outstanding debut, but unfortunately, Newhook managed just 12 contests for BC in his sophomore season due to an injury suffered at the World Juniors and reaggravated in early January. Still, he put up seven goals and 16 points in those 12 games, showing exactly why he’s considered one of the top offensive prospects in the world right now.

In fact, back in October, Scott Wheeler of The Athletic listed Newhook 11th among the top-50 drafted prospects, down from fourth before the 2020 draft was held. “Power and explosiveness” is what Wheeler wrote about Newhook then, and indicated he has “no concerns” about the young forward’s future as a top-six option in the NHL.

He’ll have to crack one of the league’s deepest forward units, but the Avalanche do have some big names coming off the books soon enough. Gabriel Landeskog is a free agent this summer, though he’s expected to re-sign at some point given his status with the franchise, but so are Brandon Saad, Matt Calvert and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare. Andre Burakovsky, Nazem Kadri and Valeri Nichushkin are all up after the 2021-22 season, meaning the team will have plenty of room for Newhook if he proves himself worthy of a full-time spot by then.

2021 NCAA Tournament Preview: Northeast Regional

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March 25: Due to COVID-19 protocols, Notre Dame will not be taking part in the tournament. Boston College will get a “no-contest” advancement to the next round instead of playing the scheduled game on Saturday. This means the season is over for Notre Dame’s NHL prospects, who can now decide whether or not to sign a professional contract.

March 24: After an odd season played almost exclusively in-conference, the best of college hockey are finally about to collide. The 2021 NCAA Tournament is set to kick off on Friday, and by Sunday the 16-team field will be down to just four, the Frozen Four. Those teams will then meet next on April 8, with the champion being crowned on April 10. In a single-elimination, do-or-die tournament, the stakes are always high. In a season where almost no one has had the chance to face the top teams outside of their own conference, the bar has been raised even further.

Here is a look at the group in the Northeast Regional, hosted in Albany, New York. No. 1 vs. No. 4 and No. 2 vs. No. 3 take place on Saturday, followed by the winners playing on Sunday for the chance to advance:

1) No. 3 Boston College
NHL Prospects:
F Matt Boldy, Minnesota Wild (R1, 2019)
G Spencer Knight, Florida Panthers (R1, 2019)
F Alex Newhook, Colorado Avalanche (R1, 2019)
D Drew Helleson, Colorado Avalanche (R2, 2019)
F Jack McBain, Minnesota Wild (R3, 2018)
F Trevor Kuntar, Boston Bruins (R3, 2020)
F Logan Hutsko, Florida Panthers (R3, 2018)
D Jack St. Ivany, Philadelphia Flyers (R4, 2018)
D Eamon Powell, Tampa Bay Lightning (R4, 2020)
F Colby Ambrosio, Colorado Avalanche (R4, 2020)
D Michael Karow, Arizona Coyotes (R5, 2017)
D Marshall Warren, Minnesota Wild (R6, 2019)
F Nikita Nesterenko, Minnesota Wild (R6, 2019)

Priority Free Agents: F Marc McLaughlin, F Mike Hardman

Boston College is always a threat on the national stage and this year is no different. As deep as any team in the NCAA and with one of the best goaltenders in college hockey, the Eagles will be a tough out. Their top-ranked offense is the real x-factor though. While BC could stand on their talented two-way forwards, defense, and goaltending alone – who did combine for the No. 13 ranked scoring defense this season – it is their ability to score at will that makes them incredibly dangerous. The only team in the nation to notch more than four tallies a game, any team hoping to beat BC has to equally match their offense, which means beating the stellar Spencer Knight. Ironically, one of the only teams that has the top-end talent to do just that might be waiting for them in their round two match-up: cross-town mortal foes Boston University and their seventh-ranked offense.

2) No. 7 St. Cloud State
NHL Prospects:
G David Hrenak, Los Angeles Kings (R5, 2018)
F Veeti Miettinen, Toronto Maple Leafs (R6, 2020)
D Nick Perbix, Tampa Bay Lightning (R6, 2017)
F Sam Hentges, Minnesota Wild (R7, 2018)

Priority Free Agents: D Spencer Meier

Everyone in college hockey is hoping to see BC and BU square off, so it’s up to the overshadowed Huskies to play spoiler. While St. Cloud doesn’t have the depth of talent as in years past and doesn’t match up with their Boston counterparts at first glance, the team finds ways to win games. Both their offense and defense ranked outside the top 16 in the NCAA and their goaltending has been fine if not unspectacular. Yet, St. Cloud finished second in the NCHC, arguably the strongest conference in college hockey. Call them overachievers if you like, but slated to play an underachiever in round one, the Huskies could hold off the anticipated upset.

3) No. 11 Boston University
NHL Prospects:
F Jay O’Brien, Philadelphia Flyers (R1, 2018)
D Alex Vlasic, Carolina Hurricanes (R2, 2019)
G Drew Commesso, Chicago Blackhawks (R2, 2020)
F Luke Tuch, Montreal Canadiens (R2, 2020)
F Robert Mastrosimone, Detroit Red Wings (R2, 2019)
F Jake Wise, Chicago Blackhawks (R3, 2018)
F Dylan Peterson, St. Louis Blues (R3, 2020)
D Domenick Fensore, Carolina Hurricanes (R3, 2019)
D David Farrance, Nashville Predators (R3, 2017)
F Ethan Phillips, Detroit Red Wings (R4, 2019)
D Cade Webber, Carolina Hurricanes (R4, 2019)
D Case McCarthy, New Jersey Devils (R4, 2019)
F Logan Cockerill, New York Islanders (R7, 2017)

On paper, the Terriers are again one of the strongest rosters in the NCAA. However, they have been great on paper for several years now and it has not translated into elite regular seasons or postseason success. If everyone on the BU roster plays up to their potential, Boston University could be in for a deep run. Yet, the Frozen Four has eluded the historic program since 2014-15 and there is no reason to believe they will overcome their demons now, especially with hard-working St. Cloud State and hated rival BC standing in their way.

4) Notre Dame
NHL Prospects:
F Landon Slaggert, Chicago Blackhawks (R3, 2020)
D Jake Boltmann, Calgary Flames (R3, 2020)
F Jacob Pivonka, New York Islanders (R4, 2018)
D Spencer Stastney, Nashville Predators (R5, 2018)
F Trevor Janicke, Anaheim Ducks (R5, 2019)
F Ryder Rolston, Colorado Avalanche (R5, 2020)
D Nate Clurman, Colorado Avalanche (R6, 2016)
D Nick Leivermann, Colorado Avalanche (R7, 2017)
D Matt Hellickson, New Jersey Devils (R7, 2017)

Priority Free Agents: F Alex Steeves

The only unranked team selected to the NCAA Tournament, calling Notre Dame’s inclusion in the national field a surprise is an understatement. While the Fighting Irish have plenty of NHL prospect talent and finished fourth in the Big Ten in the regular season, they did not have a winning record against the likes of Minnesota, Wisconsin, or Michigan and were one-and-done in the Big Ten Tournament without having to play any of those three. Their anemic 33rd-ranked offense is also unlikely to frighten elite opponents. Yet, the committee opted for Notre Dame over the likes of Providence, Denver, Bowling Green, or UMass Lowell. The team is not without a chance against Boston College, but they will have to finally find their clutch factor this season and play their very best.

National ranks courtesy of the March 22 USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men’s College Hockey Poll

Hockey Canada Announces Final World Junior Roster

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After a month-long selection camp that included a two-week quarantine period, Hockey Canada has finally made their final cuts and announced the roster that will be competing at the upcoming World Junior Championship. The event starts in two weeks in Edmonton, Alberta and will host teams from all over the world. The best junior-aged players will compete for gold in a year unlike any other.

Because the NHL has not started yet, players like Kirby Dach and Quinton Byfield will get the chance to compete for Canada at the end of 2020. Dach missed the tournament a year ago thanks to his commitments with the Chicago Blackhawks but should be a leader this year at the tournament. Byfield meanwhile will get a chance to convince the world that his struggles at the event last year were not indicative of his talent, while trying to add a second gold to his trophy cabinet.

Canada’s roster is loaded up front, with incredible offensive talent all the way to the final forward spot. But perhaps their defense too will be a force with names like Bowen Byram and Jamie Drysdale leading the way. In net, somewhat unheralded prospects will get the chance to prove they are winners, with Taylor Gauthier the only undrafted player on the final roster.

The full roster is as follows:

F Kirby Dach (CHI)
F Connor Zary (CGY)
F Dylan Holloway (EDM)
F Cole Perfetti (WPG)
F Jakob Pelletier (CGY)
F Alex Newhook (COL)
F Ryan Suzuki (CAR)
F Connor McMichael (WSH)
F Peyton Krebs (VGK)
F Quinton Byfield (LAK)
F Dawson Mercer (NJD)
F Dylan Cozens (BUF)
F Philip Tomasino (NSH)
F Jack Quinn (BUF)

D Braden Schneider (NYR)
D Kaedan Korczak (VGK)
D Bowen Byram (COL)
D Thomas Harley (DAL)
D Jamie Drysdale (ANA)
D Jordan Spence (LAK)
D Kaiden Guhle (MTL)
D Justin Barron (COL)

G Devon Levi (FLA)
G Taylor Gauthier (undrafted, eligible for 2021)
G Dylan Garand (NYR)

This means that Mavrik Bourque, Samuel Poulin, Donovan Sebrango, Ryan O’Rourke, Jamieson Rees, Seth Jarvis, Graeme Clarke, Gage Goncalves, and Lukas Cormier were the team’s final cuts.

Snapshots: NHL & AHL Seasons, Germany, Newhook

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After comments were made recently by NBC analyst Pierre McGuire that the NHL and AHL might have to settle for a 35-game season for the 2020-21 season with the pandemic running rampant recently in both the United States and Canada, AHL President and CEO Scott Howson stated that he agreed that both leagues should be grateful if they can even get in a 35-game schedule, according to BostonHockeyNow’s Jimmy Murphy.

“Well, I think a 35-game season is better than no season in any league,” Howson said. “So no I don’t think it’s too low. I think we’re in such a different time right now and whatever we do, whatever any league does, is not going to look good or look perfect. I think it’s going to be a challenge and we’re just gathering as much information as we can and we’re gonna make the best decision we can at the time.”

The AHL announced recently that they were shooting for return date of Feb. 5 with the hopes that the NHL might start shortly before that. However, with the increase in COVID-19 cases recently in both countries, there will be challenges for both leagues to put together a significant season.

“I’ve said this all along; we gotta be flexible, we gotta be nimble,” added Howson. “We don’t know what next week is going to look like, let alone February 5, and we’ll just try and plan as best we can and be ready to be flexible to change plans whenever we have to.”

  • The Athletic’s Corey Pronman reports that the DEL in Germany, which is one of the few leagues that hasn’t started in Europe, is expected to announce their start date early next week, which should be in early December with no fans. That should benefit teams that sent players to Germany to play.
  • The Denver Post’s Mike Chambers writes that the Colorado Avalanche could get a late season addition this upcoming season as top forward prospect Alex Newhook could join the team once his sophomore season at Boston College is completed. Newhook, the team’s first-round pick in 2019, was the NCAA Rookie of the Year after posting 19 goals and 42 points in 32 games. He is expected to leave his BC team shortly to join Team Canada for the World Juniors, a potential two-month experience if he makes the team, before returning to Boston College to finish their season. He is expected to take online classes while he’s in Red Deer, Alberta to remain eligible. However, he adds that he will then have to decide if he wants to join the Avalanche at that point. ” … at the end of the season (I’ll) reassess and see where we’re at in terms of what the NHL is doing, what the Avs think, and where I’m at development-wise as well,” said Newhook.

College Notes: Hockey East, Newhook, UAH,

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You want more college hockey? You’ve got it. Hockey East has announced its 2020-21 schedule which will begin on November 20 with three games and continue through March 6. Not all teams will kick things off right away, with Boston University not playing until the start of December.

Men’s and women’s hockey will be, for the most part, aligned this season to keep transmission risk lower and there will be a “vigorous testing program for the teams, staff, and officials.” This is huge news for top prospects like Spencer Knight of Boston College, who had an outstanding freshman season but needs to keep getting into games to continue his development.

  • Of course, Knight’s BC teammate Alex Newhook has been invited to Team Canada’s World Junior selection camp that starts later this week, meaning he won’t be taking part in the first part of the Hockey East schedule. As Ryan S. Clark of The Athletic reports, Newhook will leave the BC program on Friday to take part in the month-long selection camp, chasing a dream of suiting up for Canada after he was cut from the team last year. The 19-year-old forward was selected 16th overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019 and won the Tim Taylor Award as the best rookie in the NCAA last season.
  • Speaking of good news on the college front, the University of Alabama-Huntsville announced that it has received a long-term multi-million dollar financial commitment and will continue to be a Division I hockey program. The Chargers were in danger of dissolving earlier this year thanks to financial concerns, but after a GoFundMe quickly reached a fundraising goal, more commitments have been made by alumni and the college administration to reinstate the program.

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