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In Hainsight: Newhook Signed to a 4-Year Contract |
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Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
Kent Hughes has got a lot of work left to do this offseason, but he just crossed off the most pressing matter of his to-do list. The Canadiens just announced that they have inked restricted free agent Alex Newhook to a 4-year deal. The forward was acquired on the eve of the draft for picks 31 and 37.
Most speculated that the St. John’s native contract would be like the deal signed by Kirby Dach last year since the two forwards’ tack record was quite similar when they were acquired by the team. Dach’s deal was a 4-year pact with a $3 362 500 AAV and Newhook’s is quite similar although less onerous with a $ 2 900 000 AAV. Dach’s deal takes up 4% of the cap while Newhook comes in at 3.5%.
Newhook was Colorado’s first round pick, 16th overall in 2019 and has gathered 66 points in 159 career games (0.41), while Dach had 59 points in 152 games (PPG .39) when he arrived in Montreal. Newhook therefore had slightly better numbers and yet, Hughes managed to sign him for less, pretty nice work. Once again, Kent Hughes is betting that the Canadiens’ development team will be able to unlock Newhook’s potential, just like it did with Kirby Dach.
If St-Louis and co. manage to do wonders with him as well, the deal could be quite a steal for the Habs. At the end of this pact, Newhook will be a restricted free agent. Considering the logjam in the Canadiens’ line-up up front, he might just be one of the rare new faces to wear the Sainte-Flanelle this season. When he hits the ice, he'll be doing it wearing number 15, which was last worn by Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Sami Niku.
On the day of the trade, Hughes, who used to be Newhook’s agent prior to becoming the Canadiens’ general manager, said that he had just added a versatile forward who could play many roles. The 22-year-old could fit in nicely in the Habs’ top six and can play on both the power play and the penalty kill. He also added that Newhook would likely benefit from being part of a team who’s focused on development rather than in a “win now” mode like the Avalanche. Still, his time in Denver has allowed him to win the Stanley Cup and get a first-hand experience of what it takes to win.
Now that Newhook’s been signed, Kent Hughes will probably turn his attention to Jesse Ylonen’s contract while also carrying on trying to trim his roster by moving veterans that have now become surplus to requirement like Mike Hoffman and Joel Armia.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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