A Winning Habit
Fansided

Five Players The Montreal Canadiens Should Consider Drafting Fifteenth Overall

By Sebastian High

BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 20: Raphael Lavoie #50 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 20: Raphael Lavoie #50 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 5
Next
Montreal Canadiens
VICTORIA , BC – JANUARY 27: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Kevin Light/Getty Images) /

Alex Newhook

Alright, back to the general realm of reality. Third, on my shortlist for the fifteenth overall pick is Alex Newhook of the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL. The 5’11” centreman is an intriguing talent. He may very well be the best Canadian forward in this draft class, but the fact that he played in a lower tier league leaves some question marks in scouts’ eyes.

However, Newhook is undoubtedly a player brimming with potential. There is a recurring theme with the players on this list, they are exceptional skaters; which Newhook most definitely is. Newhook is among the quickest players in the draft and has the ability to make cuts to the front of the net in the amount of time lightning spends in the 2019 playoffs.

More from Draft

The kid who hails from my hometown of St. John’s, Newfoundland, is extremely well rounded. He has good hands, good vision gets his nose dirty and plays a sound defensive game. Once he is NHL-ready, which may take two or three years, he will be effective on both the power play and the penalty kill.

It is more difficult for me to draw an NHL comparison for Newhook. The best I’ve gotten is a bit of a long shot, but he reminds me a bit of Jonathan Toews. I by no means expect Newhook to replicate the career that Toews has had, but stylistically, this is the closest I’ve found. They are both sound defensively, true leaders and productive offensively.

While the Canadiens are deep at the centre position (which feels weird to say) if the previous three players are off the board at fifteenth, the Habs should select the best player available, which would be Newhook.

Home/Draft