The Montreal Canadiens have been in a rebuild over the past two seasons. That is not really up for debate as they finished in the bottom five of the standings each season, including last in 2021-22.
What has been somewhat unusual for this rebuilding team is they traded away first round picks in each of the past two NHL Drafts. Normally, a rebuilding team will hoard draft picks and select as many teenagers as they can when they have the chance in order to build up the organization from within.
However, the Canadiens traded away a pick in the middle of the first round at the 2022 NHL Draft to acquire Kirby Dach. Last spring, they traded a late first round pick and an early second round selection to the Colorado Avalanche for Alex Newhook.
Dach played well last season, showing he was worthy of the trade, and the Canadiens hope for the same from Newhook this season. If the first game is any indication, the Newhook trade is going to look like a steal pretty soon.
Newhook teamed up with Dach as well as Juraj Slafkovsky to form a terrific second line. The trio dominated possession all night long against the Toronto Maple Leafs on opening night and gave fans hope they could be watching three of the team’s top six forwards for the next decade. Slafkovsky is just 19 years old, Dach is 22 and Newhook is also 22.
In their first regular season NHL game together, they looked like they had been playing on the same line for years already. They played well defensively, got in on the forecheck regularly to disrupt the Leafs breakout and sniped a pair of goals as well.
It was Newhook who put two pucks in the back of the net, but his linemates played a big role in each goal.
Early in the second period, Slafkovsky caused a turnover in the defensive zone and Dach quickly carried the puck up ice. Slafkovsky showed some impressive speed to get in on the rush. Dach moved the puck to Slafkovsky as he drove down the middle of the ice into the Leafs zone and he sent a perfect backhand pass across to a cruising Newhook who redirected the puck into the net.
Alex Newhook is a Montreal Canadien. 😎 #NHLFaceOff | #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/vd7O38fHu3
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 12, 2023
Slafkovsky caused another turnover in the third period, this time in the offensive zone and it resulted in the puck going to Dach. The Habs center curled around to the top of the offensive zone and left the puck with Arber Xhekaj who wristed it at the net. Newhook positioned himself in front and though there was plenty of traffic he was able to get his stick on it and redirect the puck into the Leafs goal yet again.
Montreal's forecheck takes the puck back, allowing Alex Newhook to score his second of the game!#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/4QNjdewnAP
— Hockey Daily 365 l NHL Highlights & News (@HockeyDaily365) October 12, 2023
It was quite a debut for Newhook as he found the back of the net twice for his new team. Expectations were high after the Habs gave up the 31st and 37th overall picks for him in last year’s NHL Draft.
He sure fit in well in game one and if it is a sign of things to come, those who were concerned about giving up draft picks in a rebuild will be pretty quiet.
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