After an extended break due to the Olympics, the Montreal Canadiens were back on the ice for their first practice since the beginning of the month. While players like Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky might not be back until next week with their teams still in the Olympics, the Canadiens did welcome back Alex Newhook.
Newhook was on the ice for the first time since suffering a fractured ankle back in November, and as Stu Cowan noted, he was participating with a non-contact sweater.
Newhook is playing in his third season with the Canadiens after the Colorado Avalanche traded him to Montreal after the 2022-23 season. He has certainly been productive his first two seasons but this season was arguably his best with 12 points in the first 17 games.
Where might Alex Newhook fit into the Montreal Canadiens lineup when he returns?
The injury couldn't have come at a worse time for Newhook, but the hope is that he can get back to playing at the level he did at the beginning of the season. However, the question is where he might play because the Canadiens can't risk disrupting what they have with the second line of Oliver Kapanen, Ivan Demodov, and Juraj Slafkovsky.
If Newhook is ready to return next week in the Canadiens first game after the Olympic break, which is February 26th against the New York Islanders, he probably fits on the third line with Jake Evans and Zack Bolduc. While his return will help, it might be worth the Canadiens not to rush him back.
The NHL Trade Deadline is not far away, with it being on March 6th, and the Canadiens' lines today could look different after the deadline. Depending on the moves they make, it could open up a spot for Newhook that isn't apparent right now.
At some point, Newhook is going to be back and should help this Montreal Canadiens team make a push to a playoff spot, or even challenge the Tampa Bay Lightning for the Atlantic Division title. This was the first big step towards that by getting him back on the ice and the team can evaluate moving forward when it makes sense to get him back in the lineup.