Alex Newhook projects more as the team's third liner when all the prospects develop and the Montreal Canadiens set their sights on contending for Stanley Cups. After all, Newhook was already the third-line center on a Stanley Cup-winning team when he held that role with the Colorado Avalanche for parts of the 2022 playoffs.
The Canadiens didn't have big plans of Newhook playing top-six minutes when they acquired him from the Avalanche. We believe the long-term goal was for him to always be the team's third-line center, but the roster hasn't developed to that point yet. Newhook has seen time on the wing with Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine this season but stayed further down the lineup when Owen Beck took over the second-line center role after Dach's season-ending injury.
However, with Dach out, Beck sent to Laval, and Joshua Roy recalled in his place, the new-look second-line projects to be Roy-Newhook-Laine. We won't get to see that line on Tuesday night against the Vancouver Canucks, as Laine has been battling a flu bug for the last few days of his trip. Brendan Gallagher will take his spot on the line, which won't fully tell the story of how good this group can be.
The hope is that Martin St. Louis doesn't pull the plug on this line because of the absence of Laine. It'll be interesting to see if Roy and Newhook can develop some chemistry together, as it's a possible look at the future of the Canadiens' lineup. Let's project that the top six next season is Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine, and Ivan Demidov. There's a good chance the fourth line will still have Jake Evans and Joel Armia if he returns. It wouldn't be a stretch to think the third line will consist of Roy and Newhook.
Are the Canadiens in over their heads if they think a second line of Newhook, Roy, and Gallagher or even Laine are going to make them playoff contenders this season? My lean would be yes. However, this season is still all about development, regardless of Kent Hughes' moves at the trade deadline. If Newhook and Roy look good together on the second line, let's keep in mind that this will be the third line in 2025-26. Better matchups and less ice-time for a pair that looks good in the second slot will mean optimism for the future.