The 2024 year was supposed to be different for the Montreal Canadiens. They believed their rebuild was starting to end, and they wondered whether 2024 would end with them looking ahead to a run at the playoffs in 2025. The year ended with a string of wins that elevated them to sixth place in the Atlantic Division, but they are still seven points behind in a playoff race. This series will examine how each player performed over the 2024 calendar year. Next up is centreman Alex Newhook.
Newhook had a good start to his Canadiens tenure at the beginning of the 2023-24 season. However, an injury knocked him out for a lengthy period, and he wasn't the same player once he returned for his first games of 2024. He recorded 29 points in 67 games during the calendar year.
Newhook gets plenty of hate amongst the fanbase, as most expected the former Stanley Cup Champion to be a valuable contributor for the Canadiens after Kent Hughes acquired him. However, Newhook shouldn't be put in the top six and is expected to be an offensive guy. Newhook was a bottom-six guy when he played with the Avalanche, and sometimes, players aren't going to be anything more than that.
Newhook's strengths can be as an energy guy in the bottom six, not a top offensive guy. It's a bit of a bad time to make that point, as he has a new home on the right wing with Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine and recorded two assists in their 4-0 win over the Florida Panthers on December 27. The issue is he had one goal in 13 games before that meeting, which shows how inconsistent he can be.
Newhook buries a one timer to open the scoring! 😳 pic.twitter.com/z6ne3yEuH8
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) December 29, 2024
Newhook also added a goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning on December 29, proving that the trio with Laine and Dach caught some lightning in a bottle for chemistry. However, they are three of the streakier players on the team, which should give the Canadiens and their fanbase some pause.
Alex Newhook's 2024 Highlights
Newhook's two assist game against the Panthers may have been one of his top performances of the year. He also had two goals in a 5-3 loss to the New Jersey Devils earlier this season.
Newhook went on a hot streak late last season, recording a few multi-point games in the season's final two months. However, his inconsistency reigned supreme and drew the ire of the fanbase.