The Montreal Canadiens and Colorado Avalanche have made a pre-draft day trade, sending Alex Newhook to Montreal in exchange for the 31st and 37th overall picks in the upcoming NHL Draft, and defenseman Gianni Fairbrother.
Newhook Traded To Montreal
The Canadiens acquire the rights to forward Alex Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Montreal’s 31st (previously acquired from Florida) and 37th overall picks in 2023 and defenseman Gianni Fairbrother.#GoHabsGohttps://t.co/LwT8geUq6A
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) June 27, 2023
The Canadiens are beefing up, as they have traded two draft picks and Defenseman Gianni Fairbrother to the Avalanche for centre Alex Newhook.
Newhook, 22, put up 30 points in 83 games with the Avalanche this season and has been a routine 30-point scorer since Newhook made his NHL debut in the 2020-2021 season.
According to Canadiens writer Eric Engels, Newhook was offered to the Canadiens last season, and rumours have been afloat about him being traded for a year.
What This Means
This trade comes after rumors were spread around that Montreal was making some phone calls regarding a trade. They were one of the frontrunners for forward Pierre Luc Dubois, although, with the likelihood he goes to Los Angeles, Montreal has decided to trade for Newhook.
Considering that Newhook is a consistent 30-point scorer, this adds another reliable scoring option to the Canadiens roster. the Newfoundland native will add some much-needed reliable depth on offense.
The Canadiens were riddled with injury in 2023 and needed a reliable centre on the chance that one of Kirby Dach, Cole Caufield, or Nick Suzuki go down long term.
With Martin St. Louis as the head coach, they could turn around Newhook similarly to how they turned around the career of fellow young centre Kirby Dach. Although, only time will tell whether the same strategy works two years in a row.
