The NHL offseason is always an exciting time for hockey fans, as teams make moves to improve their rosters for the upcoming season. One of the latest trades to make headlines is the Avalanche’s decision to trade 22-year-old forward Alex Newhook to the Canadiens for two 2023 draft picks.
Newhook was selected by the Avalanche in the first round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, and he made his NHL debut during the 2020-21 season. In 14 regular-season games, he recorded three goals and one assist, and he also played in four playoff games.
Despite his promising start, the Avalanche decided to part ways with Newhook in exchange for two draft picks. The Canadiens will give up a second-round pick and a third-round pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.
So, why did the Avalanche make this trade? One possible reason is that they have a deep roster and may not have had room for Newhook to play a significant role in the upcoming season. The team already has several talented forwards, including Nathan MacKinnon, Gabriel Landeskog, and Mikko Rantanen, among others.
Additionally, the Avalanche may have been looking to acquire more draft picks to continue building for the future. By trading Newhook for two picks, they can add more young talent to their organization and potentially find another player who can contribute at the NHL level in the future.
As for the Canadiens, they are getting a promising young forward who has already shown flashes of potential in his brief NHL career. Newhook is a skilled player with good speed and offensive instincts, and he could be a valuable addition to Montreal’s roster.
Overall, this trade is an interesting move for both teams. The Avalanche are giving up a talented young player but are getting valuable draft picks in return, while the Canadiens are adding a promising forward to their roster. It will be interesting to see how this trade plays out in the coming seasons and whether Newhook can continue to develop into a top NHL player.