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Alex Newhook News
Alex Newhook (lower body) looks likely to return Saturday vs. Dallas.

Newhook has been out of the lineup since November 30th with an ankle injury but is expected to return to the Canadiens' lineup on Saturday. The 23-year-old Newhook was playing well before his injury, scoring 13 points (7G / 6A) in 23 games, and could be in for an increase in offensive deployment after the departure of Sean Monahan.

Alex Newhook
Newhook (ankle) will not play Tuesday but is traveling with the Canadiens on their road trip.

Newhook has been out of the lineup since November 30th with an ankle injury but is nearing a return to the Canadiens lineup. The 23-year-old Newhook was playing well before his injury, scoring 13 points (7G / 6A) in 23 games, and could be in for an increase in offensive deployment after the departure of Sean Monahan.

Alex Newhook
Alex Newhook (undisclosed) left the Canadiens' game Thursday early and is being re-evaluated Friday.

Newhook left the Canadiens' game Thursday vs. Florida in the third period after 15:14 TOI due to an undisclosed injury and was absent from practice Friday. The 22-year-old is expected to be evaluated after practice Friday and should have more updates. His first season in Montreal has gone well after an offseason deal from Colorado, with seven goals, six assists, 31 SOG, eight PIMs and a -5 plus/minus in 23 games prior to the injury.

Alex Newhook
Newhook (upper-body) is expected to be ready for the start of the season.

On Monday, the Canadiens announced that Newhook was day-to-day, but head coach Martin St. Louis said that he is confident that Newhook will be ready for the start of the season. Newhook, who had 30 points (14G / 16A) in 82 games last year, was acquired from the Avalanche in the offseason. The 22-year-old is expected to open the season as a bottom-6 option for the Habs.

Alex Newhook
Montreal will sign Alex Newhook to a four-year, $11.6 million contract ($2,900,000 AAV).

Newhook had 14 goals 16 assists, 116 SOG, and 22 PIMs across 82 games played with Colorado in 2022-23 and has signed a four-year, $11.6 million contract ($2,900,000 AAV) with Montreal. The 22-year-old's rights were acquired by Montreal for a pair of early round draft picks and a prospect earlier in the month. The American centre was the Avalanche's 2019 first-round pick (16th overall) and has 27 goals and 66 points across 159 career NHL games.

Alex Newhook
The Canadiens have acquired Alex Newhook from the Avalanche for a 2023 first-round pick (No.31 overall), a 2023 second-round pick (No.37 overall) and Gianni Fairbrother.

Newhook was the No.16 overall pick in 2019 and has tallied 66 points (27G / 39A) in 159 career NHL games since turning pro in 2021. Most recently, he had 30 points (14G / 16A) in 82 games, averaging 13:57 ATOI. He should play a larger role with the Canadiens and could play more on the wing, similar to what Montreal did with Kirby Dach in 2023.

Alex Newhook
The Avalanche have reassigned Alex Newhook to Colorado (AHL).

The Avalanche are likely going to be without Nathan MacKinnon (COVID), Valeri Nichushkin (upper-body) and Gabriel Landeskog (suspension) on Saturday, so sending Newhook to the AHL opens up enough cap space to recall multiple forwards to fill the voids. Stefan Matteau and Dylan Sikura were recalled.

Alex Newhook
Newhook will make his NHL debut on Wednesday.

Newhook was the No.16 overall pick in 2019 and is set to make his NHL debut after just eight games at the AHL live. The 20year-old centre had 16 points (7G / 9A) in 12 games at Boston College and nine points (5G / 4A) in eight games with the Colorado Eagles (AHL).

Alex Newhook