Alex Newhook may have quietly made the Canadiens’ lineup puzzle a little more complicated.
When Montreal had to adjust ahead of its game against the Toronto Maple Leafs because Oliver Kapanen was day-to-day with an injury, Martin St. Louis and his staff turned to Newhook in his place. That move might have uncovered a combination worth revisiting even once Kapanen is available again.
At first glance, the line of Ivan Demidov, Juraj Slafkovsky and Newhook didn’t jump off the page. The trio finished with no points and only four shots. But the underlying numbers painted a far better picture, suggesting the lack of offense had more to do with poor finishing than poor play.
That unit generated five high-danger chances against Toronto, more than the other three Montreal lines combined, which produced four. It also held the Maple Leafs to just two high-danger chances of their own, according to Natural Stat Trick.
There’s also a case to be made that Newhook brings something different than Kapanen at center. Kapanen was at his best last season with Slafkovsky and Demidov flanking him, which helped explain why that setup made sense coming into this year. It gave the line balance and put Kapanen in a role that fit.
Newhook, though, has already shown he can handle the middle of the ice offensively, including after the playoff run he put together. The difference is that he appears to give the line a bit more defensive value than Kapanen.
The numbers from last season back up the contrast. With Kapanen, that line posted a Corsi For percentage of 46.32 and a Scoring Chance percentage of 49.7%. On Tuesday night, with Newhook in the middle, those marks jumped to 60% and 71.43%.
The sample is still small, and nowhere near the size of Kapanen’s work over a full season. Still, for a group that has barely had time together in preseason or last season, it was enough to give St. Louis a reason to keep looking at the trio and see whether Newhook can be the answer at center.
In Other News...
Canadiens Camp Picture Just Got Clearer With 3 More Cuts
The Canadiens camp pipeline took another small turn as the Laval Rocket trimmed three more names from their training camp roster. Forward Aleksandr Legkov and defensemen Jacob Dion and Kale McCallum had all spent time in Montreals camp before landing with Laval, and now their next stop is looking a little further down the road in the organization.
Their movement leaves the Rocket with 25 players still in camp as they build toward the American Hockey League season. For Montreal, it is another reminder of how the organization is sorting its depth chart in real time, with some prospects moving on while others keep their hold on a spot and wait for the next opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Could Have A Rare Chance To Grab Bruins Young Talent
Matthew Poitras has been one of the more interesting young names to follow in Boston, and for now he has stayed out of waivers. Still, the conversation around him is getting louder, and that puts Montreal in a position worth watching. For a Canadiens team that could use more offensive help down the middle, a young player with Poitras profile would stand out immediately if he became available.
Drafted by the Bruins in 2022, Poitras has already shown enough at both levels to make him a legitimate target, with 69 NHL games and 27 career points adding to a productive AHL season in Providence. The Canadiens would not be alone in keeping an eye on the situation, but a rare chance to pluck a player with his skill from a division rival is the kind of opening teams do not get often, which is why the next roster move in Boston matters so much. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Weigh A Lineup Change After One Costly Mistake
A quiet roster debate is hanging over Montreal as the Canadiens sort through their lineup during a team retreat ahead of their next game against the Pittsburgh Penguins. Florian Xhekaj has kept himself in the conversation after a strong training camp, earning praise from both management and teammates, and his name has stayed in the mix as the club looks for ways to tighten things up.
The discussion has been sharpened by a recent penalty from Alexandre Texier, a mistake that drew criticism and may force the coaching staff to rethink its forward group. The Canadiens are still weighing their options, but the decision window is closing, and this one could turn into a meaningful early-season test of how much they want to reward camp performance versus stick with the current lineup. [Read more 🡒]