Revisiting the Canadiens’ Trade for Alex Newhook

When the Montreal Canadiens acquired Alex Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche in the 2023 NHL offseason, opinions were divided. Some believed Kent Hughes had paid a hefty price for a player who had yet to fully establish himself in the NHL, while others saw the move as a smart bet on a young forward with untapped potential. A couple of years later, the deal is aging extremely well for Montreal and is quietly becoming one of the best trades of Hughes’ tenure.

The Trade 

The Canadiens acquired Newhook from the Avalanche in exchange for the 31st overall pick, the 37th overall pick in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, and defenseman Gianni Fairbrother. At the time, it seemed like a significant package for a player yet to establish himself completely. However, looking back, Colorado did not receive as much as some thought at first. 

Fairbrother never played a single NHL game for the Avalanche and spent the majority of his time within the organization in the East Coast Hockey League before moving on. With the 31st overall pick, Colorado selected defenseman Mikhail Gulyayev. While Gulyayev remains an intriguing prospect, Avalanche fans will have to wait even longer to see him in North America. His recent two-year contract extension with Avangard Omsk in the KHL means he won’t arrive in Colorado until at least the 2028-29 season, assuming everything goes according to plan.

The 37th overall pick wasn’t even used by the Avalanche. Instead, it was sent to the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for forward Ross Colton, who effectively replaced Newhook in Colorado’s lineup.

Colton spent most of his time as a third-line forward before being traded again this summer. The Avalanche sent him to the Nashville Predators in a deal that brought back goaltender Magnus Chrona, a third-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft and another third-round selection in 2027, while Nashville also received prospect Isak Posch.

In other words, two years later, the Canadiens have an established NHL player entering his prime, while Colorado is still waiting for its biggest return from the trade to materialize.

Was It Worth It? 

For Montreal, there’s little doubt the trade has been worth the price. While Newhook hasn’t yet developed into the offensive star many envisioned when he was selected 16th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, his development has continued steadily, and his 2025-26 campaign looked like a genuine breakthrough.

Despite missing roughly half the regular season because of an injury, the speedy forward still produced 25 points in just 42 games. More importantly, he returned before the playoffs and elevated his game when the Canadiens needed him most.

Newhook scored seven goals and added three assists for 10 points in 19 postseason games, proving he could produce against the NHL’s best teams in high-pressure situations. His playoff run was highlighted by two Game 7 game-winning goals, a remarkable accomplishment for a player still only 25 years old.

Those clutch performances showed exactly why Kent Hughes targeted him in the first place. Newhook’s elite skating, versatility and ability to play both center and wing make him an extremely valuable piece, even if he isn’t a point-per-game player. He plays with pace, move throughout the lineup and contribute in all situations. Those players aren’t easy to find, especially at his age. The Canadiens didn’t simply acquire a young player with potential, they acquired someone who is becoming an important part of a winning core.

An Outstanding Contract

Perhaps the best part of the trade isn’t even Newhook’s production, it’s his contract. He is entering the final season of his deal carrying just a $2.9 million cap hit, making him one of the better bargains on Montreal’s roster.

With the salary cap continuing to rise across the league, that contract gives the Canadiens tremendous flexibility as they continue building around Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson and Ivan Demidov.

Hughes should already be thinking about Newhook’s next contract. The 25-year-old finally looked comfortable in Montreal last season, and if he can stay healthy over a full 82-game schedule, there’s every reason to believe another offensive jump is coming in 2026-27.

His speed remains one of the best on the team, his confidence with the puck noticeably improved throughout last season, and his playoff performance suggested there’s another level he can reach when the games matter most.

Not every trade needs to produce a superstar to be considered a success. Sometimes, acquiring a reliable top-six forward entering his prime while giving up assets that have yet to make an NHL impact is exactly the type of move that accelerates a rebuild.