The Canadiens are making moves ahead of the 2023 NHL Draft.
Montreal sent one of its two first-round picks to Colorado in a package for the rights to RFA forward Alex Newhook.
Colorado received the No. 31 pick in the 2023 draft, which was previously acquired by Montreal in a 2022 trade with Florida.
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
Newhook, 22, was the No. 16 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the Avalanche. The Boston College product won a Stanley Cup as a rookie in 2022, and this past year, he contributed 30 points in 82 games for Colorado.
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The Sporting News has the full details of the Newhook trade to Montreal.
Alex Newhook trade details
- Canadiens receive: F Alex Newhook
- Avalanche receive: 2023 first-round pick (No. 31), 2023 second-round pick (No. 37), D Gianni Fairbrother
Newhook is a restricted free agent, meaning he is under team control for at least another season. The Canadiens can immediately work out a new deal with the young forward.
Over the last two seasons with the Avalanche, Newhook flashed his promise as a playmaking center, but did not evolve and progress into the top-six forward that Colorado needed him to be.
With the Habs, he won’t be rushed and expected to immediately produce in the top-six. While he’s a natural center, he has experience playing wing and fits the mold of the core group forming in Montreal around Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield.
For the Avalanche, the deal gives the organization now three picks within the first 40 selections of this year’s draft. Colorado only had two draft picks last season and traded a number of high-end prospects en route to a Stanley Cup win.
While losing the picks and prospects were more than worth it, the Avs must start restocking their prospect pool. They are getting a jump on that in 2023.
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Canadiens 2023 draft picks
After moving the two picks to get Newhook, the Canadiens are left with just their own pick in the first round at No. 5, and no longer any selections in the second round.
Still, as of the Newhook trade, the club own a total of nine draft picks in the 2023 draft.
| Round | Pick (Overall) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 5 |
| 3 | No. 69 |
| 4 | No. 101 |
| 4 | No. 110 (from Penguins) |
| 4 | No. 128 (from Golden Knights) |
| 5 | No. 133 |
| 5 | No. 144 (from Flames) |
| 6 | No. 165 |
| 7 | No. 197 |
Avalanche 2023 draft picks
The two draft picks acquired from Montreal give Colorado two picks in the first round, and a selection in the second round. After No. 27, the Avs weren’t going to pick again until the fifth round.
| Round | Pick (Overall) |
|---|---|
| 1 | No. 27 |
| 1 | No. 31 (from Canadiens) |
| 2 | No. 37 (from Canadiens) |
| 5 | No. 155 |
| 6 | No. 187 |
| 7 | No. 219 |