September 21, 2025 The Montreal Canadiens kicked off training camp this week along with 31 other NHL teams. Camp has a different feel this year following a surprise appearance in last year’s Stanley Cup playoffs. The Habs have shifted into a different phase of the build. Early in camp, Sportsnet’s Eric Engels posted a photoContinue reading “The Habs have some battles and bottom lines in training camp”
Tag Archives: Alex Newhook
Three moves to help the Habs
June 26, 2025 This is a segue from this week’s Basu & Godin Notebook podcast where the guys – Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin – played a little game where they took turns being the Habs GM. Each of them identified three off-season moves to improve the Montreal Canadiens for next season. I wantContinue reading “Three moves to help the Habs”
With the crazy preseason done, HuGo shouldn’t pull any punches
October 7, 2024 The Montreal Canadiens played their last preseason game on Saturday night, and not a minute too soon. From losing off-season acquisition Patrik Laine to injury, to the coach refusing to play his top line in the final preparation match fearing the same outcome, the preseason was a bit of a shit show.Continue reading “With the crazy preseason done, HuGo shouldn’t pull any punches”
Critical storylines as we transition to the Habs main training camp
September 17, 2024 The annual golf tournament is a sure sign that a new season for the Montreal Canadiens is about to kick off. On Monday, players, coaching staff and management teed off in Laval, and we can almost smell the rink. The rookie tournament is done and there were no major surprises. Lane HutsonContinue reading “Critical storylines as we transition to the Habs main training camp”
Checking in on the Habs progress against the McGuire Profile
August 24, 2024 On April 20, 2023 I wrote an article assessing where the Montreal Canadiens were in their development against what I named the McGuire Profile. The McGuire Profile is a 7-player profile which hockey analyst Pierre McGuire says was developed based on conversations with Scotty Bowman. The profile identifies seven essential pieces toContinue reading “Checking in on the Habs progress against the McGuire Profile”
The Habs have placeholder options to complete the top six
August 17, 2024 The 2023-24 season for the Montreal Canadiens ended with a definitive top line. The Caufield-Suzuki-Slafkovsky line was strong down the stretch, and there is no reason to expect they won’t be set up to continue growing together this coming season. With Alex Newhook having a strong year despite injuries, and with KirbyContinue reading “The Habs have placeholder options to complete the top six”
Can HuGo exceed expectations for the 2024 draft window?
June 26, 2024 It’s been two years since the management duo of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton entered their first amateur draft for the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal was the host and the Canadiens held the first overall pick. Shane Wright was projected to go first overall, but Hughes took to the microphone and made jawsContinue reading “Can HuGo exceed expectations for the 2024 draft window?”
The RHP and Newhook extensions are smart money for the Habs
July 11, 2023 On July 3rd, the Montreal Canadiens signed restricted free agent Rafael Harvey-Pinard to a two-year, one-way contract worth $2.2M and carrying an AAV of $1.1M. Today they locked down newly acquired RFA Alex Newhook for a four-year contract worth $11.6M and with an AAV of $2.9M. Both deals are smart money movesContinue reading “The RHP and Newhook extensions are smart money for the Habs”
In the Newhook deal, GM Kent Hughes drew from a familiar well
June 28, 2023 On Tuesday (June 27), the Montreal Canadiens traded a first round pick (31st overall), a second round pick (37th overall) and defense prospect Gianni Fairbrother to the Colorado Avalanche for the rights to restricted free agent centreman Alex Newhook. Fairbrother was not in the Habs plans with a stacked group of left-shotContinue reading “In the Newhook deal, GM Kent Hughes drew from a familiar well”
Hab At Her 