Colorado Avalanche: Alex Newhook Brings Speed and Agility to his Playmaking

Canadian center Alex Newhook could be a first round option for the Colorado Avalanche.

The Colorado Avalanche have been candid about their need for a second line center, and while their drafted prospects won’t be in a position to fill that role immediately, the team will certainly be looking to the future.

There are a number of high ranked centers available in this year’s draft and one of those is Canadian Alex Newhook. The Avalanche have two picks in the first round:

More from Draft

#4 (from Ottawa)
#16
#47
#63 (also from Ottawa)
#78
#140
#171
#202

Newhook likely won’t go as high as 4th and will likely be taken before the Avs have their 16th, but he may still be available.

Alex Newhook

2018-19 Team: Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL)
Date of Birth: Jan 28, 2001 (18 years old)
Height: 5’10″
Weight: 190 lbs.
Position: Center
Shoots: Left

Ranked #17 by HOCKEYPROSPECT.COM
Ranked #13 by FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Ranked #13 by ISS HOCKEY
Ranked #18 by MCKEEN’S HOCKEY
Ranked #13 by NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING (NA Skaters)
Ranked #10 by ELITEPROSPECTS.COM
Ranked #20 by TSN/McKenzie

As you can see Newhook is predicted to go somewhere between 10 and 20 in the draft which means there’s potential for him to still be available for the Avalanche at 16.

What makes Newhook stand out is his skating ability. Ben Kerr of Last Word on Hockey describes Newhook’s speed as “amongst the best in his class” and adds that ” he has the acceleration, edgework, and agility to go with it.” Kerr ends by saying “Newhook has everything that a scout could want in a top centre.”

Steve Kournianos of The Draft Analyst has this to say about Newhook’s skating:

"Newhook is a fast, determined skater with exceptional balance and agility. He can beat you inside or out, and you can count on him causing at least one defenseman per game to blow a tire. His combination of speed and puck control makes him lethal off the rush, but he also makes the right reads and is able to exploit an overloaded side or confusion in coverage."

Newhook was named Rookie of the Year in his first year playing in the BCHL, and this year was awarded Most Valuable Player and Top Scorer in the BCHL. He also performs well on the international stage. This year he represented Team Canada at the U18 World Championship and tallied 5 goals and 5 assists for a total of 10 points in 7 games.

There are concerns, however, about how Newhook will fare against higher talent. Kerr says:

"The biggest question mark at this point is the quality of competition Alex Newhook faces in the BCHL. This can make him difficult to rank. Newhook has been good, but not great, in international performances where he faced a higher talent level."

Kournianos echoes this sentiment:

"The concerns about his marginal play in prospect showcases like the Hlinka camp, WJAC and CJHL Top Prospects Games raise legitimate concerns about his ability to elevate his play against superior competition."

However, both of these reports were written prior to the U18 World Championship. A solid performance from Newhook there will have alleviated some of these concerns and may see him further up the rankings than initially predicted.

Newhook is set to play for Boston College in the NCAA next season. Given the concerns about his ability to play at an elevated level and with higher ranked competition it will be interesting to see how he performs there.

Alex Newhook in action:

Alex Newhook and the Colorado Avalanche

While I think it’s unlikely Newhook will still be available for the Avalanche’s 16th pick, and I don’t think he’s an option as high as their 4th, if they do decide to draft him he’s a solid choice. He has the speed, agility and playmaking skill to eventually fill that second line center position that the Avalanche need.

The 2019 NHL Draft takes place in Vancouver, with the first round on June 21 at 6pm MT and the second round on June 22 at 11am MT.