Would you rather have seen Pierre-Luc Dubois with the Canadiens than Alex Newhook? It’s understandable, but it’s not the end of the world. Kent Hughes’ prospects of trading with the Winnipeg Jets for Dubois’ services did not look good.
• Also read: Pierre-Luc Dubois eventually moved to the Kings
• Also read: The Canadiens acquire Alex Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche
I wrote last week that this file poses a risk for the Canadian’s general manager. His counterpart Kevin Cheveldayoff wanted assets that could help his team immediately. Kirby Badger’s name was floating around and the Jets undoubtedly had alternate names on their roster.
Hughes was clear during the press crush he held in Nashville. He didn’t want to sacrifice his future to get his hands on Dubois, even though he was only 25 years old.
follow the plan
Would the Dubois takeover really advance the Canadian’s recovery plan?
I don’t think so.
The Stanley Cup isn’t here for now.
The organization’s hockey leaders are taking it in stages, and that’s a good thing. Some young players are already part of the big club. Their names are Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Justin Barron and Juraj Slafkovsky.
More will be added in the short or medium term.
Think Joshua Roy, Owen Beck and Logan Mailloux.
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Dach proved last season that they belong in Montreal. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield are established players who will continue to improve in the years to come.
Samuel Montambeault and Mike Matheson took the opportunity the Canadian offered them to mature.
Newhook has potential
We could also observe the same with Newhook.
The Avalanche hoped he would be the second center, succeeding Nazem Kadri, who moved to Calgary. He started the season with Evan Rodrigues and Nikolai Nichuskin, who was not at his best.
The latter featured in his side’s first seven games before ending up on the injury list for six weeks.
The Avalanche staff may have lost hope too quickly with Newhook.
Dubois got what he wanted
To put an end to Dubois, rumor has it that Los Angeles topped Montreal on his list.
Good for him!
It wouldn’t be the first time a player has used the Canadian to raise the stakes.
But let’s wish him the best.
After Columbus and Winnipeg, Los Angeles will appear larger than life.
