Alex Newhook's name is drifting into Canadiens trade chatter, and it got a fresh push this weekend.
David Pagnotta said Saturday on Hello Hockey that the forward's name could pop up “every now and again” depending on what Montreal ends up doing.
He was quick to add the caveat. Pagnotta doesn't believe the Canadiens want to make anything happen, but other teams “are gonna ask about certain players.”
That's how this league works in October. A 25-year-old forward on a $2,900,000 cap hit is the exact kind of contract rival general managers like to poke at.
The start hasn't helped his case. Newhook has one goal so far, and his minus-4 rating is tied for the worst on the roster.
There's been a pulse lately, at least. He's picked up three points over his last five games, including that lone goal.
And the timing matters. Ivan Demidov is on injured reserve with a lower-body injury and is expected out until at least Oct. 31.
Ivan Demidov's absence complicates any Kent Hughes trade call
Florian Xhekaj sits on the same timeline with his own lower-body issue. That's two forwards unavailable for a four-game road trip through Chicago, Winnipeg, St. Louis and Dallas.
Michael Matheson is day-to-day with a lower-body injury too, so the Canadiens are already juggling bodies up front and on the blue line.
Trading a healthy middle-six forward right now would be like selling your spare tire the week before a long drive. Possible? Sure. Smart? No.
Martin St-Louis has dressed him every single night this season, which says plenty about where he sits in the coach's plans.
The real pressure in Montreal lives elsewhere. The Canadiens have allowed 30 goals, and Jakub Dobes is working with an .842 save percentage.
Jacob Fowler has been sharper at .900 with a shutout, but the crease still hasn't settled into anything resembling a pecking order.
That's where the “depending on what they end up doing” part gets interesting. If Kent Hughes goes shopping for help, a mid-priced forward is the most logical currency on the board.
Montreal sits 4-3-1 and sixth in the Atlantic heading into Tuesday's home date with San Jose.
Saturday's 4-3 overtime win over Buffalo made the Canadiens two-for-two against the Sabres this season. It didn't change much about the bigger picture.
Newhook gets the Sharks next. If the production stalls again on the road swing that follows, the next time his name pops up might not come with a caveat attached.
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Should the Canadiens move Alex Newhook if the right defensive offer comes along?
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