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The Habs were quite busy this past week, making several signings before training camp.  One of those was Alex Newhook, who received a four-year, $22.2 million extension.  Our writers offer their assessments on the contract.

Terry Costaris: Historically speaking, the Alex Newhook signing would be considered an overpayment. However, with the NHL cap rapidly rising, what Newhook will be earning is close to what is now near fair market value. It’s akin to what my parents would say about rising real estate prices when I tried to enter the market. It just is what it is.

In my estimation, Alex Newhook is a really good third liner (when he’s healthy). Great NHL teams NEED quality bottom-six forwards that fit within the cap. Newhook fits this need to a T.

He is one of the fortunate recipients of all of the hometown discounts provided by the Canadiens’ higher-tier players. The savings incurred by the Habs will in part, help fortify the bottom six and ultimately make Montreal a serious Stanley Cup contender.

So, if you’re comfortable paying $750K for a decent 700-square-foot condo in, say, a market like Toronto, then likewise, the Habs paid NHL market value for this similar square-foot-sized player – if you follow my analogy.

Brian La Rose: This feels too early and for too much money.  In three years with the Habs, Newhook has had two significant injuries at a little under a half-point-per-game pace.  Is he a core piece for this group?  This contract says he is but his performance says the answer is still unknown, his strong playoff showing notwithstanding.

There is definitely a path for this deal to work out in Montreal’s favour.  If Newhook stays healthy and cracks the 20-goal and 40-point marks this season, he’d have received more than this next summer.  I’m not banking on either of those things happening, however.  I don’t think there was much risk in waiting here as I’m not expecting a big breakout showing in 2026-27.

Newhook already is likely a bottom-six piece on the current roster, at least until injuries arise.  As other top prospects come into the mix or are traded for more win-now forwards, Newhook’s spot in that bottom six will only become more solidified.  I’m more than well aware of the salary cap projections and how salaries are jumping.  But locking up another smaller skill player early might come back to bite them if that money and roster spot are needed to go to fill a different need, one that’s in less abundance.

I don’t think this deal is going to truly come back to bite Montreal.  No trade protection buys them an out if they need to use him as matching money to bring in a higher-priced player in a trade down the road.  It’s just not a contract I’d have done at this time.

Norm Szcyrek: When I heard the news about the Newhook extension at first, I thought to myself, why now? But then I thought back to about a year ago, when the contract extension for Lane Hutson bled into the start of 2025-26 season. Lane’s play started to dip a little for the first few games, and I couldn’t help but think it was becoming a distraction for him. It was something I brought up last year during the HabsWorld Podcast, Episode 125. Fortunately, the contract negotiations wrapped up and Lane got back on track.

So, I believe the Habs management tried harder this time around to get player contracts finished up before the regular season started. With regards to the contract term and amount, both seem reasonable. Newhook became Mr. Game 7 in the 2026 playoffs, and he was rewarded for that. His versatility is valuable, allowing him to move up or down the lineup.

Dave Woodward: The Newhook signing may not be seen as one of Hughes’ best signings.  After locking up Hutson for eight years at less than a $9 million cap hit, signing Demidov to a similar deal and securing much of the Canadiens’ core for even less, any encore is bound to disappoint.

However, with salaries escalating this offseason, the cap increasing over the next few years and the 25-year-old Newhook on the cusp of unrestricted free agency, the signing makes sense.   The contract is a four-year deal (up to three years of which are potential UFA-eligible seasons) at a $5.55 million cap hit.

Newhook is a middle-six forward who can centre a line in a pinch.  He has had some big moments at opportune times (two Game 7 winners in the last playoff run) but he has also been injury-prone and his production has been streaky and somewhat inconsistent.

Nevertheless, Newhook provides solid secondary scoring, is a former Stanley Cup champion and has a knack for scoring big goals.  As well as playing centre serviceably if needed, Newhook can kill penalties.  In today’s market for NHL salaries, particularly when one considers that the term includes some UFA-eligible years, this deal is not at all above market.

My only reservation is whether there will be sufficient ice time for a player with Newhook’s skill set once Hage and Zharovsky arrive.  With no trade protection as part of this deal, that issue can likely be addressed via trade in the fullness of time.

While the Newhook signing may not be as much of a coup as Hughes’ other contracts, Canadiens’ fans should be pleased to have Newhook locked up as a key member of their middle-six forwards at a reasonable cap hit as he enters his prime.