Like Rico, I’ve missed your acerbic posts recently. Good to CU back.

In the NHL, there are many players who are much smaller than Newhook at 5’11” 199lbs and perform very well. Drouin has the same size as Newhook. Newhook is only 22 years old and was still a long way from reaching his full potential. What you reproach Newhook with could be corrected with a little patience. But we preferred to limit his opportunities and then trade him.  
 
The picks they get won’t help the team win the Stanley Cup unless they wait a few years or trade them. Newhook had played 12 of 20 games when the team won the Stanley Cup and collected 4 points. That wasn’t bad for a player with limited ice time. And Bednar had enough confidence in Newhook to put him on the ice despite his age and inexperience in the playoffs. 
 
The Avalanche had the option to sign him at a low price. Currently, Newhook is on a 4-year contract and when that contract ends, Newhook will still be RFA, meaning its rights will still belong to Montreal. In comparison, after Colton’s 4-year contract, he will be a UFA and therefore an unrestricted free agent. A player’s status influences a player’s value in the trading market.  
 
So, a player’s status (RFA, UFA, etc.), the player’s age, performance, experience, and potential are factors that will influence the player’s value in the trade market. Newhook is a Stanley Cup winner. How many players as young as Newhook own a Stanley Cup ring?
 
Maybe MacFarland got the most out of Newhook. However, it’s very risky to take an NHL player out of your lineup to get draft picks when your team aspires to win the Stanley Cup IMMEDIATELY. At this point, the Newhook trade doesn’t benefit the Avalanche in any way. On the other hand, maybe by March 8, things could change, but for that to happen, MacFarland will certainly not have to be idle.

I’m not sure Newhook would have garnered better offers or even a player that could have helped the Avalanche. Alex can’t create his own shot or offense and he easily gets outmuscled on the puck. Being undersized doesn’t help, either. Hey, this isn’t personal – – it’s strictly business. We know the mistakes MacFarland has made but I don’t think this was one of them.

Agreed. Rodrigues is the type of toughed nosed, two-way player that brings it every night. For some reason, he’s been traded and bounced around this league. MacFarland whiffed heavily on RJ. Don’t “Wilsonize” him by extending his contract.

Hindsight being hindsight, agreed on all points. I still think Wood is good value and Colton was looking fine until a couple of weeks ago. Let’s hope he finds his game soon. RJ? Geez, hot garbage and the worst possible fit for the Avalanche. Nice guy? Great. That reminds me of the Glengarry Glen Ross line when Alec Baldwin is talking to the salesmen about closing to stay employed – “Good father? Fuck you, go home and play with your kid. You wanna stay here, you wanna work here, you gotta close!”

Gosh, dk. I’m really looking forward to that! :>)

Your comment suggests that you haven’t read my post completely. And I think you missed something else as well. Look at who’s in the photo at the top of the article.

Please let it go. I really liked Newhook and don’t think Bednar gave him a fair shot to succeed. But guess what? He was traded and the Avs have moved on. Maybe you should too.

Why?

I think the dead horse is sufficiently beaten Alexander.