I never saw Newhook as anything close to being capable of being a 2C at that juncture of his career. If that’s the expectation management had for him in year two. After a very sheltered limited role in year 1. That’s to your point a mis – management of the player & also really arrogant on their part. To think you could just plug a kid into that role on a contending team. Especially considering he didn’t even play center in his rookie year at the NHL level.

What could they have seen from him in his rookie season to think he was ready or able to take on that role? Because nobody else did.

I do think that many on this site talked about it, but maybe not as much from the media and the Avs. What also is not talked about is how Newhook was handled in his time with the Avs. He spent very little time in the AHL and was thrust almost immediately into a 3rd line role. Bednar spent a lot of time with him, trying to teach him at the beginning. Would Newhook, or almost any player, do better with some time in the AHL? Newhook seemed like he believed a lot of the hype about him and felt becoming the 2C was his destiny. He could have been a really good 3rd liner for the Avs, but he did not want that to be his role. It seemed it was the same with Kovalenko.

This is the biggest part of the 2C search that we don’t talk about enough. Alex Newhook not grabbing that spot is what led to the many, many terrible trades the front office has made since 2023 trying to replace Kadri (Johansen, Mittelstadt, etc.) It’s a shame. I really thought Newhook had it in him.

I really think that the Avs felt that Newhook would be able to be their 2C. Problem was that he wasn’t good enough to be the 3C. They knew that Kadri would not re-sign, unless the took a huge discount, so they spent the money elsewhere.

Girard was part of a run and gun offense, who was much more involved in the offense. That offense, both from the Avs and Girard, has not been as good as in the cup year. Yes, MacKinnon, Rantanen, and a few others improved, but the overall offensive depth has suffered since. In a set offense, Girard does not seem do as well and has been less involved. The offense has little net front presence. Girard is not much of a scoring threat, so he really is not covered in the offensive zone. The offense has become stale with the players mostly standing still, hoping for a perfect pass leading to a perfect shot. The offense that Girard succeeded in, does not exist anymore.

Yeah, that’s a tough one. At the time my thinking was they should’ve moved Girard & used his 5 million towards bringing Naz back. Especially considering they had just won the cup essentially without him. And they still had Bo. So I found it really odd with a flat cap they would want an undersized defenseman making 5 million on their 3rd pair. But clearly they disagreed with my thought process.

Makes a guy wonder how much different this team would be if they would’ve kept Naz instead of Manson or Lehkonen. Don’t get me wrong I am a HUGE fan of Lehkonen and the style of hockey he plays. But missing that 2C has bit the Avs in the butt on and off the ice. Just look how many assets they have given up in their quest to find a replacement for Naz. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again I would rather invest money in a good center than in a good winger.

I respectfully disagree on the trade being solid when it was first made. He was coming off a horrid, injury plagued season. And his career had been on a downward trajectory for a few years.

CMac clearly targeted him because he was familiar with him from his CBJ days 🙄. The Preds were willing to eat half his salary (4 mill) for 2 years! That should’ve been clue #1 as to what they were acquiring. He also was a really, really awful stylistic fit.

Ryjo at the time was a solid trade but then as time progressed it didn’t pan out.

If macfarland actually retained walker then it wouldn’t be so bad but alot of the trades he has made, none has resigned. Trenin duhaime eller walker lindgren vesey etc.

If the team actually retained some of the players they traded for it wouldn’t be so bad.

This awful…awful trade doesn’t get criticized enough. And was Macfarland’s first huge swing as GM. Unless you classify giving up a 2nd for Lars Eller the year prior a big move. So his first 2 big trades cost them a 1st (traded to Philly to off – load Ryjo). And a 2nd.

What they got for those valuable trade assets. 2 months of Lars Eller (washed). 5 months of Ryjo (beyond washed). And 2 months of Sean Walker a very mediocre 3rd pair D who had no term. And people wonder why I’ve always thought that CMac is a putz.