Avalanche flip former first-round center for two picks, prospect

Colorado now has two picks in Wednesday’s first round, plus it got back the second rounder it traded away to acquire Josh Manson from the Anaheim Ducks. 

After starting the day with only four picks in the 2023 draft, including just one in the first four rounds, the Avalanche, who have the No. 32-ranked farm system in the NHL according to The Athletic, now have three of the top 37 selections and six total picks.

While Newhook, who's a restricted free agent, showed glimpses of top-six potential in Colorado, he never quite lived up to the billing of a No. 1 or 2 center over the last two seasons, totaling just 27 goals and 63 points in 153 games. 

He was expected to lock down the team’s second center spot behind Nathan MacKinnon, but he was outplayed by free-agent signing Evan Rodrigues for much of the year.

A weekend trade for center Ryan Johansen from the Nashville Predators made the 22-year-old Newhook expendable. Colorado has four unrestricted free agent centers — Rodrigues, Andrew Cogliano, Lars Eller and Darren Helm — and it’s likely at least two of them are brought back in 2023.

For Montreal, Newhook’s addition immediately creates competition for the No. 2 center spot behind Nick Suzuki. 

Newhook will likely battle with Kirby Dach (14 goals, 38 points), Christian Dvorak (10 goals, 28 points) and Jake Evans (two goals, 19 points) for time at center ice.