Avalanche rookie Alex Newhook already asserting himself early in pro career – The Denver Post

Alex Newhook has been a point-per-game forward his entire hockey career.

Give him another game or two with the Avalanche, and he just might be that at the NHL level, too.

The 20-year-old rookie has three points in four games since being called up by the Avs — slightly off his usual production but certainly still something to build upon. Now playing for his fourth team since last fall, Newhook has a combined 34 points in 20 games for Boston College, Canada’s World Junior Championship team, the AHL’s Colorado Eagles and the Avalanche.

After signing his three-year, entry-level contract March 31 and forgoing his final two seasons at BC, Newhook has an impressive 12 points (five goals) in 12 games as a professional. His five goals and nine points in eight games with the Eagles led to the Avs’ decision to bring him up and burn the first year of his ELC.

Newhook has a plus-4 rating with the Avs — a plus-1 in each of his four games — and had the game-winning assist in Monday’s 2-1 victory at the Vegas Golden Knights.

“It’s really been a crazy year for everyone and I think right from the start I’ve tried to take it day-by-day,” Newhook said after Wednesday’s morning skate at Ball Arena. “This opportunity, I’m lucky to have it in front of me. It’s exciting and I’m going to try to do everything I can to help this team and try to be a part of it, be a part of a winning group.”

Newhook, selected by the Avs with the 16th pick of the 2019 draft, has a chance to make a big impact Wednesday when the Avs host the Los Angeles Kings to begin a two-game, consecutive-night set that concludes the regular season. Colorado will be without star center Nathan MacKinnon in the last two games to ensure he is ready for the postseason, but defenseman Sam Girard will return from a six-game injury absence as the Avs make a run at the Presidents’ Trophy.

Newhook, who has played wing and center for the Avs, could take on a larger role with MacKinnon out.

“It’s been a steady incline,” Newhook said. “I think the first game was definitely a feeling out process but it’s been great, an easy transition and the guys have really helped me with that. I’ve been lucky to play with some really good players who make it easy to play, always in the right spot. When guys are doing that it’s easy for me.

“I’ve been feeling better every game and hopefully we can keep that going the next two. Couple big games.”

By sweeping the Kings, the Avs will leapfrog the Vegas Golden Knights and win the West Division and Presidents’ Trophy with the NHL’s best record. In that scenario, Colorado would open the playoffs against the No. 4-seeded St. Louis Blues. The Avs need just a point against L.A. to clinch the No. 2 seed and open against the Minnesota Wild.

Colorado owns the playoff tiebreaker with an NHL-high 33 regulation wins. Vegas has 29 and Minnesota 27.

Footnotes. Avs coach Jared Bednar said MacKinnon suffered an injury on Monday at Vegas, and it’s a different injury that forced him out of the lineup in the two previous games. .. Bednar no longer reveals his lineup on game day, but he said Girard will step in for Jacob MacDonald. … No. 1 goalie Philipp Grubauer will likely start Wednesday and then serve as backup Thursday, giving him at least two full days of rest before Saturday’s start to the playoffs. The Avs, however, might not open until Sunday.

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