Newhook: Excited for fresh start with the Canadiens

MONTREAL - Alex Newhook addressed the media on Tuesday following the news of his four-year contract with the Canadiens.

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Here are a few highlights from his press conference:

Please note that questions and answers have been modified for clarity and conciseness.

Alex Newhook on his initial reaction to the trade:

There were definitely a lot of emotions. You know, obviously an emotional day when you get traded [...] But at the same time, it was a lot of excitement. Obviously [I'm] coming to a younger team with a bit more opportunity than there was in Colorado. It's an exciting opportunity for me, an exciting place to be in, a great city that's close to home and a great market. I'm really looking forward to it.

Newhook on what he feels he can bring to the Canadiens:

I think I can bring a lot of speed to this team - a lot of speed and skill. I know we're a young team and even though I'm a younger player, I think having been through a [Stanley] Cup run and having won already, I think I can bring some of that experience to the team. [As for my] personal goals, I just want to come in and be able to play; [I'm coming in with] a different opportunity and I want to try to make the most of it from the start, then carry that on throughout the year, try to make this team better and try to get this team to where we want to be in the next few years.

Newhook on head coach Martin St-Louis:

Right after getting traded, I talked to him and it was great. I think everyone there loves him. People see what he's done with younger guys that have come in and been able to play, and it looks like a lot of them get to play freely. Being a guy like that that's gone through so much in his career as a player too, and then to come in and have some success already as a coach is very exciting for me. I can't wait to play under him and I'm sure I can learn a lot and in a short amount of time.

Newhook on signing a four-year contract with Montreal:

I'm happy with it. Obviously happy with the term. Like I said, coming into a team and knowing that they want you to be there for at least four years is exciting. [In regards to] the money, it's good to have some security and it comes at a good time. I think four years is great. It gives me some time to grow without being rushed into another deal and be comfortable in a city for at least four [years] so it's really exciting.

Newhook on how he wants to improve as a player over the next four years:

I think there's still a lot of room for me to grow in a lot of different areas. I've been placed in different situations throughout my career to this point. I've played on the penalty kill, I played on the power play, I've played up and down the lineup. I think I can be a guy that can play up the lineup that can bring a lot of speed and skill to the team and be able to produce, as well as being responsible defensively and being relied on in different situations like that. So, I just want to be a guy that can be relied upon offensively and defensively. That's what kind of player I can be in this League and on this team and I'm excited to try and start proving that.

Newhook on pre-established connections with current Habs players:

I grew up playing against Justin Barron and I went to school with his brother, and then [Justin] played in Colorado as well as on a few national teams [with me]. So, me and Justin have been really close for a while. I played with Kirby [Dach] for a couple different national teams, so I'm pretty close with him. I played with [Kaiden] Guhle on the World Junior team. I know [Cole] Caufield just through a few mutual friends and I played against him sort of my whole life [...] They all said that they think I'm going to fit in with the group. It was all good things to hear from them. It should be a fun group to play with, fun group to be around and it's been good to hear about that. I'm excited to get to know some of the guys.