Alex Newhook signs four-year, $22.2 million deal with Montreal Canadiens

Alex Newhook signed a four-year deal with the Montreal Canadiens worth $22.2 million total, which translates to an average annual value of $5.55 million. The agreement will take effect next season.

As nhl reports, the new contract comes as the 25-year-old forward enters the final season of another four-year deal worth $11.6 million, signed on July 11, 2023 ($2.9 million AAV). Newhook recorded 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 42 regular-season games this season, as well as 10 points (7 goals, 3 assists) in 19 playoff games. Since joining Montreal in the trade with Colorado on June 27, 2023, he has 85 points (43 goals, 42 assists) in 179 games with the club.

The club also signed defenseman Arber Xhekaj to a one-year, $1.5 million deal. Xhekaj, 25, registered four points (1 goal, 3 assists) and led the team with 178 body checks in 65 regular-season games this season, as well as two points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 13 playoff games. He joined Montreal as an undrafted free agent on October 4, 2021 and has a total of 33 points (10 goals, 23 assists) in 230 regular-season games; since his debut during the 2022-23 season, Xhekaj has the highest number of body checks on the team, with 642.

Newhook’s contract and the Xhekaj deal strengthen the Montreal Canadiens’ group for next season, according to nhl.