Avalanche head coach Jared Bednar hinted that Newhook needs to play better to avoid a demotion to AHL Colorado, Mike Chambers of the Denver Post reports.

EDGE Analysis

Newhook, Colorado's 2019 first-round draft pick, took a step to please the coach Monday, scoring the Avalanche's lone goal in a 3-1 preseason loss to the Wild. "He hasn't stood out for me in a big way yet," Bednar said of Newhook. "I think we've had some other guys that have played really well, and that's good, but he's a guy that I've had a conversation with about starting to ramp it up." The 20-year-old Newhook is competing to replace the roster void created by Brandon Saad's departure.