Canadiens Activate Jake Evans Off LTIR

After opening a pair of roster spots on Friday following the demotions of goalie Jacob Fowler and center Owen Beck to AHL Laval, it seemed likely that the Canadiens would be getting someone back from injured reserve in time for tonight’s game against Ottawa.  That player is center Jake Evans, who has been activated off LTIR, according to the NHL’s Media Site.

Evans had a breakout performance last season, notching 36 points in 82 games while averaging more than 15 minutes per game of ice time.  As a result, instead of being moved out at the trade deadline, the two sides worked out a four-year, $11.6MM extension to keep him with the franchise that drafted him in the seventh round back in 2014.

The early returns on that contract have been mixed.  The 29-year-old was Montreal’s shutdown center in the first half of the season before he suffered a lower-body injury just after the holiday trade freeze.  However, while he had some success in that role, his offensive numbers dropped considerably as he has just five goals and five assists in 34 games.  Meanwhile, to give him some support defensively, the Canadiens brought back Phillip Danault in a pre-freeze swap with Los Angeles, just one day before Evans’ injury.

Evans, who was quietly moved to LTIR earlier this month, was expected to miss four to six weeks with a lower-body injury.  This activation suggests that it will be the shorter of the two timelines although he has not been confirmed as being able to play against the Sens.  Instead, Evans is officially listed as a game-time decision.

Montreal is currently without three other injured forwards, Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine, and Alex Newhook.  The first two took part in practice yesterday and are believed to be nearing a return but the fact that they weren’t activated today suggests that they’re not quite ready to suit up in game action just yet.