Montreal Canadiens Keep Jake Evans Ahead of Trade Deadline

There were reports that negotiations were not moving along quickly and that Evans could be traded. But like with any negotiation, one phone call can change things. As Full Press Hockey has documented, the Montreal Canadiens wanted to keep Jake Evans.

As David Calabretta of Full Press Hockey stated, Evans’s price tag was going to be high. Unless the Canadiens got a blow-away offer, they were not going to move. Similar to Artturi Lehkonen in 2022.

Evans could be moved, but I think it’s gonna be really hard to trade him. Kind of Lehkonen in 2022. They get the right offer is gone. Until then, I think they like to keep him.”

Sources close to RG back up these statements, saying, “The Canadiens are not in a rush to move him.

However, Evans was a trade target, and it was unclear which direction the Canadiens were leaning. However, with Kirby Dach‘s injury and the team’s recent four-game winning streak, GM Kent Hughes decided it was best to keep depth and a player who can help the team compete for the playoffs—maybe not this season, but next, when they are expected to take the next step.

The pending unrestricted free agent could have gotten more on the open market. There were reports he could have gotten in the $3.5 million to $4 million range on an annual average value. However, he takes a hometown discount to stay with the Canadiens.

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Currently, Evans’s AAV is $1.7 million. That is why teams wanted him. Under his new four-year contract, his AAV will slightly increase to $2.85 million.

There was heavy interest in Jake Evans around the league from teams looking for center depth, including the New Jersey Devils. However, the Devils could have matched the asking price of a second-round pick. Instead, Evans stayed with the Canadiens as both parties worked to negotiate a new deal.

It is a career season for Evans playing in 61 games with the Canadiens recording 28 points (12 goals and 16 assists). He is part of one of the best penalty killing units in the NHL alongside Joel Armia. Of the 12 goals he scored, three of which came on the penalty kill.

The seventh rounder (207th overall pick) of the 2014 NHL Draft has recorded 120 points (39 goals and 81 assists) in 329 games with the Canadiens. He has appeared in 13 games in the playoffs for Montreal, recording three points (a goal and two assists).

Evans, who was the number four player on many teams trade boards, will stay in Montreal for four more seasons after this one. This depth piece and great penalty killer has forced contending teams to go back to the drawing board for more centers.