November 27, 2024 | 8:15pm ET
TheFourthPeriod.com
EVANS AN AFFORDABLE CENTRE TEAMS WILL PURSUE
Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Jake Evans, forward
The Montreal Canadiens have multiple pieces in play between now and the trade deadline later in the season, and while some veteran players are generating most of the public attention, one of the Habs’ centres will attract interest as the season progresses.
Jake Evans, 28, is in the final year of a three-year, $5.1 million contract. He does not own any no-trade protection and comes with a $1.7 million salary cap hit.
During Wednesday’s edition of “The Latest” on TFP, David Pagnotta reported Evans is a bottom-six forward several Stanley Cup contenders will have their eyes on this season.
“Remember, this is a player that performed well for the Canadians in a fourth-line role when they went on to face Tampa Bay in the Stanley Cup Final a few years ago – he’s got playoff experience at a young age,” Pagnotta said. “He’s got that great cap hit, as you mentioned. So, there wouldn’t even need to be necessarily retention from Montreal’s perspective.
“For teams looking to stabilize their bottom-six, Evans is going to be a prime target for a lot of Cup contenders. Not sure if they’ve had any discussions to this point on an extension, but teams like Toronto, teams like Los Angeles, other clubs that want to bolster their bottom-six, Evans is going to be right there. And we’ll see how the Canadians maneuver that, because they know how valuable of a piece he can be and that cap hit alone is attractive.”
In 21 games with the Habs so far this season, Evans has registered four goals and six assists for 10 points.
Meanwhile, Dennis Bernstein reemphasized that Montreal defenceman David Savard and Mike Matheson will be coveted later in the season, as well.
“I think the big moves they can make that can really help this team right now in the moment would be trading one of those two defensemen,” he said.
Savard is in the final year of his contract and can become an unrestricted free agent next summer, while Matheson has one more year left on his deal after this season.