Canadiens, Jake Evans strike deal neither side will regret
Jake Evans chose what was best for himself, and the Montreal Canadiens should be very thankful he did. Eric Engels shares his thoughts on an extension that neither side will regret.
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MONTREAL — Jake Evans chose what was best for himself, and the Montreal Canadiens should be very thankful he did.
They valued their fourth-line centre enough to offer him a four-year contract. Sources told us they put that offer on the table weeks ago, and that they kept it there even when it appeared as though it might not be enough.
But the Canadiens hoped it would be and knew if Evans would agree to the $11.4-million salary and $2.85-million cap hit he was being offered, they’d have no reason to regret it over the term of the deal.
Getting it done now also removed much of the uncertainty the Canadiens would’ve been facing at Evans’s position had this deal not been resolved by Friday’s 3 p.m. E.T. trade deadline.
The Canadiens already need a second-line centre for next season — with neither Alex Newhook nor Kirby Dach appearing like the ideal candidate to play between Ivan Demidov and Patrik Laine — but they must be relieved that that’s all they’ll need at centre with Evans now signed.
Owen Beck is trending towards being a more than suitable replacement for Christian Dvorak, who won’t be with the Canadiens beyond July if he sticks with them through the Mar. 7 deadline. And one of Dach or Newhook can still slot into the middle-lower down end of the lineup to lighten Beck’s load as a sophomore next season.
Evans will still take on a heavy load with the Canadiens both now and moving forward, which must be at least part of the reason that signing this deal made sense to him.
How much playing for the Canadiens in Montreal means to Evans must be another big part of it.
The 28-year-old was drafted 207th overall by this organization. When asked in early February what it’s meant to him to play for it for the last six seasons since graduating from the Laval Rocket, he said, “It’s been an honour.”
“It’s such a fun place to play, it’s such a great place to live, and I’ve just really enjoyed it,” Evans continued. “It’s truly an honour. There’s so much tradition here, so many great players that have worn this great jersey with pride, and it’s truly an honour.”
Now it’s clear it’s been enough of one for Evans that he was willing to skirt the allure of unrestricted free agency.
Even if Evans had to have been tempted by a bigger payday. He’s posted 12 goals and 28 points in 61 games this season to be one away in each category from tying career highs set over 72 games of the 2021-22 campaign, and he was likely earning one based on that — and on being the most used (and second most productive) penalty-killing forward in the NHL going to market.
If the Toronto native hadn’t considered it would be possible to bank an extra million or two and one more year by shopping himself to the highest bidder come July — with the salary cap expected to increase exponentially over the term of his deal — he might not have waited as long to sign with the Canadiens.
But they showed Evans they valued him enough in Montreal for him to ignore the upside of leaving.
Evans also avoided the potential pitfalls of leaving.
There was a chance he’d overplay his hand and end up getting squeezed by the market. There was a good chance that even if he’d play it well enough to get more than the Canadiens gave him, he might end up in a place he wouldn’t enjoy as much as Montreal. And it was certainly possible he’d end up with a team he wouldn’t fit as well with.
But Evans fits perfectly with the Canadiens and was recognized for that by them with this deal.
“He plays a big role, especially on the penalty kill,” said coach Martin St. Louis after Evans took part in the Canadiens’ optional practice Tuesday. “I find his offensive game has improved a lot since I’ve been here, and he’s a guy who’s appreciated in the room.”
It’s clear to Evans that he’s appreciated by management, too.
General manager Kent Hughes rewarded him Tuesday for who he is — and for who he will continue to be over the next four seasons — and he won’t regret it.
