The Jake Evans case takes an unexpected, if not dramatic, turn from the point of view of the player and his agent.
A real shock for the attacker and those around him.
While Renaud Lavoie affirmed that an agreement between Evans and the general manager of the Canadiens, Kent Hughes, was imminent, the recent comments of Pierre LeBrun have muddied the waters.
Hughes seems inflexible: he does not want to offer Evans a contract exceeding four years, nor approach the threshold of $3 million per year, which places the future of the two-way center in a state of great uncertainty.
Jake Evans, who is having the best season of his career with a projected 40-45 points, is at a pivotal moment.
At 28 years old, he knows this could be the only opportunity in his career to secure a lucrative long-term contract.
However, according to Pierre LeBrun, the Canadians have made it clear that they do not want to conclude a “home run” in this negotiation:
“The Canadiens have let Evans know that they are interested in keeping him, but that it will not be a home run contract. »
This approach sparked disappointment and anger in the Evans camp. Already underpaid with his current contract of $1.7 million per season, the attacker and his agent expected more generous recognition from the CH.
The sticking point in these negotiations appears to be the length of the contract. According to LeBrun, Evans and his clan want a long-term commitment to ensure his financial security, but Hughes refuses to commit beyond four years.
“I’m not convinced that Canadians are comfortable going to five or six years. Evans is at an age where that security could be important to him. »
This tough stance from Hughes could be interpreted as a lack of faith in Evans’ ability to maintain his level of performance in the long term.
With a 28% shot conversion rate this season, well above his career average, it’s fair to wonder if his current numbers are sustainable.
For the Evans clan, these aborted negotiations resonate as a lack of respect. Already, they believe that Evans was underpaid during his last contract, and this new impasse amplifies the tensions at the negotiating table.
Evans, who has always been a quiet but effective player, suddenly finds himself in the spotlight, but not for the right reasons.
The situation is all the more delicate as the New Jersey Devils are becoming more and more aggressive in their interest in Evans.
According to LeBrun, the Devils, looking to strengthen the center on their bottom lines and penalty kill, have already begun exploratory discussions to acquire the forward:
“The New Jersey Devils are one of the teams that have already expressed interest. »
Kent Hughes is playing a risky card by adopting this position. If the Canadiens trade Evans, they could get back a first-round pick or a promising prospect, but they also risk weakening their roster in the short term.
Note that the Devils do not have a first round pick in 2025.
Evans is a key penalty kill player and a respected leader in the locker room, qualities that are not easily replaced.
However, Hughes has always advocated prudent payroll management, and extending Evans at a salary close to $3.5 million to $4 million per year could compromise that philosophy.
“Despite the Canadiens’ position in the standings, depending on the trade offers received, they may have to listen carefully if Evans is not extended by March 7. »
The New Jersey Devils see Evans as a perfect piece to complete their roster.
With his current low salary and two-way skills, he would be a major asset to a team aspiring to major honors.
However, the Devils’ lack of quality assets could complicate negotiations. Without a 2025 first-round pick and with limited prospects available (like Seamus Casey or Lenni Hämeenaho), New Jersey will have to convince Hughes with a tempting offer, which seems unlikely at this point.
Obviously, the giant defender, Anton Silayev, (10th overall pick in 2024), is untouchable.
This is where Seamus Casey is the talk of Montreal. The right-handed defenseman, 5’9″, 162 pounds, is a 46th round pick in 2022, who played at the University of Michigan (NCAA).
He’s on fire in the American League. (2 goals, 12 assists for 14 points in 17 games).
The offensive defender, often compared to Lane Hutson, excels in transition and power play. But be careful. He’s not in Lane Hutson’s elite category.
His small size limits him defensively, but we would take him tomorrow morning with the CH.
Lenni Hämeenaho is not a top prospect. Right winger, 6’0″, 173 pounds. 58th round pick in 2023, he plays in the Finnish Liiga with Assat Pori.
With 14 goals and 16 assists for 30 points in 38 games, Hämeenaho is a depth player, but quite skilled in possession of the puck.
He lacks explosiveness and we don’t see him breaking into the NHL. We’re talking about a player who isn’t impressive enough to warrant a trade that includes Evans.
Without a 1st round pick, New Jersey will have to offer Casey to convince Kent Hughes.
Evans’ situation perfectly demonstrates the dilemmas that the CH CEO faces in managing the Canadiens’ reconstruction.
On the one hand, retaining Evans would stabilize the team in the short term and preserve a key player for special teams. On the other, trading Evans at the peak of his value could yield crucial assets for the future.
For Evans, the uncertainty is total. Between the possibility of signing a long-term contract elsewhere and the risk of being traded at the last minute, the forward finds himself in an uncomfortable situation that could affect his performance on the ice.
We already feel less on fire than when we returned from the holidays.
Pierre LeBrun’s recent statements have shed a cruel light on the tensions surrounding the Jake Evans case. HAS
While Renaud Lavoie predicted an imminent extension, the facts seem to indicate quite the opposite.
Hughes, inflexible, is banking on a cautious strategy in the long term, but risks alienating a player respected and loved in the locker room.
For Evans, it’s a missed opportunity to secure his future in an organization that has seen him grow. For Hughes, it’s one more test in his quest to rebuild the Canadiens while maintaining their place in the playoff race
Between now and the trade deadline, the Jake Evans case will be one of the most followed cases in the NHL.
And Kent Hughes will have to prove that he can make the most of this complex situation, without compromising either the future or the present of Canadians.
And above all, without upsetting the locker room.
