The tension between Jake Evans and the Montreal Canadiens continues to rise as contract negotiations stall and the player’s salary expectations do not align at all with Kent Hughes’ vision.
According to information reported by Renaud Lavoie, Evans would like to obtain a five-year contract, which is far from unanimous among Montreal management.
Add to this the persistent rumors in the industry which indicate that he would demand a salary of around $3 million per season, an amount that Hughes obviously does not intend to grant, especially not over 5 years.
In Kent Hughes’ mind, Jake Evans is a useful, but replaceable, plumber.
15 million dollars for a supporting player makes no sense for the CH GM.
Yes, you read that correctly. In the eyes of Kent Hughes, Jake Evans is above all a depth player, a “plumber” who fulfills his role well, but who is not essential to the long-term structure of the club.
His reliability on the penalty kill and his work ethic are undeniable, but he is seen as a player who can be replaced at a lower cost.
Hughes, who has always advocated prudent management of the payroll, knows that he can find a defensive center with a similar profile on the transaction market or through young players already in the organization, such as Owen Beck or Oliver Kapanen.
The CH general manager seems firmly set on his position: a three-year contract at a salary that would not exceed $2.5 to $2.7 million per year.
A compromise that Evans and his agent consider insufficient, who believe that the 28-year-old deserves to secure his future with a longer and more lucrative contract.
If Evans had a dream season at the start of the year with an impressive production rate, the reality has been quite different in recent weeks.
His offensive silence, with a streak of ten games without a point, did not work in his favor in this contractual standoff.
Evans appears to be affected by the rumors and growing pressure surrounding his contract situation.
But he managed to break the ice with a crucial game-winning goal in the last game against Tampa Bay.
This net, which allowed the Canadian to win, undoubtedly gave him a little confidence, but it does not remove the doubts hovering over his overall offensive performance.
His current stats are certainly respectable, but his impressive start to the season, where he posted a successful shooting percentage well above his career average, has given way to a return to normal.
With production slowing down, CH management is starting to seriously question the sustainability of its offensive performances.
This temporary revival with his goal against Tampa Bay only masks Hughes’ concerns: is Evans capable of maintaining a sufficient level of play to justify a contract of 3 million per year over 5 years?
His body language in front of the media says it all. Visibly irritated, he avoids answering questions about his future, preferring to concentrate on his game.
-But the frustration is obvious. According to some internal sources, Evans is beginning to realize that his future in Montreal is increasingly uncertain, and that the millions he hoped to earn could disappear if his performance does not improve.
The real problem for Kent Hughes is that Jake Evans’ value on the trade market appears to be below initial expectations.
The comparison to Scott Laughton of the Philadelphia Flyers is a prime example. The Flyers are demanding a first-round pick for Laughton, a player with superior offensive production and leadership than Evans, but according to insider Darren Dreger, that demand is considered excessive by several NHL teams.
If a player like Laughton can’t get that kind of return, then the value of Evans, who is seen as a fourth-line center, is nowhere near as high as the Canadiens would like.
Potential suitors, like the New Jersey Devils, Wild and Los Angeles Kings, are cautious in their offers.
The Devils, who don’t have a first-round pick this year, don’t want to sacrifice a top prospect like Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey, while the Kings aren’t willing to sacrifice their 1st-round pick, even if ‘he is far away.
For Kent Hughes, managing this file is complicated. If he decides not to extend Evans, he will have to make sure to maximize his return before the trade deadline.
However, as mentioned earlier, Evans’ value does not seem as high as hoped, and Hughes could be forced to trade him for a second or third round pick, far from the initial ambitions.
Might as well keep him as a rental player.
On the other hand, keeping Evans long-term would represent a financial risk that the Canadian is not prepared to take.
Offering a five-year contract to a player who is approaching 30 and whose style of play is based on physical intensity carries uncertainties, particularly due to the increased risk of injuries.
Needless to say, Evans suffered several concussions.
The million dollar question: Is Evans willing to compromise?
Because in the end, the ball is in Jake Evans’ court. If he truly wants to stay in Montreal, he will have to accept a shorter and less lucrative contract than he initially hoped.
However, if he chooses to wait until the free agent market opens, he could find himself in a precarious situation where the deals won’t be as lucrative as he believes.
For the Canadian, the objective is clear: avoid overbidding and continue to build a competitive team in the long term without compromising financial flexibility.
The next few days promise to be decisive for Jake Evans. The pressure is at its peak, and each match, each presence on the ice, could tip the scales in his favor… or precipitate his departure from Montreal.
Saga to follow…
