Jake Evans is in hot water.
As the Montreal Canadiens have officially recalled Owen Beck from the Laval Rocket, Evans’ future in Quebec is becoming increasingly bleak.
A decision that says a lot about the uncertain future of the veteran defensive center, whose contract negotiations with general manager Kent Hughes have stalled for several weeks.
This reminder sounds like a clear warning: the CH is ready to consider the post-Evans era, and the transaction market is bustling behind the scenes.
Owen Beck’s call to Montreal is not insignificant. With Jake Evans still without a goal or point in his last 9 games, it is obvious that the Habs want to test other options at center.
Beck, selected 33rd in the 2022 draft, showed great promise in the American League this season.
His hockey intelligence, defensive reliability and ability to contribute offensively make him an ideal candidate to fill a role similar to Evans, but at a fraction of the cost.
This reminder highlights a brutal reality for Evans: the CH is actively preparing his departure. Kent Hughes’ refusal to offer a five- or six-year contract at $3 million or more, as the Evans clan would like, sends a clear message.
Montreal has no intention of overpaying for a fourth-line player, no matter how effective he is defensively.
According to several sources, talks between Evans’ representatives and CH management have stalled. Hughes would be willing to offer him a maximum 3-year contract, at a salary not exceeding $2.5 to $2.7 million per season.
An offer deemed insufficient by the Evans camp, who believes that his role as a versatile defensive center and leader in numerical inferiority deserves more.
“The Canadiens have let Evans know that they want to keep him, but not at any price,” revealed journalist Pierre LeBrun, who believes that this impasse pushes management to seriously explore the transaction market.
Evans’ agent is said to be extremely disappointed, especially since his client feels undervalued after signing his previous contract at $1.7 million per season, an amount well below his current market value.
By recalling Owen Beck, the Canadiens are not only looking to see what the young player can bring at the NHL level, but also to demonstrate that they already have a plan B in place if Evans is traded.
Beck possesses a very similar style of play to Evans, from his skill in the faceoff circle to his ability to kill penalties with aplomb.
Above all, Beck has greater offensive potential than Evans.
If Beck can demonstrate he’s ready to step into that role now, it could speed up the Evans trade process.
With the trade deadline approaching, there is no shortage of teams interested in a player of Jake Evans’ profile.
According to the latest rumors, teams like the New Jersey Devils, the Los Angeles Kings, and the Minnesota Wild are among the most aggressive teams in this matter.
However, the Canadiens are in no rush to sell Evans. They are targeting a significant return, including a first-round pick or top prospect, a demand that complicates negotiations with teams that don’t want to overpay for a defensive center.
The Devils, for example, don’t have a first-round pick this year and are hesitant to include promising young defensemen like Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey in a trade.
The Kings have the 27th choice in total, but this late selection does not entirely appeal to CH.
As for the Wild, they have good prospects, but the question remains whether they are ready to sacrifice an element like Danila Yurov, a promising young forward who is of great interest to Montreal. The answer seems no.
With Beck’s recall and the rumors continuing, Jake Evans finds himself in a precarious position. His performance on the ice, in free fall for several weeks, does not work in his favor.
Blanked in the last eight games, he seems to be gradually losing the confidence of the coaching staff.
Evans, who reached the heights earlier this season with an impressive series of goals, now sees his millions disappear with his poor performances.
-If his offensive pace doesn’t improve quickly, his value could continue to fall, further complicating a potential trade.
“Evans knows he’s in the hot seat. He must get his game back quickly, otherwise CH management will not hesitate to move forward with an exchange,” mentions an anonymous NHL executive.
The recall of Owen Beck seems to mark a decisive turning point in Jake Evans’ future in Montreal. With contract negotiations stalled and his play stagnating, everything indicates that Kent Hughes is ready to turn the page and focus on the future.
If Evans still wishes to be part of the Montreal project, he will have to prove that he can regain his level and accept a reasonable agreement.
Otherwise, he could well be the next piece sacrificed in the CH’s quest to accumulate assets for their reconstruction.
The next few days promise to be crucial for Evans. The clock is ticking, and Montreal won’t wait forever.
Especially since a new voice is added to the debate.
Dany Dubé, a respected analyst well connected behind the scenes of hockey, recently said that Kent Hughes was preparing to move.
According to Dubé, the CH general manager is looking for a player capable of replacing Emil Heineman, injured and absent for an indefinite period.
But what especially attracts attention is the speculation around Jake Evans. With the recall of Owen Beck, Dubé wonders if this expected transaction would not concern the Canadian’s defensive center.
He says the signals are becoming clearer: Hughes is actively exploring the market and wants to take advantage of the interest in Evans before his value falls further.
The Canadian has a glaring need on the wing, and with Heineman’s injury, they need to act quickly. But by recalling Beck, does that mean they’re willing to sacrifice Evans?
Dubé’s statements highlight a reality that many observers are beginning to accept: the CH does not want to dwell on the Evans case and could make a decision shortly.
Meanwhile, Jake Evans is feeling the pressure more and more. His game, which turned heads at the start of the season, seems to collapse under the weight of speculation.
We feel him more hesitant, more discreet, as if he was playing to avoid mistakes rather than to make a difference.
The forward, who has always been known for his work ethic and defensive dedication, now finds himself in survival mode.
His value, once at an all-time high, is plummeting while his offensive stats are dangerously stagnant.
And that’s where Beck’s recall becomes a worrying signal for Evans. The young center could be the CH’s long-term solution, at a much lower cost.
This recall gives the organization a perfect excuse to test Beck in a similar role and assess whether he is ready to replace Evans for good.
Kent Hughes has proven that he is not afraid to make bold decisions. He demonstrated this with the Sean Monahan trade, which he managed to trade at his maximum value.
The Evans case could follow the same trajectory, with Hughes looking to sell him to the highest bidder before his performance continues to decline.
But at what cost? Will the Canadiens have to lower their expectations and accept a less attractive offer to avoid losing him for nothing this summer?
Dany Dubé has said it again and again: a transaction is coming to Montreal. Whether to compensate for the loss of Heineman or to offer Beck a permanent spot in the lineup, the time seems to have come for Kent Hughes to make a move.
It remains to be seen if Evans can still do something to change his destiny, or if his time in Montreal is definitely coming to an end.
Nothing is less certain.
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