Rumor: 2024-2025 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Talk | The Slow Crawl to the Season

[RoyIsALegend]

I'm saying this because I know that they have no one to play center. Dvorak is gone and Dach/Newhook clearly can't play C.

Their next guy in line to be a middle 6 C is Hage who's still 2 years away at best. Why would they trade Evans? They have the cap space and they need him.

Montreal is at the stage where they need players, not draft picks.

Why does impending UFA Jake Evans want to stay on a dumpster fire team going through a rebuild?

If it was as straight forward as you're suggesting, he would've been signed to a new deal already.

We have to deal with facts. Jake Evans is a UFA in 7 months.

 

[Balthazar]

Why does impending UFA Jake Evans want to stay on a dumpster fire team going through a rebuild?

If it was as straight forward as you're suggesting, he would've been signed to a new deal already.

We have to deal with facts. Jake Evans is a UFA in 7 months.

So was Blackwood 2 days ago. And Rantanen as we speak. That doesn't mean he'll walk or they'll trade him.

We'll see!

 

[RoyIsALegend]

So was Blackwood 2 days ago. And Rantanen as we speak. That doesn't mean he'll walk or they'll trade him.

We'll see!

The Avs have something to play for and therefore incentive to keep an impending UFA.

If Montreal can't get an extension done with Evans by the TDL, they'd be absolutely insane not to trade him and recoup an asset or two for him.

How can you compare the situations of the two teams?

 

[LOFIN]

I think with Rantanen 90% chance it will play out like Landeskog. They are lowballing him and seeing if he blinks, Rantanen then goes to the open market to see what the offers around there are, and then the Avs will match that on 8 year contract and it will be singed like a day or two before UFA.

 

[Balthazar]

The Avs have something to play for and therefore incentive to keep an impending UFA.

If Montreal can't get an extension done with Evans by the TDL, they'd be absolutely insane not to trade him and recoup an asset or two for him.

How can you compare the situations of the two teams?

If Evans is still not signed at the deadline we can revisit this topic.

Montreal have no NHL center next season outside of Suzuki, they'd be really dumb to trade Evans for futures. The coach loves him and AFAIK he likes Montreal.

They'll trade Savard and try to trade Dvorak because these 2 have no future with the team.

 

[dahrougem2]

If Evans is still not signed at the deadline we can revisit this topic.

Montreal have no NHL center next season outside of Suzuki, they'd be really dumb to trade Evans for futures. The coach loves him and AFAIK he likes Montreal.

They'll trade Savard and try to trade Dvorak because these 2 have no future with the team.

I think what RIAL is trying to suggest is Jake Evans, other than the whack Covid "playoffs" of 20 and 21, has spent the bulk of his time on a dog shit team that doesn't look like it's getting any better.

He might not be all that interested in reupping with the Canadiens even if he likes the city.

 

[Balthazar]

I think what RIAL is trying to suggest is Jake Evans, other than the whack Covid "playoffs" of 20 and 21, has spent the bulk of his time on a dog shit team that doesn't look like it's getting any better.

He might not be all that interested in reupping with the Canadiens even if he likes the city.

Maybe but I never heard anything about that before.

If Evans is available I'm all for trying to get him. He plays the right way...he's like the 4C version of Lehky. Bednar would really like him.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

I think @Balthazar is looking at it as a Habs fan, which I know he is to some degree. My dad is the same and is adamant Evans isn't going anywhere.

I'm simply looking at it from the outside perspective. The team sucks. He's a UFA in a few months. If he wanted to stay, a deal would've already been done. If he isn't signed by the TDL, the Habs would be insane to keep him for a non-competitive last 3 months of the season instead of gaining an asset or two. He will be in demand from playoff teams.

Just my $0.02.

 

[Balthazar]

I think @Balthazar is looking at it as a Habs fan, which I know he is to some degree.

What if I told you that no one is happier than me when the Habs lose?

As for Evans, all I'm hearing in the media is the Habs should/will keep him. I'm basically parroting what I hear everyday.

 

[dahrougem2]

I understand why Montreal would want to keep him. 4th on the team in scoring, plays hard minutes, is a center, tremendous skater, been there for a long time, developed by the org, etc.

They have several pending UFAs to move like Dvorak, Armia, and Savard who likely all bring them back assets - especially Savard since teams covet defensemen like him for playoff runs.

Personally, I think GM Hughes has to be realistic with himself and ask himself what kind of team he really has. Up front it looks like he's got Suzuki, Caufield, Slafkovsky (despite only being on pace for 50 points), Heineman, and now Laine for the future.

Josh Anderson and Brendan Gallagher are boat anchor contracts nobody is taking although Gallagher has been oddly productive this year after seemingly a half-decade of straight injury plagued years.

Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook are bums.

I just don't think you can go into next season penciling Jake Evans as your 2C and hope to be competitive. If that's your plan, you might as well trade him and recoup whatever assets possible because it'll be another year of tanking.

 

[EdAVSfan]

There’s always the possibility that the habs want to keep him and he wants to stay, but disagreement on contract. Evans is having the best offensive season of his career. He likely wants to parlay that into some type of middle to long term extension whereas Montreal may not want to commit to term.

 

[dahrougem2]

There’s always the possibility that the habs want to keep him and he wants to stay, but disagreement on contract. Evans is having the best offensive season of his career. He likely wants to parlay that into some type of middle to long term extension whereas Montreal may not want to commit to term.

He's on pace for 51 points and is their most trusted penalty killing forward.

There's some team in UFA that will be stupid and offer him a 4x4 contract. I don't know that you want that kind of deal for Jake Evans on your books. Love the player, but this is a 25-30 point guy most seasons, not the 51 point pace he's currently at in his contract year.

 

[Balthazar]

I just don't think you can go into next season penciling Jake Evans as your 2C and hope to be competitive. If that's your plan, you might as well trade him and recoup whatever assets possible because it'll be another year of tanking.

There's no way that's their plan.

If they trade Evans next year they need a 2C, a 3C and a 4C. If they re-up Evans it's to play 3C.

 

[BobRossColton]

Colton Evans LOC sounds like a pain in the ass

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Colton Evans LOC sounds like a pain in the ass

I've been pining for Evans since the summer. Some people question if he has the offensive abilities to play 3C on a contending team, but I just find him to be so good defensively that those types of minutes are calm, worry-free situations.

JD - Mack - Rants
Lehky - Mitts - Nuke
Rosco - Evans - LOC
Wood - Kelly - Kivi

 

[bleuetbio]

Evans isnt just the 3C, its also the PK specialist, the faceoff man. So yeah, an extension should be in the making and I think they gonna study the market and consider an overpayment option on RD-C A grade prospect. I dont think he's worth this, but I think thats the plan because the rebuild is a bit shitty without having a second line able to welcome Demidov.

Yes, Hage is expected to make the 2C, but it comes with flaws that could make him a RW in Pro level, another need for the Habs, so it doesnt realy care to add another 2C for them. Newhook and Dach experiences probably solidy this because both cannot establish themselves at that spot.

 

[BobRossColton]

I've been pining for Evans since the summer. Some people question if he has the offensive abilities to play 3C on a contending team, but I just find him to be so good defensively that those types of minutes are calm, worry-free situations.

JD - Mack - Rants
Lehky - Mitts - Nuke
Rosco - Evans - LOC
Wood - Kelly - Kivi

Rosco will have the finish
LOC with the chaos
Evans with the everything else

 

[Balthazar]

I've been pining for Evans since the summer. Some people question if he has the offensive abilities to play 3C on a contending team, but I just find him to be so good defensively that those types of minutes are calm, worry-free situations.

JD - Mack - Rants
Lehky - Mitts - Nuke
Rosco - Evans - LOC
Wood - Kelly - Kivi

That's one expensive 3rd line wing.

Seriously if Colton didn't have that damn NMC thats the guy that I'd have offered for Evans (in case they can't re-sign him).

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Getting Evans would be like righting the wrong of not just signing Danault when we could have

 

[Avs9296]

Getting Evans would be like righting the wrong of not just signing Danault when we could have

I think we tried but he chose LA over Denver. Understandable I guess.

 

[Pokecheque]

He's no loss

Mack took a big discount again.

Being the highest paid player in the league at the time he signed the deal is not a discount, let alone a BIG discount.

 

[BobRossColton]

That's one expensive 3rd line wing.

Seriously if Colton didn't have that damn NMC that the guy that I'd have offered for Evans (in case they can't re-sign him).

It's a ntc so slightly better, but at least the rest of 3rd line wouldn't be too expensive

The real question, will Montreal even trade with us, we basically stole lehky, and hook hasn't really been anywhere near outstanding.

 

[MacKaRant]

Getting Evans would be like righting the wrong of not just signing Danault when we could have

Danault is a way better player in my eyes. His goal and chance suppression numbers are consistently top tier. Yes, I know that the Kings have a lot more to work with than Montreal, but Danault has moved the needle basically his whole career

 

[Alienblood]

Being the highest paid player in the league at the time he signed the deal is not a discount, let alone a BIG discount.

He's the best player in the league. I would say it's a discount

 

[SoundwaveIsCharisma]

Danault is a way better player in my eyes. His goal and chance suppression numbers are consistently top tier. Yes, I know that the Kings have a lot more to work with than Montreal, but Danault has moved the needle basically his whole career

Don’t disagree, Danault would be 2C, Evans role is more 3/4C