26Mats
Registered User
- Jun 23, 2018
- 33,389
- 25,771
I've always been interested to see him play with offensive linemates, whether at C or wing, for a bit of a stretch.
Good shot. Good skater, now. Good vision. Good defensively. Good work ethic.
Player Discussion Jake Evans (Part II)
- Thread starter ahmedou
- Start date
I've always been interested to see him play with offensive linemates, whether at C or wing, for a bit of a stretch.
Good shot. Good skater, now. Good vision. Good defensively. Good work ethic.
BLONG7
Registered User
Also was the team leader in points last year, down in Laval. He has some nice hands.....hopefully he is a late bloomer, and we have a real player on our hands.
If Jake Evans was KK’s age, after last night, we’d be calling him the next great centre lol.
By the way, Jake Evans > KK rn
By the way, Jake Evans > KK rn
That's true. He is more polished. His speed and overall solid play stands out. KK still has more potential, but at the moment he is playing tentatively. His skating is average and his decision-making is questionable. I am tired of seeing him get in the zone and curl back each time looking for a pass option. It is not dynamic and it's easy to play against. He needs to go towards the net more. His shot is heavy, but the release is a little slow.
A good summer training to work on details could do wonders.
Habby4Life
First pick overall goes to the Montreal Canadiens
- Nov 12, 2008
- 4,477
- 4,261
I’m not sure we can safely say KK potential is higher. He looks like trash, has regressed and looks like he might be a 3c. Jake looks like a 3c but hasn’t been given the same opportunities as Kk. It would be interesting to see how he would perform given all the chances KK has had. Right now he is the better center. Evans looks like an NHLer while KK doesnt.
CheldishGamibno
Turtles & Refrigerators
If he's not protected for the expansion draft I'm losing my mind.
Paddyjack
Registered User
KK would have benefitted playing under Bouchard for a whole year I think. His confidence is shattered
Clippy
Registered User
- Sep 22, 2011
- 610
- 84
I honestly wouldn't be opposed to having him play for Laval next year. Hope he finds his groove and confidence
donghabs98
Moderator
That line reassembles what our identity used to be before Bergevin started adding slower players. We should be a fast team that can check, not a slow team that just aims to hit.
ChesterNimitz
governed by the principle of calculated risk
- Jul 4, 2002
- 5,846
- 12,700
Montreal has been a veritable 'Ship of Fools' for so long that the loss you fear has already transpired.
Habby4Life
First pick overall goes to the Montreal Canadiens
- Nov 12, 2008
- 4,477
- 4,261
Confidence, sure but he has other issues to address such as skating, agility, and his shot. If those don’t improve he won’t get much better than what he is now. Frankly, I see him as a 3c.
Leon Lucius Black
Registered User
- Nov 5, 2007
- 16,029
- 6,251
The Byron/Evans/Lehk line reminds me of the Pyatt/Moore/Lapierre line from the 2010 playoffs, hopefully they play together and can provide a similar impact to what the Moore line did.
Andrei79
Registered User
- Jan 25, 2013
- 16,462
- 30,590
Somehow, I doubt he would have been this good had we signed him after 2 years and played him under Lefebvre.
Development is important. His progress under Bouchard the last two years has been phenomenal.
Development is important. His progress under Bouchard the last two years has been phenomenal.
Ezpz
No mad pls
- Apr 16, 2013
- 15,327
- 11,840
At the same time at Kotkaniemi's age Evans wasn't even looking like a future NHLer and had just started to fix his skating issues. It then took him four more years to make the NHL. If current Evans is how Kotkaniemi looks four years from now, then maybe we can say that. And I really like Evans.
You're really not understanding what the word potential means from what you've written.
Habby4Life
First pick overall goes to the Montreal Canadiens
- Nov 12, 2008
- 4,477
- 4,261
Nonsense, the point is we don’t fully know what Jakes potential is because he is just been given a chance. Kk has had tons of chances and is regressing. JUst maybe KKs potential isn’t that high.
Ezpz
No mad pls
- Apr 16, 2013
- 15,327
- 11,840
Statistically speaking players don't generally start developing in their mid 20's. Evans could be more than he shows, and likely is a 3C; but it's far from a guarantee and history does not favour him. KK has not regressed, that's your own personal opinion. His play away from the puck has improved tremendously since his rookie season as well as his physical attributes and decision making.
His offense has stagnated but it's not as simple as "he's regressing". The only "chance" he has gotten is to run the 2nd PP unit; which very rarely starts PPs. At ES he has still been used as the 3rd/4th center the entire year bar a few games. I feel like you really got fooled by the GDTs posting Kotkaniemi's line as the 2nd line. The acquisition of Staal and Kotkaniemi's "decline" are directly correlated. Staal is on pace for an 11 point season after taking over Kotkaniemi's minutes and you think KK is the one who should sit?
I can't help but feel our fanbase are a little finnicky. Kotkaniemi did not finish the year great which could be for a number of reasons. We had the worst schedule in the league since returning from our COVID break. Every time he was given a good winger they would start producing and then that winger would be moved to Danault's line. Kotkaniemi is still not physically where he will be as one of the younger players in the league still. For regular players, and despite being in his 3rd pro season, Kotkaniemi was the 12th youngest regular player in the league. And yeah--maybe he sucks. One thing's for sure though; you can't just make your own narrative and spew it as fact.
Habby4Life
First pick overall goes to the Montreal Canadiens
- Nov 12, 2008
- 4,477
- 4,261
More nonsense, "make your own narrative and spew it as fact" is exactly what you have done. I haven't been fooled by anything, I know he's been bad and its because of his skating, his inability to stay on his feet, his conditioning, his slow release, etc. All issues that nothing to do with Staal, coach or his linemates, etc. The guy was a project drafted at 3 who is currently flailing at the NHL level despite getting more ice time and PP time.
Regressed, he has, he barely looks like an NHL player right now. You can make excuses after excuses but the fact is he has been horrible and should be sitting.
Both Staal and KK suck and should watch from the press box, neither are NHLers right now.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
How he finishes the season matters. Seems obvious right now and I agree with you (he should be protected) but how players finish the season is usually what people remember.
But yeah, this kid is solid at all areas of the game and I like his ability to handle physical contact.
Habs Halifax
Loyal Habs Fan
Sly was a horrible coach but he also had crap to develop. Bouchard would have not been able to develop Hudon, Ghetto, McCarron, DLR either.
Development is facilitating a good environment. Only 8 top 100 picks from 08-11 draft years are to be blamed for many of our problems. Don't confuse this statement with me saying Sly was a good coach. He just was not a good coach on a team that the GM had to sign players to fill vs inserting good prospects like we have at the moment.
Creating a winning culture took years to get over from the ripple effects of bad drafting and weak draft power from 08-15. Realty
Evans developed well in the NCAA as well. It's not all Bouchard. Bouchard's job is to facilitate the road and monitor the progress. Having better players to work with helps the overall strategy and I'm sure Bouchard will tell you this
Roadhouse
Bring me back to 2006...
1909
Registered User
- Jul 6, 2016
- 21,261
- 11,789
Right. Centers for the Playoffs should Be Danault-Suzuki-Evans.... even Byron on the 4th.
The Great Weal
Phil's Pizza
- Jan 15, 2015
- 55,190
- 70,894
What really impresses me is how he knows his spot may be in jeopardy, so he takes his game to another level whenever he needs to make a point.
