Player Discussion Jake Evans (Part II)

[26Mats]

He may become a winger but one thing is for sure, in the cap era by age 22 you need to show you can play and Poehling is 22...its time to put up or move on.

My thinking is, because the center position is so valuable, if he's not ready to play center at the NHL level, give him another year in Laval to keep progressing.

But yes, even if he never can be a center at the NHL level, he still could be a very good winger. I'd just try to give him every opportunity to become a good center. Because of covid and rushing him last year, he's only got 64 AHL games under his belt. Plekanec came into the NHL at 23, after 1 post draft year in the czech league, and 3 years and 231 AHL games. I know it's a different era. But extra time in the AHL can only help him perfect the finer points of the 200 foot center game. It's a hard position.

 

[tazsub3]

do people realise we were 4-0 with him in the lineup and 0-3 without in the playoffs

 

[azcanuck]

Evans is the underrated guy for the playoffs. Love his game right now. Lots of edge to it with decent skill. Hard to believe Evans>Tatar. How Tatar has fallen.

 

[417]

such a smart player and I think there's more upside than he's given credit for.

The Habs should not feel the need to insulate him with a washed up 4th line C next year.

 

[JoelWarlord]

such a smart player and I think there's more upside than he's given credit for.

The Habs should not feel the need to insulate him with a washed up 4th line C next year.

Yeah if anything it's the other way around. Evans is the guy that can insulate other players. If we need a checking C he's the guy, and if Danault's back that line with Evans-Danault-Gallagher is the nuclear option in terms of shutting down opposition at 5v5.

 

[Hector Salamanca]

Evans is the underrated guy for the playoffs. Love his game right now. Lots of edge to it with decent skill. Hard to believe Evans>Tatar. How Tatar has fallen.

He's been very good last night, like eyes popping if you can watch a 200 foot game.

Decent at everything, look surprisingly fast and good on board battle yesterday.

He play smart and hard, good motor. The kind of bottom 6 guys you need in today's game.

 

[Habs13]

Have been pumping the tires on this kid all season and people didn't see it. Glad he's getting recognition now though.

 

[ECWHSWI]

He may become a winger but one thing is for sure, in the cap era by age 22 you need to show you can play and Poehling is 22...its time to put up or move on.

well by age 22, Evans was still a AHLer... so, we move on from him ?

 

[Captain Mountain]

He may become a winger but one thing is for sure, in the cap era by age 22 you need to show you can play and Poehling is 22...its time to put up or move on.

Weird take to have in a thread about a guy that made his NHL debut in his age 23 season.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

I'd like Poehling to get 1 more year in Laval to continue to learn the defensive side of the center position at the pro level.
But, then the following year Poehling is definitely coming to the NHL anyways.

The good thing is that Evans, Poehling, Danault, and Suzuki can all play wing if need be. So, I would re-sign him if it's at the right price.

Personally I would like to see Poehling with either Evans or Suzuki as a complimentary center/winger depending on which side of the ice the faceoff is on. Preferrably with us having signed Danault to a reasonable contract so that Evans and Poehling could start the season somewhat insulated.

I am not at all against Poehling starting the season with Laval but he might also be well served to learn in the NHL as a part time center. One thing for sure, if he goes to Laval and continues where he left off he won't be there very long.

He might even be a good replacement for Tatar with Danault and Gallagher.

 

[Habs13]

Poehling is injured or he would be with the team right now

 

[Paddyjack]

Have been pumping the tires on this kid all season and people didn't see it. Glad he's getting recognition now though.

I was on and off from this board during the season but it seems to me that Evans was generally given a good assessment from the majority of people here.

 

[Kimota]

Evans' situation reminds me of when Plekanec came in out of nowhere, got inserted on the team and got more and more of ice time and his role became more and more important until he became Top 3 of the most important players on the team. Not saying this will happen but it's nice seeing a kid get inserted on the team and not only not spoiling his chances but going above and beyond what you were expecting.

 

[Tyson]

Weird take to have in a thread about a guy that made his NHL debut in his age 23 season.

7th rounder who played 4 seasons in the NCAA compared to a first rounder who turned pro sooner....two different paths

 

[Tyson]

well by age 22, Evans was still a AHLer... so, we move on from him ?

At 22 he had just played 4 complete NCAA seasons, 7th rounders are usually projects where as 1st rounders are more polished and ready. The patience with 1st rounders is usually less and are expected to deliver faster

 

[frapp10]

Keep him with Danault. Perfect shut down pair

 

[ECWHSWI]

At 22 he had just played 4 complete NCAA seasons, 7th rounders are usually projects where as 1st rounders are more polished and ready. The patience with 1st rounders is usually less and are expected to deliver faster

still no reason to move on from.

 

[azcanuck]

He's been very good last night, like eyes popping if you can watch a 200 foot game.

Decent at everything, look surprisingly fast and good on board battle yesterday.

He play smart and hard, good motor. The kind of bottom 6 guys you need in today's game.

Except he's moved into the top 6 and deserves it. He's like a bigger Bryon.

 

[Kojo]

He can eat minutes like candies. Game 7 Habs were hemmed in their zone at some point but he was on the ice and just casually broke down the threat.

 

[marvelousmotion]

He's been very good last night, like eyes popping if you can watch a 200 foot game.

Decent at everything, look surprisingly fast and good on board battle yesterday.

He play smart and hard, good motor. The kind of bottom 6 guys you need in today's game.

He can become a Dominic Moore type of player with his solid 200-foot game. He plays in the same mold and shares the same kind of relentless work ethic. Smart, responsible, hard-working, quick, always forechecks and backchecks hard, strong on puck battles/puck retrievals etc.

It's been a real treat to watch Evans grow, develop and improve his game throughout the years. He has come a long way from his Notre Dame days.

 

[Max2]

A construction project that yielded serious results

Interesting read from a few years ago.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

He can become a Dominic Moore type of player with his solid 200-foot game. He plays in the same mold and shares the same kind of relentless work ethic. Smart, responsible, hard-working, quick, always forechecks and backchecks hard, strong on puck battles/puck retrievals etc.

It's been a real treat to watch Evans grow, develop and improve his game throughout the years. He has come a long way from his Notre Dame days.

He brings something that this team is desperately short of: speed. And when you can skate like Evans can, anything is possible.

 

[Zam Boni]

Happy B-day, turns 25 today.

 

[Archijerej]

such a smart player and I think there's more upside than he's given credit for.

The Habs should not feel the need to insulate him with a washed up 4th line C next year.

We didn't feel the need to do it this year and ended up with a completely ineffective 4th line for 2/3 of the season.

I agree though that he's a player. Should look better with normal intervals between games. But there's no harm in signing a 13th forward who can fill in as the #4C if need be.

 

[tnq]

To be honest, the player i like the most in this team is Even. He does not have elite skill like Suzuki or wrist shot like KK, but he does well his job. Smart, hard work, speedy, always at the right place, he makes it so easy. He is by far better than Tatar in the shutdown line.