Player Discussion Jake Evans (Part II)

[26Mats]

The best shutdown lines are not just passively defending in their own zone. They are tilting the ice away from their own zone by winning the neutral zone battles and being effective forecheckers as well.

Gallagher on such a line works well.

I always like Byron-Danault-Lehkonen as a pure shutdown line - meaning they don't give up goals but they don't score many either. One of the ways they don't give up goals is putting pressure offensively, including on the forecheck. The thing is, though they get offensive pressure they don't score a ton.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

What about Lehkonen and Gallagher?

That's asking too much from Evans, Danault played with Tatar and Gallagher and was on pace for 37 points this season...

 

[A55P2]

I don't think you understand why the Danault line has been effective 5-on-5.

I've read your previous post. Sure Gallagher and Lehky have been good on the forecheck. While it wasn't Danault role in the playoffs, he is still always behind on plays in the regular season. When the centerman gets a bit more leeway, he still doesn't use it.

Danault has been good in the neutral zone, sure. But is Evans able to develop this type of skill once he develops? Maybe. I certainly think so given the smarts he's shown so far. The main concern for me is his physical strenght, which doesn't seem to be as developed as Danault.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I've read your previous post. Sure Gallagher and Lehky have been good on the forecheck. While it wasn't Danault role in the playoffs, he is still always behind on plays in the regular season. When the centerman gets a bit more leeway, he still doesn't use it.

Danault has been good in the neutral zone, sure. But is Evans able to develop this type of skill once he develops? Maybe. I certainly think so given the smarts he's shown so far. The main concern for me is his physical strenght, which doesn't seem to be as developed as Danault.

Danault's biggest asset his is compete level and skating. And his defensive IQ. He has the skating to close gaps and be in position which is key. I like Evans a lot but he can't skate like Danault.

 

[A55P2]

Danault's biggest asset his is compete level and skating. And his defensive IQ. He has the skating to close gaps and be in position which is key. I like Evans a lot but he can't skate like Danault.

I really disagree with this. I see that Evans needs to learn where to be, but skating wise Evans is like Danault 2X on a straight line. Danault skates in sand! But he's strong and has a nice stride though, so it's not all terrible.

 

[BaseballCoach]

That's asking too much from Evans, Danault played with Tatar and Gallagher and was on pace for 37 points this season...

I get it. I'm not saying Evans will score equally to Danault in recent years. But I d like a Lehkonen-Evans-Gallagher line.

 

[BaseballCoach]

I really disagree with this. I see that Evans needs to learn where to be, but skating wise Evans is like Danault 2X on a straight line. Danault skates in sand! But he's strong and has a nice stride though, so it's not all terrible.

Danault is faster than you think. Think back to the series winner against Vegas. See where Danault was at the start of the play and how he pulled away from the backcheckers even though he had the puck which often slows a player down.

 

[A55P2]

Danault is faster than you think. Think back to the series winner against Vegas. See where Danault was at the start of the play and how he pulled away from the backcheckers even though he had the puck which often slows a player down.

Danault had wings those last two games in Vegas, me and my roomates were saying to eachother that he never skated like that as a hab. I'm not taking this as an example of him as a player. But if he can do that consistently then yes, you have a much improved player.

 

[A55P2]

Danault knows where to be, is strong on the puck and close gaps effectively with his stick.

Evans is inexperienced so not as sound positionally, not as good with his stick although adequate and not as strong. But in a straight line, he annihilates Danault without even trying. This is very clear to me.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I really disagree with this. I see that Evans needs to learn where to be, but skating wise Evans is like Danault 2X on a straight line. Danault skates in sand! But he's strong and has a nice stride though, so it's not all terrible.

Agree to disagree. Evans is coming along nicely and might actually provide more offense depending on usage but don't underrate Danault's skating.

 

[A55P2]

Agree to disagree. Evans is coming along nicely and might actually provide more offense depending on usage but don't underrate Danault's skating.

Fine with agree to disagree. But I honestly believe that Danault's lack of speed is one of the thing that prevents him from being a great player. He skates like Gallagher and Tatar. Anytime a team comes along with a tiny bit of speed, these guys have a rough time offensively. Gallagher for example always go caught up by the player following him in the playoffs, couldn't buy himself time. He was injured, but still this has to be become problematic.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Fine with agree to disagree. But I honestly believe that Danault's lack of speed is one of the thing that prevents him from being a great player. He skates like Gallagher and Tatar. Anytime a team comes along with a tiny bit of speed, these guys have a rough time offensively. Gallagher for example always go caught up by the player following him in the playoffs, couldn't buy himself time. He was injured, but still this has to be become problematic.

Danault don't have lack of speed!

 

[A55P2]

Danault don't have lack of speed!

As you said, agree to disagree. To me it's clear he's not a fast skater.

 

[417]

Agree to disagree. Evans is coming along nicely and might actually provide more offense depending on usage but don't underrate Danault's skating.

I don’t think Evans has anything to envy Danault when it comes to skating


But he can sure take lessons about how strong Danault is positionally, he’s almost always on the right side of the puck and that’s his greatest value.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I don’t think Evans has anything to envy Danault when it comes to skating


But he can sure take lessons about how strong Danault is positionally, he’s almost always on the right side of the puck and that’s his greatest value.

In order to be in position and close gaps, you need good skating. Danault don't have elite level skating but it's above average for sure. Evans is there too but he I believe Danault is the better skater. I value Evans's game for sure

 

[Habs Halifax]

As you said, agree to disagree. To me it's clear he's not a fast skater.

Not elite but his skating is very good. He would not be able to do what he does without very good skating.

 

[A55P2]

Not elite but his skating is very good. He would not be able to do what he does without very good skating.

I'd give you one thing that I think his true. His posture his great for the type of role he plays. He plays low, in contrast to Evans who seems to have his chest always higher up. That gives strenght to Danault and it's harder to skate like that speed wise. So skating fine with that posture his a skill. But he should learn to vary it a bit more. A bit like Suzuki also.

 

[Archijerej]

The question is, can he be a 3C,

He can't. He was threading water for most of the season as #4C. I think with some experience, he can be a quality 4th liner.

 

[A55P2]

He can't. He was threading water for most of the season as #4C. I think with some experience, he can be a quality 4th liner.

Danault was also atrocious for about a 1/3 of the season, before starting to play good again. Let's see in due time.

 

[Archijerej]

Danault was also atrocious for about a 1/3 of the season. Let's see in due time.

Danault and Evans don't belong in the same conversation.

 

[Captain97]

He can't. He was threading water for most of the season as #4C. I think with some experience, he can be a quality 4th liner.

I think Evans is gonna end up a 3rd/4th line tweener. Where he is ideally your 4c but if you have two really good top 6 C (like toronto, pits etc) who play almost 40 minutes a game combined he could be your 3c.

 

[A55P2]

Danault and Evans don't belong in the same conversation.

Not now and maybe never. But for that first 1/3 of the season, Evans played better than Danault in more limited minutes. It's really not inconceivable to me that Evans might replace him adequately. Maybe not fully, but adequately.

 

[Archijerej]

I think Evans is gonna end up a 3rd/4th line tweener. Where he is ideally your 4c but if you have two really good top 6 C (like toronto, pits etc) who play almost 40 minutes a game combined he could be your 3c.

Yeah, that's pretty much his ceiling. Good 4th liners are able to play higher up the lineup as 3rd wheels on a line. Jake's smarts should allow him to do that.

 

[26Mats]

I think Evans is gonna end up a 3rd/4th line tweener. Where he is ideally your 4c but if you have two really good top 6 C (like toronto, pits etc) who play almost 40 minutes a game combined he could be your 3c.

Evan's can play any forward position on any line, including PK and PP. That's also one of his strengths.

His offensive upside is why I think he's a better Tatar replacement than Lehkonen with Danault and a healthy Gallagher. If we can find a replacement for Danault, I could easily see Evan's finding a wing spot in the top 9, and be a good reserve C in case of injury.

 

[BaseballCoach]

As you said, agree to disagree. To me it's clear he's not a fast skater.

Again, take a look at the whole play on Lehkonen's series winning goal against Vegas. Danault starts out even with the backchecker and ends up more thn 6 feet ahead even whle carrying the puck.