Player Discussion Jake Evans (Part II)

[OldCraig71]

He has done a really great job at improving his skating.

I think that Evans is probably the fastest skater on the team. It's also amazing to see how much better younger players can become when they are surrounded by a better team. We haven't been able to say that for a long time but I remember back in the day where we used to bring in these guys from the minors and have them become important contributors, we haven't seen that in a while.

 

[417]

Not sure I'd say that. Thompson was really fast and good for a 4c. Evans will be better in time no doubt, maybe as soon as this year or next. I also remember a certain Daniel Brière centering our 4th line in the 2014 playoffs.

Thompson was OK...I mean, he provided virtually zero offense but he was good on faceoffs.

I just really like the look of the 4th line on it with Evans, he provides a threat and the team actually isn't handicapped the more he plays...like they were with Thompson.

 

[Tuggy]

Thompson was OK...I mean, he provided virtually zero offense but he was good on faceoffs.

I just really like the look of the 4th line on it with Evans, he provides a threat and the team actually isn't handicapped the more he plays...like they were with Thompson.

It's such a huge advantage to be able to roll 4 lines in any situation against any line. Not many teams in our division can do that.

And with the condensed schedule (back-to-backs, 3 games in 4 nights etc.) it really helps.

Evans has taken the job and I don't see him giving it up any time soon.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

He has done a really great job at improving his skating.

It's almost a small miracle how much better at it he's gotten TBH. In his freshmen year at Notre Dame his skating was so bad, like 3 out of 10 maximum. By his senior year he'd gotten to about a 6 (which was already a major improvement ) and since turning pro he still got better at it every season somehow.

 

[Vachon23]

Most surprising player since the start of the season. He become way faster and that help his game a lot

 

[Sam of Montreal]

Glad to see I'm not the only one to have noticed.

I don't know if he is the fastest skater on the team, but he looks just as quick as Byron to turn a situation into an advantage over defensemen.

Congratulations to the kid. He must have worked really hard.

 

[The Great Weal]

I had low expectations for this guy. I thought he was a 4th liner who might even struggle and we'd need to replace him. If he keeps playing like this, he could definitely be a 3rd liner. He's been awesome.

 

[JianYang]

He has done a really great job at improving his skating.

I was watching a habs yotuber talking about how fast Evans is, and I assumed he just had the rose coloured glasses syndrome.

Then I paid closer attention to his game this year, and wow, his skating is night and day compared to his camp last year.

It's a remarkable improvement.

I'm excited at the prospect of having the best 4th line since the days of Lapierre and Dominic Moore.

 

[Redux91]

Wish i could find those clips of Joel Bouchard talking about Evans in training camp last year.. but if anythings clear
Joel has A LOT to do with this kids progression, cant say enough good things about Bouchard i swear to god

He was mentioning how unbelievably impressed he was with what Evans apparently did in the offseason to show up for training camp, implying he instructed him on a couple things he needed to work on and do if he wanted to make it to the big time, and Joel couldnt contain himself talking about how thrilled he was Jake had apparently listened to him and those instructions to help him go along.

 

[The Great Weal]

I think that Evans is probably the fastest skater on the team. It's also amazing to see how much better younger players can become when they are surrounded by a better team. We haven't been able to say that for a long time but I remember back in the day where we used to bring in these guys from the minors and have them become important contributors, we haven't seen that in a while.

Him, Suzuki and Kotkaniemi have improved their athleticism big time. We need to draft high IQ players like these guys and skill, athleticism is a lot easier to get better at than being more talented and smarter.

 

[Natey]

Thought he was the best player on the ice last night.

 

[OldCraig71]

Him, Suzuki and Kotkaniemi have improved their athleticism big time. We need to draft high IQ players like these guys and skill, athleticism is a lot easier to get better at than being more talented and smarter.

Evans has deceptive speed, he seems to be able to beat players to avoid icing and for a guy on the 4th line he always seems to make things happen on every shift. I don't know what his ceiling is but I do believe it is higher than the 4th line.

 

[Natey]

It's such a huge advantage to be able to roll 4 lines in any situation against any line. Not many teams in our division can do that.

And with the condensed schedule (back-to-backs, 3 games in 4 nights etc.) it really helps.

Evans has taken the job and I don't see him giving it up any time soon.

There's not even a 4 minute per game difference at even strength between our top TOI (Suzuki) and our lowest (Evans). The rolling of 4 lines is working extremely well right now. And it helps that Lehkonen and Byron are legitimate solid 3rd liners anyway.

 

[The Great Weal]

Evans has deceptive speed, he seems to be able to beat players to avoid icing and for a guy on the 4th line he always seems to make things happen on every shift. I don't know what his ceiling is but I do believe it is higher than the 4th line.

I always have a soft spot for players with good IQ. Not to mention that he's one of the rare Habs prospect that actually improved their skating substantially.

 

[Paddyjack]

Evans is the archetype of players CJ enjoys, so I have no doubts he will succeed. I remember when CJ came in we predicted he would like Danault very much, and we were right. I feel the same with Evans. If he continues to progress he may be the solution to the Danault problem.

 

[yianik]

Reality is that it is pretty infrequent for a guy to improve his skating dramatically against his peers.

Reality also is that in the later rounds the kids usually have several weaknesses that will keep them from playing in the NHL.

But every so often you catch a kid that beats the real long odds.

Teams need to grab the so called late round gem every now and then. If Evans could be a 3rd line C , that would be a great pick. A 4th line C that late is a good pick up, just saying 3C would be great.

 

[Deebs]

 

[Archijerej]

I don't think he's that fast. He's moving constantly and anticipating plays very well, which makes him appear quicker. It was noticeable in Laval as well.

 

[Apfel Struble]

Do you give Seattle a low 1st round pick so they don't take Evans and instead another player with a sizeable contract (eg Drouin if he goes back to his old habits)?

Evans could be our William Karlsson if we don't protect him

 

[Vachon23]

Evans has deceptive speed, he seems to be able to beat players to avoid icing and for a guy on the 4th line he always seems to make things happen on every shift. I don't know what his ceiling is but I do believe it is higher than the 4th line.

Yep he's always 1st on the puck when he battle to go get a puck with his speed. We see it a lot in PK where it arrived a couple of time where he was able to loose 20-30 secondes of PK because he was 1st on the puck

 

[That Habs Fan]

Remember what Lefebvre did to players like Leblanc, McCarron and on and on and on...

It's great to have a proper coach in the AHL developing players like Evans.

 

[26Mats]

Do you give Seattle a low 1st round pick so they don't take Evans and instead another player with a sizeable contract (eg Drouin if he goes back to his old habits)?

Evans could be our William Karlsson if we don't protect him

Forwards we protect:

1. KK
2. Gallagher
3. Anderson
4. Toffoli
5. Drouin
6.
7.

Spots 6. and 7. could go to Danault and Tatar. But, it's unlikely Seattle takes Tatar as a UFA. we could re-sign Danault, protect Evans, and then re-sign Tatar after the expansion draft.

Or, we could protect Evans and leave Drouin unprotected.

We could then talk about what draft pick we'd give to Seattle for not taking Armia or Lehkonen.

 

[Sagikev]

Forwards we protect:

1. KK
2. Gallagher
3. Anderson
4. Toffoli
5. Drouin
6.
7.

Spots 6. and 7. could go to Danault and Tatar. But, it's unlikely Seattle takes Tatar as a UFA. we could re-sign Danault, protect Evans, and then re-sign Tatar after the expansion draft.

Or, we could protect Evans and leave Drouin unprotected.

We could then talk about what draft pick we'd give to Seattle for not taking Armia or Lehkonen.

I wouldn't protect a UFA at all, so I wouldn't protect Armia, Tatar and Danault (unless they're re-signed). I'd protect Lehky as he's a RFA and a solid bottom-6 player, and also Evans. They can't take the 3 of them so I'd be willing to take a chance. And even if Seattle claims one of them, we can always sign them during free agency.

I'd even be willing to trade a pick/a lower tier prospect so Seattle would take Byron. Or I'd leave Drouin exposed as a bait as he's too soft for this team (he has been playing harder than the prior years, but he still looks like the odd man out to me). Anyway we should definitely protect Evans and use this opportunity to shed some $ off the cap.

 

[26Mats]

I wouldn't protect a UFA at all, so I wouldn't protect Armia, Tatar and Danault (unless they're re-signed). I'd protect Lehky as he's a RFA and a solid bottom-6 player, and also Evans. They can't take the 3 of them so I'd be willing to take a chance. And even if Seattle claims one of them, we can always sign them during free agency.

I'd even be willing to trade a pick/a lower tier prospect so Seattle would take Byron. Or I'd leave Drouin exposed as a bait as he's too soft for this team (he has been playing harder than the prior years, but he still looks like the odd man out to me). Anyway we should definitely protect Evans and use this opportunity to shed some $ off the cap.

I hear you, but I think it's a risk to leave Danault unsigned and unprotected. I hope he's signed by then. I could see Seattle or another team prying him away from us - for nothing.

 

[417]

I wouldn't protect a UFA at all, so I wouldn't protect Armia, Tatar and Danault (unless they're re-signed). I'd protect Lehky as he's a RFA and a solid bottom-6 player, and also Evans. They can't take the 3 of them so I'd be willing to take a chance. And even if Seattle claims one of them, we can always sign them during free agency.

I'd even be willing to trade a pick/a lower tier prospect so Seattle would take Byron. Or I'd leave Drouin exposed as a bait as he's too soft for this team (he has been playing harder than the prior years, but he still looks like the odd man out to me). Anyway we should definitely protect Evans and use this opportunity to shed some $ off the cap.

I don't even think you can protect a UFA...might be wrong though