Player Discussion Jake Evans (Part II)

[Rapala]

It's also the mid-season mark where they normally have a conference.

Yup it's that time of year again.
We all tune in hoping for a mind blowing tid-bit of information but ultimately understanding we will basically be getting nothing but platitudes.
I for one can't wait.

 

[morhilane]

Extension incoming? I heard KH is meeting the media at 11:30 for a press conference

It's just the mid-season GM press conference.

He's 100% going to be asked questions about it.

 

[vokiel]

Weather?

I'd take a fat check even if it meant working in Antartica.

So weather only if there are no better offers, which they couldn't know before July 1st right?

 

[Jack Spider]

Isn't he usually pretty good at Habs related contracts ?

he was asked in game on the fly during the tva broadcast. he said it was his opinion

 

[Deebs]

Extension incoming? I heard KH is meeting the media at 11:30 for a press conference

According to Elliott and a couple other "insiders", sounds like the two sides are talking and will eventually reach an aggreement

 

[JIMVINNY]

According to Elliott and a couple other "insiders", sounds like the two sides are talking and will eventually reach an aggreement

Wouldn't surprise me to see Evans traded at the deadline. He's looking at what could be his last contract, so taking a team-friendly deal to stay in Montreal with the highest taxes in the league is a tough ask. Evans has to do what is best for him and his family.

 

[LaP]

Wouldn't surprise me to see Evans traded at the deadline. He's looking at what could be his last contract, so taking a team-friendly deal to stay in Montreal with the highest taxes in the league is a tough ask. Evans has to do what is best for him and his family.

Team friendly might just means a short term contract with a higher than normal aav. Like two years at 5.5 millions a year. I doubt KH will extend for 5 years and more but this is what i would ask if i was Evans a team will offer it next summer.

 

[hockeywiz542]

Early Trading: Oilers looking for upgrade on D? | TSN

TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun joins Gino Reda to discuss the latest priorities out of Edmonton, the attention Canadiens defenceman Jake Evans has been garnering and the preliminary discussions the Habs have had with Evans on an extension.

www.tsn.ca

The Habs have informed Jake Evans that they will try to sign him. They are interested in keeping him around beyond this season but I think that part of that message is that they can't afford for Evans to get his home run deal in Montreal. There's going to have to be some give and take for Evans to remain a Montreal Canadien past this season.

They've only had very preliminary discussions, they haven't gotten into numbers yet but that message from the Habs has certainly been sent as far as how they value him and want to keep him around.

If they can't sign him, and term could be a hurdle as this negotiation gets going for real. I don't know that the Habs could view themselves going five or six years given all the other guys they have coming in the system. No one is going to begrudge Jake Evans if this is his career moment and wants to go to market July 1, that's every player's right.

Let's see where it goes but the top part will be this. Because Jake Evans only makes $1.7 million, I know there are a lot of Cup contenders that have circled his name and are waiting to see how Montreal plays that situation out. For example, the Devils I'm told are among the teams that have already kicked tires on Evans.

It's going to be a tough decision for the Habs. I think they know how far they're willing to go on an extension for him and regardless of where they are in the standings, if there's an incredible offer for him and they can't sign him, I think they have to think of trading him.

 

[yianik]

For me it's like this. The bottom. 6Cs that make $3.5M -$4.5M are 3Cs. Up until this year Evans was a pretty solid 4C, but has taken off this year and could put up weak 2C numbers which would be invaluable to a contender.

With Dvo moving on, the 3C is available and I'm fine paying Evans as a 3C. This will let the young C guys have time to come in and adjust.

At $3.5 M I'm happy, but $4M to me is about the top. And 4 years sounds right as for term goes.

Evans just got married and you can't blame him if he wants to get the maximum he can for his family. This is the only time in his career he will be" the guy".

Maybe Hughes is at $3M , maybe Evans at $4.75M, who knows. We have a problem if we don't extend Evans, but if he's asking for too much then trade him and get the best and cheapest defensive C we can get who has a year or 2 left.

If we trade Evans I can see hanging onto Dvorak. He and Newhook could play as bottom 6Cs and we can bring up Beck for a few games just to see where he is at. Beck is best left in Laval.

 

[Vachon23]

If I’m Evans, I’m 100 % testing the market after a career year like that. It’s the chance of his life to hit the jackpot.

There is not a lot of Center available, especially at his age so he will be a wanted piece

 

[Guiness time]

If we can get a 1st for Evans, its a no brainer for me. I like the player, but when you already are stuck with Gally and Josh cap hits, why add more salary to your 3rd and 4th lines when you have Beck, Kapinen, Tuch and potentially others ready to join the team on ELCs.

 

[BLONG7]

Tough call on Evans guys..........I can see where the team is coming from, and of course certainly the player is coming from.

 

[JIMVINNY]

If I’m Evans, I’m 100 % testing the market after a career year like that. It’s the chance of his life to hit the jackpot.

There is not a lot of Center available, especially at his age so he will be a wanted piece

This is where I'm at as well, and I don't begrudge him doing that at all. If you consider tax implications and all the other factors, he stands to make literally twice as much on the open market as he could in Montreal, and with better term as well. Some GM will give him 5 years, desperate to make a splash.

As a guy who can no longer play contact sports because of concussions, I'd tell him to get as much as he can on this deal, because it's probably going to be his last.

 

[McGees]

Team friendly might just means a short term contract with a higher than normal aav. Like two years at 5.5 millions a year. I doubt KH will extend for 5 years and more but this is what i would ask if i was Evans a team will offer it next summer.

I'll vomit in my mouth if we give Evans 5.5 per

 

[Sorinth]

If we trade Evans I can see hanging onto Dvorak. He and Newhook could play as bottom 6Cs and we can bring up Beck for a few games just to see where he is at. Beck is best left in Laval.

Barring a slide to the bottom of the standing I'm not sure we can do something like this without losing the room. If we are fighting for a playoff spot the only way we trade Evans is if we also go out and buy on some other C, possibly one with an extra year or two.

 

[yianik]

Barring a slide to the bottom of the standing I'm not sure we can do something like this without losing the room. If we are fighting for a playoff spot the only way we trade Evans is if we also go out and buy on some other C, possibly one with an extra year or two.

It's a tough one. For sure the team needs to at least start fighting for a spot and losing Evans is a big blow to that, so not optimal from that perspective. On the other hand, Evans should bag a decent 1st and with 3 1sts in 2025 it gives us lots of ability to make moves and help fill in any of our remaining big gaps. And I do see this as the last season to have our own relatively high 1st. Demi is coming.

I think I still move Evans and sure, maybe pick up a much less valuable C at a much lower price.

 

[expy]

Would be a grave mistake to let go of Evans.

 

[Sorinth]

It's a tough one. For sure the team needs to at least start fighting for a spot and losing Evans is a big blow to that, so not optimal from that perspective. On the other hand, Evans should bag a decent 1st and with 3 1sts in 2025 it gives us lots of ability to make moves and help fill in any of our remaining big gaps. And I do see this as the last season to have our own relatively high 1st. Demi is coming.

I think I still move Evans and sure, maybe pick up a much less valuable C at a much lower price.

It's not just a question of the loss Evans has on us winning games, it's the message being sent to the players in the room. Like if we want to re-sign Laine then we can't throw in the towel like he accused Columbus of too often doing. If we want to sell Hutson on signing a team friendly long term deal it's a tough sell when management doesn't seem to actually be committed to winning. Suzuki has already expressed frustration with all the losing, if he feels the GM essentially sabotages the chances of making the playoffs this year, does that could push him to ask for a trade?

Being a GM is more then just managing assets, it's also very much about managing people, personalities, and egos. So you have to be very careful with trading Evans if the team is still in the mix.

 

[Rapala]

How many times did Hughes repeat "There are 22 games left until the TDL?"
At least three times. I think most people believe Evans will score much better as an UFA.
It will be interesting to see what our Contract Master can come up with.

 

[Habssince89]

Hughes has all the angles covered. He's putting Evans on notice, giving him enough time to decide and have some agency in his fate. In the end KH has a number and he won't move from it, and if he can't get Evans to agree to it then he will deal him.

 

[yianik]

It's not just a question of the loss Evans has on us winning games, it's the message being sent to the players in the room. Like if we want to re-sign Laine then we can't throw in the towel like he accused Columbus of too often doing. If we want to sell Hutson on ĺļĺĺ team friendly long term deal it's a tough sell ĺĺļĺĺĺĺĺĺĺĺĺĺĺĺlMontreal was back.