Player Discussion Jake Evans (Part II)

[Guiness time]

I don’t necessarily agree that a 1st would be a no brainer, especially a late one.

If Evans can be re-signed mid-term (3-5 years) for under 4M - basically an upgrade over Dvorak once gone - it’d be a great stop-gap while Beck, Hage and a potential 2025 C draftee mature. The Habs won’t continue their progression if their bottom-6 C is filled with ELCs only, they’ll need veteran support, especially with Anderson and Gallagher phasing out in the next couple of years.

I was not implying that we only have ELC players on the 3rd and 4th lines. We have Gally and Josh A under contract for 2 more seasons after this season. As well, Demidov might (i hope) push out Newhook out of top 6, which would mean another VET on your 3rd/4th lines. We can also sign a vet for the 4th line at much less than the 3.5 to 4 mil that Evans will cost. Personally I do not think that highly of Evans, hes replaceable at a lower cost and I would not want him blocking younger players down the road when are are in year 3 and 4 of his potential future contract.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Would be a grave mistake to let go of Evans.

Was it a grave mistake to let go of Dannault?

 

[JianYang]

Imagine saying that in preseason? Funny how things change eh?



It pretty much happened last year with Monahan. Habs were 20-21-8 (48 pts in 49 games) when we traded Monahan. I know MSL and the players didn't like it but understood.

Now, we are one year later with a bit more expectations so not sure how Hughes manages this

Players didn't like but back then, the Habs were out of it so they could at least sell to the players that they weren't good enough.

You can't do that this year without certain consequences to morale and the culture that they are trying to foster if the Habs stay in that wildcard running. The players have held up their end of the bargain so far, and the management needs to be careful not to take a steaming dump on their efforts.

 

[McGees]

Imagine saying that in preseason? Funny how things change eh?



It pretty much happened last year with Monahan. Habs were 20-21-8 (48 pts in 49 games) when we traded Monahan. I know MSL and the players didn't like it but understood.

Now, we are one year later with a bit more expectations so not sure how Hughes manages this

Yep. Career year for the exact type of player playoff teams covet.

 

[Levard]

I would trade for a king ransom nooowww because he may be one concussion away from being done.

His value is sky high at the moment.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Was it a grave mistake to let go of Dannault?

In a way, yes. We can't go with a green center line next year and take a step forward.

 

[Frank Drebin]

Was it a grave mistake to let go of Dannault?

If the goal was to ice a worse team, no.

 

[Hins77]

Comparing Danault vs Evans is a non sense. Especially because Danault was a Top 6 center and Evans is a bottom 6 center since the beginning of his career. There is no comparison to make between those 2. Evans should be compare to a guy like Ridly Greig wich just sign for 3,25 aav. Everything over 4,0/aav is an overpayment.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Comparing Danault vs Evans is a non sense. Especially because Danault was a Top 6 center and Evans is a bottom 6 center since the beginning of his career. There is no comparison to make between those 2. Evans should be compare to a guy like Ridly Greig wich just sign for 3,25 aav. Everything over 4,0/aav is an overpayment.

So if he gets 4.01 it's an overpayment?

 

[Hins77]

If Evans want to be greedy. Thats fine. Just Trade him vs a first pick/ prospect this deadline. Sign Yanni Gourde (wich really good pker). And I am more than happy. This is what I expect to see from Kent Hugues. Managing asset and don't falling in love on players.
I could live with Suzuki, Dach, Newhook, Gourde as our line of center next year.

 

[WeThreeKings]

If Evans want to be greedy. Thats fine. Just Trade him vs a first pick/ prospect this deadline. Sign Yanni Gourde (wich really good pker). And I am more than happy. This is what I expect to see from Kent Hugues. Managing asset and don't falling in love on players.
I could live with Suzuki, Dach, Newhook, Gourde as our line of center next year.

Gourde will cost you more than Evans.

 

[Hins77]

So if he gets 4.01 it's an overpayment?

I don't think it's HuGo and Evans's agent are unable to sign a contract because of 10,000$. Lol. The margain should be a lot larger than that

 

[WeThreeKings]

I don't think it's HuGo and Evans's agent are unable to sign a contract because of 10,000$. Lol. The margain should be a lot larger than that

Thats just what I mean, I don't think going over 4m is an issue. For me personally, it's the 4.5 range where you're getting into an overpayment that might not age well even with cap rising.

You're probably not getting a center with experience and those qualities off UFA for less. So keep the guy you know and is integrated well in the room.

 

[Hins77]

Gourde will cost you more than Evans.

Warren Foegele wich if equal than both. 3,5 aav/3 years. On UFA market last year. I can't see those beeing more paid

 

[WeThreeKings]

Warren Foegele wich if equal than both. 3,5 aav/3 years. On UFA market last year. I can't see those beeing more paid

Foegele isn't a center.

 

[Hins77]

Thats just what I mean, I don't think going over 4m is an issue. For me personally, it's the 4.5 range where you're getting into an overpayment that might not age well even with cap rising.

You're probably not getting a center with experience and those qualities off UFA for less. So keep the guy you know and is integrated well in the room.

If evans is not signed yet it's probably because he is asking around 4,5.

Foegele isn't a center.

Then, I wouldnt pay a 4th center at 4,5. Because I prefer to have Newhook wich is cheaper on my 3rd line. To have a 4th centerman over 4,0/aav is killing ourself cap wise

 

[ahmedou]

Evans = Danault 2.0

 

[WeThreeKings]

If evans is not signed yet it's probably because he is asking around 4,5.


Then, I wouldnt pay a 4th center at 4,5. Because I prefer to have Newhook wich is cheaper on my 3rd line. To have a 4th centerman over 4,0/aav is killing ourself cap wise

But he's not a 4th center, he's your 3rd center for a few years until Beck or Kapanen grow into that role.

Dvorak is our 4C and he's going to go out the door and be replaced with either Beck or Kapanen. Evans at 4-4.5 and an ELC is still cheaper than Dvorak and Evans today, with a cap steadily rising.

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

In a way, yes. We can't go with a green center line next year and take a step forward.

I'd rather that than a long term overpayment. Beck will slide into the bottom six next year and I'm not worried about that.

If we can keep Evans - great. I'm all for it. But if he wants 4.5 mil over four or five years then I think that's too much.

Comparing Danault vs Evans is a non sense.

I'm not comparing the players. I'm comparing the situations. You don't overpay support players if you want to contend.

Especially because Danault was a Top 6 center and Evans is a bottom 6 center since the beginning of his career. There is no comparison to make between those 2. Evans should be compare to a guy like Ridly Greig wich just sign for 3,25 aav. Everything over 4,0/aav is an overpayment.

Dannault wanted a premium and we were wise not to sign him. Same thing applies here.

I'd love to sign Evans if his demands are reasonable. I like him a lot. But overpaying him when we're going to have guys like Hutson and Demidov coming up is not a good strategy.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

But he's not a 4th center, he's your 3rd center for a few years until Beck or Kapanen grow into that role.

Dvorak is our 4C and he's going to go out the door and be replaced with either Beck or Kapanen. Evans at 4-4.5 and an ELC is still cheaper than Dvorak and Evans today, with a cap steadily rising.

Evans plays 15-16 minutes a game and leads all forwards in the whole league in PK time, dating back to last March our PK has been close to a top 5 unit in the whole league with Evans playing a huge part. He's a swiss army type of player that coaches love that can be moved all around the lineup and play anywhere.

You'd think people were talking about Manny Malhotra or Nate Thompson the way he gets called a 4th liner around here.

 

[BigDaddyLurch]

...Evans is resigned, 4 years @ 14 mill...callin' it now...

 

[Naslundforever]

If we ignore him will he think he better ask for less $?

But he's not a 4th center, he's your 3rd center for a few years until Beck or Kapanen grow into that role.

Dvorak is our 4C and he's going to go out the door and be replaced with either Beck or Kapanen. Evans at 4-4.5 and an ELC is still cheaper than Dvorak and Evans today, with a cap steadily rising.

How much do the habs need a left handed c in the line up?

 

[Captain Mountain]

Evans plays 15-16 minutes a game and leads all forwards in the whole league in PK time, dating back to last March our PK has been close to a top 5 unit in the whole league with Evans playing a huge part. He's a swiss army type of player that coaches love that can be moved all around the lineup and play anywhere.

You'd think people were talking about Manny Malhotra or Nate Thompson the way he gets called a 4th liner around here.

At the same point in their careers, Malholtra was a 3rd line center, one of the best defensive/PK centers in the NHL and received Selke votes. He has another season or two of good play and then started to fall off. I imagine that (and what Armia played like once he secured the bag) is part of the trepidation in signing Evans long term during a career year in his age 28 season.