Player Discussion Jake Evans (Part II)

[Habs Halifax]

Do you think it has to be one player to replace his role because a couple of players can do it.
I don't see replacing Evan's offense as difficult at all. As for his PK watching Dvorak and Anderson being just as effective tells me it's a role we can take care of internally. So if we can upgrade our top 6 using monies to be paid to Evans and assets acquired for Evans we need to do it. We aren't going to be spending any more resources than necessary to improve this team.

I don't think it's a matter of replacing his points. It's about having a mature center who can play the role effectively and not be a liability when we face good teams who can take advantage.

I'm open to 3 year term. That's my line. If he wants lesser AAV for 5 years, I let him try

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Am I crazy for not wanting to give Evans 5$ ? seems ridiculous to me.

 

[Rapala]

If we lock up Evans at 3x $5M and it overlaps Demidov's ELC. And allows more time to develop Beck, Kapanen, Hage at center... are we going to complain its too much when we likely have unused cap space in those 3 years?

I'm going to have to see it to believe it and 5m no thank you hard pass.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'm going to have to see it to believe it and 5m no thank you hard pass.

We will see what Hughes does. He has more information in terms of how much Evans is asking for, what he might return at the TDL and the ability to find a stop gap center to replace him in the offseason.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Am I crazy for not wanting to give Evans 5$ ? seems ridiculous to me.

No but he's also not going to get 5m.

 

[Rapala]

Am I crazy for not wanting to give Evans 5$ ? seems ridiculous to me.

The Habs start winning a few games and everyone is getting into a panic that we'll completely fall apart without Evans. He may get us an extra win or two max the kids can pick up the slack and be very good in a year or two when we will need it. This team will not fall off a cliff as long as we continue to build a strong core. #1RD and #2C are the priorities next season Jake Evans is an after thought IMO.
Not to mention I'll be very surprised if he doesn't test free agency.

 

[LaP]

If we lock up Evans at 3x $5M and it overlaps Demidov's ELC. And allows more time to develop Beck, Kapanen, Hage at center... are we going to complain its too much when we likely have unused cap space in those 3 years?

I'd rather overpay Evans for 2-3 years than sign a long tern contract with him.

 

[ReHabs]

The Habs start winning a few games and everyone is getting into a panic that we'll completely fall apart without Evans. He may get us an extra win or two max the kids can pick up the slack and be very good in a year or two when we will need it. This team will not fall off a cliff as long as we continue to build a strong core. #1 RD and #2C are the priorities next season Jake Evans is an after thought IMO.
Not to mention I'll be very surprised if he doesn't test free agency.

I am much more interested in getting some magic beans in exchange for the career 30pt player than holding onto him and hoping his hot streak means he will produce at this elevated rate for five years to come. You could say I am singularly obsessed with it.

 

[LaP]

The Habs start winning a few games and everyone is getting into a panic that we'll completely fall apart without Evans. He may get us an extra win or two max the kids can pick up the slack and be very good in a year or two when we will need it. This team will not fall off a cliff as long as we continue to build a strong core. #1 RD and #2C are the priorities next season Jake Evans is an after thought IMO.
Not to mention I'll be very surprised if he doesn't test free agency.

We are at the point where i feel some fans would refuse an offer of a 1st + Poistras for Evans XD. I like Evans but man i've been there and i've done that.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I'd rather overpay Evans for 2-3 years than sign a long tern contract with him.

Exactly where I'm coming from as well.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Exactly where I'm coming from as well.

For me its the 3rd year that I'm not super high on if we are talking 4.5-5, I could give him a nice amount for 2 years , but why would he do that. I'm open to 3+ if the cap hit is ok

Hopefully Jake likes it here and we can negotiate something that works for both sides

 

[Habs Halifax]

We are at the point where i feel some fans would refuse an offer of a 1st + Poistras for Evans XD. I like Evans but man i've been there and i've done that.

If the mid to late 1st is offered, that is not something we should automatically say no to. Sucks to loose Evans because the younger centers are not ready but the long game is our main strategy. If we can add another 1st, that gives us plenty of options heading into this draft. Players become available all the time that we are not thinking about today.

Us fans just don't know what the offers will be at the TDL and what Evans and his agent are asking for.

Lets play a hypothetical game... Lets say Evans is open to a 3x $4M contract but we are offered the late 1st. What do you do?

 

[themilosh]

The other option is acquiring a veteran C as a two year stop gap.

Was a single poster on here discussing Carrier prior to the Barron trade?

But Carrier by himself is not the reason Habs D are playing better - the true benefit was getting Guhle onto his natural side, and pushing Matheson to the right.

Evans is def a vet C i would like in our bottom 6 for the next 3 years, but he's not going to be getting $5M.

He's worth 3.5m x 4 or 4m x 3..

 

[Hacketts]

4 x 3.75

 

[LaP]

Lets play a hypothetical game... Lets say Evans is open to a 3x $4M contract but we are offered the late 1st. What do you do?

That's a though call. But i feel like Evans will want more or test the market. It's his chance to get paid. I would do it. You would do it. Everyone would do it. If i was him i'd probably want to be traded to a cup contending team and then give it all in the playoffs and ask for 5 x 5 next summer and settle for a few 100 000 less and maybe a years less. Even if he likes Montreal it's the future of his family. I would not sign before july 1st outside of a gross overpayment for 5 years if i was him.

4 x 3.75

No way he signs that.

 

[Habs Halifax]

But Carrier by himself is not the reason Habs D are playing better - the true benefit was getting Guhle onto his natural side, and pushing Matheson to the right.

Evans is def a vet C i would like in our bottom 6 for the next 3 years, but he's not going to be getting $5M.

He's worth 3.5m x 4 or 4m x 3..

The true value was having a group of D that doesn't become a liability with key turnovers or miss coverage at an important time of the game. Weak D or weak goaltending allowing soft goals are momentum killers.

Although Savard has been in/out of the line-up lately, moving him with Xhekaj also provided stability.

I don't think Guhle is much different on the LD or RD side since that trade. His play is neutral IMO. Matheson with Hutson is the head scratcher that has been very good.

 

[Kosseca]

If the mid to late 1st is offered, that is not something we should automatically say no to. Sucks to loose Evans because the younger centers are not ready but the long game is our main strategy. If we can add another 1st, that gives us plenty of options heading into this draft. Players become available all the time that we are not thinking about today.

Us fans just don't know what the offers will be at the TDL and what Evans and his agent are asking for.

Lets play a hypothetical game... Lets say Evans is open to a 3x $4M contract but we are offered the late 1st. What do you do?

If the objective next season is to 100% secure a spot in the playoff: sign. 3 yrs at 4M is rich, but it is manageable and most likely cheaper then any other UFA option you can sign next summer. This also give enough runway for one of Kapanen or Beck to develop a good enough D game to step in on the PK.

 

[Habs Halifax]

If the objective next season is to 100% secure a spot in the playoff: sign. 3 yrs at 4M is rich, but it is manageable and most likely cheaper then any other UFA option you can sign next summer. This also give enough runway for one of Kapanen or Beck to develop a good enough D game to step in on the PK.

What would you choose (if both were options)? I would be undecided and would need to think more... I believe I would talk to Evans about allowing him to chase a cup with a contender and we circle back when he is UFA. Doubt many contenders will have room to sign him for $4M or more so he likely hits UFA and we can continue to talk to him then. Call it a mutual agreement that is best for both the player and team.

Depending on the conversation with Evans/Agent, I would lean towards taking the 1st and taking our chances he is there to talk to on July 1st. For all we know, he struggles on a new team to find a fit and the cost to extend is cheaper than $4M after everyone sees him on a new team for this playoff run

Evans at 3x $4M
vs
Trading him for 20-32 range 1st

Yeah, if the 20-32 range 1st if offered and the Habs are still "in the mix", I'd still trade Evans. What does the team of players and MSL say? Probably not happy about it but after we add more to this core this summer, they will get over it.

 

[LaP]

But Carrier by himself is not the reason Habs D are playing better - the true benefit was getting Guhle onto his natural side, and pushing Matheson to the right.

Evans is def a vet C i would like in our bottom 6 for the next 3 years, but he's not going to be getting $5M.

He's worth 3.5m x 4 or 4m x 3..

Fans always undervalue what UFA players will get. I remember when we needed to sign Gallagher, Danault, Petry and cie everyone were undervaluing the contracts and thought we could sign them all. I was like guys we wont be able to sign them all we need to trade at least two of them. People were like we will sign Petry at 5.5 and gallagher at 4.5 and bla bla and i was like what are those fans smoking they are daydreaming.

Depending on how the cap will increase i think Evans will easily get 4.25 for 4 years july 1st maybe a bit more providing he keeps playing like that for the full year. He would be dumb to sign for less than that now and in fact he should ask for a bit more now just in case someone gets desperate july 1st,

 

[Goalfield13]

The assumption here is that Evans is impossible to replace which to me is astounding considering he's a role player.

No one is saying he is impossible to replace. I will ask you the same question I had before. Who on this team replaces him? If we can't replace him with someone in house, who do we replace him with and how much do they cost? Beck is ideal in house, but he won't be able to fill Evans' shoes for a while.

People in this thread are now saying Evans is easily replaceable. We have seen this song and dance before. I think people are underrating Evans because they see him so much. This is Lehkonen and Eller all over again.

I can see Newhook replacing Dvorak for this year if they want to keep Beck in the AHL for the year, but there is no way Newhook replaces Evans. Anyone who thinks so really doesn't understand what Evans does for us on a daily basis, and I am not even counting the points he has this year.

 

[Kosseca]

What would you choose (if both were options)? I would be undecided and would need to think more... I believe I would talk to Evans about allowing him to chase a cup with a contender and we circle back when he is UFA. Doubt many contenders will have room to sign him for $4M or more so he likely hits UFA and we can continue to talk to him then. Call it a mutual agreement that is best for both the player and team.

Depending on the conversation with Evans/Agent, I would lean towards taking the 1st and taking our chances he is there to talk to on July 1st.

Evans at 3x $4M
vs
Trading him for 20-32 range 1st

I dont recall many cases where a UFA where traded and they signed back with their previous team (I could be wrong, but right now none comes to mind beside Plekanec). Also, I think that if Evans hit the UFA marker, he's getting insane offers that wouldn't make sense for MTL to match. So to me this option is not viable.

So I would sign him now at 3x$4M.

I however suspect that he'll want job security tho and be looking at 5yrs+ contract and may not want to sign 3x$4M

 

[Habs Halifax]

I dont recall many cases where a UFA where traded and they signed back with their previous team (I could be wrong, but right now none comes to mind beside Plekanec). Also, I think that if Evans hit the UFA marker, he's getting insane offers that wouldn't make sense for MTL to match. So to me this option is not viable.

So I would sign him now at 3x$4M.

I however suspect that he'll want job security tho and be looking at 5yrs+ contract and may not want to sign 3x$4M

Rare yes but I'd take the chance. The 20-32 1st adds to our options in trade value for adding a core piece.

I'm leaning towards taking the 20-32 1st and taking our chances Evans is available July 1st. We have the ability to talk to Evans and his agent today. We would be allowing him a chance to chase a cup and I don't think he would put us on his shit list us for that.

And yeah, I understand the ripple effects with Evans not with us at center.

 

[Goalfield13]

As long as he doesn't get a NTC/NMC, Evans @ 5 years isn't a problem. We can just trade him later.

 

[ReHabs]

I could've sworn a month ago we were rebuilding and had to be patient. Now we absolutely have to retain Jake Evans because we cannot readily identify another role player to replace him.

A car crash would give some people less whiplash.

 

[Kosseca]

I could've sworn a month ago we were rebuilding and had to be patient. Now we absolutely have to retain Jake Evans because we cannot readily identify another role player to replace him.

A car crash would give some people less whiplash.

I always advocated to keep Evans, so for me, this is not new or a change of hearth. That said, I get what you mean, but when does a team exit the "asset accumulation" stage to a "management of asset" stage??

To me, the team is showing sign that they may be turning a corner. Now this is a very small sample size, so that needs to be sustain, but if this is a real step forward, then management has to keep player that are key to the success (not at all cost obviously).

When the team played the way it did in Oct/Nov, I can see why people felt like they needed to accumulate more assets, but now this is a good question to ask : what does the team need to achieve the next step and who can help you get there.