Speculation: NJ desperate for a high end 3c/decent 2c

[NYRKing]

Can’t underestimate how valuable McLeod was as that 3C.

Gourde, Kunin, Frederic imo would be best for a combo of their 2nd round picks.

Mercer and nemec are going no where.

 

[Habs Halifax]

Max Bultman and Harman Dayal made an article where they picked five contenders and assigned each of them a perfect fit. The Devils and Jake Evans was one of these perfect fits.

"The perfect fit: Jake Evans

The trade: Evans for a 2025 second-round pick, 2026 third-round pick"

I think this is fair value for Evans, but I have seen here that the Canadiens fans think that they can get a first for Evans.

2025 NHL trade deadline perfect fits: Proposals for Brock Nelson, Ryan O’Reilly and more

It's an unusual year for midseason trades in the NHL. Let's pick some ideal destinations for names still on the board.

www.nytimes.com

Habs would rather overpay Evans on a 5 year term than trade him for a 2nd and 3rd. My gut says our GM is delaying the contract because he wants to see the offers for Evans first. Without Evans, the Habs take a big step back because we have Dach in the middle between Suzuki and Evans and without Evans, Dach is exposed even more. Dach should be at RW on Evans line. He's a good young player but he is not a center.

I'm not even sure the Habs like that late 1st in the 2025 draft. Seems to be a significant drop at 20+ range (Bob M words). It could very well be Evans for a piece like Mesar (hit and miss). The late 1st rounders in his draft do not have the typical late 1st round values. 2nd round picks are more like the typical 3rd rounders. You don't have to trust me on that but I would trust Bob M.

The Habs are after a 2C and/or a top 4RD. Someone with term that can compete with us for 5+ years. Doesn't have to be a guy in his 20's or prime. Other Habs fans will say Suzuki or under in age but that's not entirely true. We are open to a 30-36 age term if the player has decent skating (less decline concerns). I think we might package Evans with one of our 1st and a prospect to fill that 2C hole. The top 4RD seems almost impossible so we might be forced to move one of our LD's to RD (a real reality)

Yeah, if that is the max you would pay for Evans (2nd and 3rd), I'd give up now and search for someone else. I very much doubt the Habs will do that.

If the Devils want Evans, lets see if we can get a 3rd team in the mix and figure out if we can make all 3 teams happy.

 

[TBF1972]

Backlund would be a 10/10 fit here.
I just don't think he has any interest in moving, I don't think the Flames have any interest in moving him either.

backlund would be a 10/10 fit if 5 years younger. at his age term is a risk.

I get that the drop from a Devils 1st round pick to a Hawks 2nd round pick could be relatively minor, but that's also a huge risk for the Devils to take if somehow things went off the rails next season.

That's basically what happened last year - Devils went from setting a franchise record for points in 2022-2023 and winning a playoff round to getting a top 10 draft pick last summer.

A player like Dickinson is not one that you trade away your only 1st round pick in the next two drafts for.

it's leafs 2nd rounder

 

[TBF1972]

Remind me to use this pitch when I try and sell ondrej palat to someone for their best prospect++

i think we can get any star player who isn't a captain for hischier e.g. makar.

 

[Volica]

backlund would be a 10/10 fit if 5 years younger. at his age term is a risk.

He's once again leading the Flames in shot metrics.
1 unit PK.
2 unit PP.
Projecting his standard 35-40 points, the same player he's been for the past decade minus a couple bumps (Tkachuk bump on a couple of those).
His contract is over next season at a very reasonable 4.5 for a quality centreman.

The only risk he carries with his age and contract is for people posting about hockey on online forums/social media and not real life

 

[dgibb10]

backlund would be a 10/10 fit if 5 years younger. at his age term is a risk.


it's leafs 2nd rounder

It's only 1 year after this. I'd buy retention if possible but he's a stud (imo he's calgary's best player tbh)

 

[My3Sons]

Habs would rather overpay Evans on a 5 year term than trade him for a 2nd and 3rd. My gut says our GM is delaying the contract because he wants to see the offers for Evans first. Without Evans, the Habs take a big step back because we have Dach in the middle between Suzuki and Evans and without Evans, Dach is exposed even more. Dach should be at RW on Evans line. He's a good young player but he is not a center.

I'm not even sure the Habs like that late 1st in the 2025 draft. Seems to be a significant drop at 20+ range (Bob M words). It could very well be Evans for a piece like Mesar (hit and miss). The late 1st rounders in his draft do not have the typical late 1st round values. 2nd round picks are more like the typical 3rd rounders. You don't have to trust me on that but I would trust Bob M.

The Habs are after a 2C and/or a top 4RD. Someone with term that can compete with us for 5+ years. Doesn't have to be a guy in his 20's or prime. Other Habs fans will say Suzuki or under in age but that's not entirely true. We are open to a 30-36 age term if the player has decent skating (less decline concerns). I think we might package Evans with one of our 1st and a prospect to fill that 2C hole. The top 4RD seems almost impossible so we might be forced to move one of our LD's to RD (a real reality)

Yeah, if that is the max you would pay for Evans (2nd and 3rd), I'd give up now and search for someone else. I very much doubt the Habs will do that.

If the Devils want Evans, lets see if we can get a 3rd team in the mix and figure out if we can make all 3 teams happy.

I've seen a few posts saying the MTL GM is delaying a conrtact with Evans to field offers. Maybe multiple posts by you? I'm skeptical of that. If MTL believes Evans is important enough to sign to relatively long term deal then sign him. Holding out for pick 28 over pick 41 and 68 does not seem like a worthwhile effort for a player worth an overpayment on a long term contract. No team is offering a top pick or a top prospect for Evans. If Evans is worth a five year deal to MTL the delay at this point seems unnecessary. Earlier I could understand waiting, but given the news about the cap there is no reason to wait.

 

[TBF1972]

It's only 1 year after this. I'd buy retention if possible but he's a stud (imo he's calgary's best player tbh)

i am not against trading for backlund at all, as 10 out of 10 is hardly ever available.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I've seen a few posts saying the MTL GM is delaying a conrtact with Evans to field offers. Maybe multiple posts by you? I'm skeptical of that. If MTL believes Evans is important enough to sign to relatively long term deal then sign him. Holding out for pick 28 over pick 41 and 68 does not seem like a worthwhile effort for a player worth an overpayment on a long term contract. No team is offering a top pick or a top prospect for Evans. If Evans is worth a five year deal to MTL the delay at this point seems unnecessary. Earlier I could understand waiting, but given the news about the cap there is no reason to wait.

Mostly from me yes and it's speculation. It's hard to know for sure. This is Evans chance to get his bag of money and he's worked very hard through this value contract to get to where he is today. His agent is likely saying we want this type of contract or we go to UFA. Someone like Monahan just got 5x $5.5M last summer, and they new the cap would be $92M+ for next year when that contract was signed. Evans's agent is likely pushing for 5x $4.5M or something like that. Habs probably prefer it to be 5x $3.5M or a 3 year term. That's my guesses

I feel that Gorton/Hughes knows what Evans wants already but they would be smart to see how aggressive teams get at the TDL. You never know what may develop. I just don't see us trading him for a 2nd and 3rd. If I was a Devils fan, I'd want Evans for that price as well but TDL's are usually overpayments.

If the Habs let go Evans for a late 1st or 2nd/3rd return, that means Evans was asking for more than we could afford. He's a very good 3C and should have a good 3-5 years to come but if he is asking for $4.5M or $5M, it's a bit of a reach... even in a higher cap. I get it, the cap is going up but not every player will get a $1M raise or more. That's $23M more for each team. It don't work that way

 

[My3Sons]

Mostly from me yes and it's speculation. It's hard to know for sure. This is Evans chance to get his bag of money and he's worked very hard through this value contract to get to where he is today. His agent is likely saying we want this type of contract or we go to UFA. Someone like Monahan just got 5x $5.5M last summer, and they new the cap would be $92M+ for next year when that contract was signed. Evans's agent is likely pushing for 5x $4.5M or something like that. Habs probably prefer it to be 5x $3.5M or a 3 year term. That's my guesses

I feel that Gorton/Hughes knows what Evans wants already but they would be smart to see how aggressive teams get at the TDL. You never know what may develop. I just don't see us trading him for a 2nd and 3rd. If I was a Devils fan, I'd want Evans for that price as well but TDL's are usually overpayments.

If the Habs let go Evans for a late 1st or 2nd/3rd return, that means Evans was asking for more than we could afford. He's a very good 3C and should have a good 3-5 years to come but if he is asking for $4.5M or $5M, it's a bit of a reach... even in a higher cap. I get it, the cap is going up but not every player will get a $1M raise or more. That's $23M more for each team. It don't work that way

I agree that MTL must have some idea of what he wants on a contract. I think a number of value guys are going to look to cash in on the cap rising. Kovacevic on NJ (MTL fans are obviously well aware of him) fits the bill as well. I guess if you are MTL you have to decide if the team is going to try to compete in the relatively near term. If you see them turning the corner either next year or the year after I'd expect they sign him. I think MTL has to act by the trade deadline. If they don't move him then they more or less have to sign him and at his number. Fans are going to have some sticker shock on mid tier guys this summer.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I agree that MTL must have some idea of what he wants on a contract. I think a number of value guys are going to look to cash in on the cap rising. Kovacevic on NJ (MTL fans are obviously well aware of him) fits the bill as well. I guess if you are MTL you have to decide if the team is going to try to compete in the relatively near term. If you see them turning the corner either next year or the year after I'd expect they sign him. I think MTL has to act by the trade deadline. If they don't move him then they more or less have to sign him and at his number. Fans are going to have some sticker shock on mid tier guys this summer.

I'm around 50/50 that he stays or he is traded. All I will say is without Evans, Suzuki gets way more burden because Dach can't win faceoffs. Some Habs fans say we got Newhook to play 3C and that is just a horrible plan. I think both Dach and Newhook are middle 6 winger types that can play center if injuries happen. They are not full time center types. Dach and Newhook have been given loads of opportunity from MSL. They got to realize that most teams can't offer opportunity like this in a top 6 role. I still think they are decent pieces to have but the center experiment needs to stop with them.

It would be a shame to let Evans go and still have Dach and Newhook who show up sometimes but not other times. Evans is very consistent and shows up every shift. I really do think the next 3-5 years will be very good for Evans.

Is Evans pushing himself out of Montreal with his UFA card and his chance to get his bag of money? It could be true. He's 29 in Jun and has only earned $8.45M so far (before taxes). That is way less than lots of players his age and he can look around and see how much Gallagher is overpaid. His agent is probably advising him to explore his UFA options

 

[My3Sons]

I'm around 50/50 that he stays or he is traded. All I will say is without Evans, Suzuki gets way more burden because Dach can't win faceoffs. Some Habs fans say we got Newhook to play 3C and that is just a horrible plan. I think both Dach and Newhook are middle 6 winger types that can play center if injuries happen. They are not full time center types. Dach and Newhook have been given loads of opportunity from MSL. They got to realize that most teams can't offer opportunity like this in a top 6 role. I still think they are decent pieces to have but the center experiment needs to stop with them.

It would be a shame to let Evans go and still have Dach and Newhook who show up sometimes but not other times. Evans is very consistent and shows up every shift. I really do think the next 3-5 years will be very good for Evans.

Is Evans pushing himself out of Montreal with his UFA card and his chance to get his bag of money? It could be true. He's 29 in Jun and has only earned $8.45M so far (before taxes). That is way less than lots of players his age and he can look around and see how much Gallagher is overpaid. His agent is probably advising him to explore his UFA options

I think for guys like him they have to go to the highest bidder. If it's the difference between say a four year $4.5 mil per deal with MTL and a 5 year $5.25 mil per deal with a different team he has to go to that other team. I expect Kovacevic ultimately leaves NJ for the same reason.

 

[Habs Halifax]

I think for guys like him they have to go to the highest bidder. If it's the difference between say a four year $4.5 mil per deal with MTL and a 5 year $5.25 mil per deal with a different team he has to go to that other team. I expect Kovacevic ultimately leaves NJ for the same reason.

I think it will come down to what is offered and what Evans is actually asking for a contract. Hence why I said multiple times today that I feel the Habs are delaying the extension before they get all the TDL offers. They want to evaluate either side of that direction

We can only guess what we are offered and what Evans is asking.

Yeah, Kova is another. A right shot D who is trending well. His agent is likely advising him the same way as Evans.