What's the max you'd give to Evans?

[HuGort]

I voted around 3 million. At end of day he's a fourth line center. Beck can replace him next year

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

Yeah totally agree that going too high on Evans is less than ideal, I'm just wondering if the uncertainty of depending on UFAs/kids to take on all bottom 6 center duties isn't worse than overpaying Evans by 0.5m/year. I'm pretty confident in Beck, but throwing him directly into PK1 duties would be harsh, especially with Armia being likely gone as well.

A retained Evans in 2 years could also return something when Hage/Beck/Desnoyers/Kapanen are fully ready to take over. The return wouldn't be as much as today, mind you, but my larger point is that getting around the negatives of an overpaid Evans is likely not as difficult as overcoming the potential downsides of not having a veteran bottom 6 C like him next year.

Overpaying is okay if it's a short term and not too much. To me, 4 mil is too much. If that's what he wants, I think you have to trade him if it's a 3+ year deal.

 

[TheBuriedHab]

It's pretty simple.

If you think his production is a fluke you trade him at the deadline.

If you think he's actually developing into a 45ish point player, while being an elite defensive center and Pker at the age of 28, you go as high as 4 million a year for 4-5 years for him. Armia and Dvorak are coming off the books, Evans 2.5 million bump won't hurt.

Beck and Kapanen are nice prospects, and can still fit into the team, but them becoming 45 point players while being elite defensively is like the best case scenario anyway, but also has the risk of them becoming nothing.

Anything below 4 million for Evans would be a homerun for management.

 

[Sam de Mtl]

Very comfortable with a 3.5-3.75M pricetag for as many as 6 years. Would go up to 4-4.25, but down to 4 or 5 years in this case.

 

[Jeune Poulet]

2,76-3M is the correct range. Four years would be great for him and whichever team he signs for.

Yes. He'll probably sign a better contract than that. But that will hurt the team that bites.

 

[DAChampion]

Technically if you sign Evans long term you leave no spot open.

That's really not an issue with the center position. Centers are often injured, can be easily shifted to wing, and easily traded.

 

[the]

Be happy that he's having somewhat of a breakout season at the right time. This is the perfect opportunity to sell high on him and trade him at the deadline.

 

[BLONG7]

4 years............3.5M-3.75M per season.

 

[Redux91]

3.5 x 4 is my ceiling for him. Anymore and I wish him luck.

Exactly the same for me

Love him but 3.5 is my max

 

[Treb]

His value will not be higher than it is now.

You trade him at the deadline, I think you can get a good young prospect or late 1st for him.

You don't commit to 28 y old bottom 6ers at this stage of a rebuild.

You do that when you are in your window to contend and when your young core is locked up.

Best exemple is Colorado trading for Lehk and extending him. Perfect depth piece at the right time. Those depth UFAs often will also sign for a bit less to play with a contender.

Beck is a future #3 C IMO. He fits perfectly the core as well and will step up in the NHL as soon as next season I think.

On the opposite, I think it's the perfect time to extend a guy like Evans if the price is right.

Offer stability in the bottom 6 to shelter the rookies while we get into the competing window. Afterwards, he either stays as a vet or you switch him out.

 

[Gustave]

I’m looking at the elusive trade and then offer him a contract in the summer. Which means he’s probably gone. Love him but he’s playing over his head and does have a problem with staying healthy.

 

[Redux91]

Love him but he’s playing over his head and does have a problem with staying healthy.

Only missed games in 1 of his NHL seasons 2 years ago but has played in 126 straight Montreal Canadiens games since then 11+82+33

Not only am I *not* counting that time in the 2021 playoffs vs Winnipeg where he was shining and then that f***ing idiot literally tried to murder him,
People forget he actually even came back at all to play 3 games vs Tampa in the Final

I'd honestly HATE to lose this guy..

 

[nhlfan9191]

Exactly the same for me

Love him but 3.5 is my max

I’d be willing to go to $4 million if it’s on a 4 year with the cap going up. But I think most people in this thread have the right idea. Wouldn’t be sad if they let him go either.

 

[Tyson]

A solid vet who competes hard every shift, is an excellent penalty killer and has worked really in all facets of his game. He is the kind of vet you want to keep. It depends of course on what Jake wants.

 

[CHfan1]

Technically if you sign Evans long term you leave no spot open. You don't want Kapanen, Beck or Hage to start straight on a 2nd line you want them to start in the bottom 6. Evans ain't a 2nd line center which means if Dach continues to play like that you have to find a vet 2nd line center which will leave only the 4th line center spot open. If Evans' contract is 3 years or less not really an issue Beck can spend a 2nd year in the AHL and then play on the 4th for a year and Hage can stay in school for 1 more year or two and then play in the AHL for 1 year or 2. But if Evans' contract is 4-5 years you lock jam Beck/Hage on a 4th line. I personally don't think it makes any sense to sign Evans for more than 3 years. Evans will more than likely be a flash in the pan i don't see him remaining good enough to warrant 4 millions into his mid 30ies. Focus should be high end skills. If Evans wants to sign 3 years fine if not bye bye imo.

I don’t want to see Montreal start two rookies (Beck and Kapanen) at centre next year also. So if Dach doesn’t pan out what does their centre line-up look like and who plays the PK? Signing Evans gives them more stability at the centre position and if everything goes well at centre (with Beck, Kapanen, and Hage) they can move him to the wing (keep him on the PK) and they have more depth in case of injuries. With the cap, expected, to go steadily up and 4 of their top players already locked up long term, I think it’s less of a risk.

 

[Vachon23]

I voted around 3 million. At end of day he's a fourth line center. Beck can replace him next year

If you think Beck is gonna what Evans brings next year, you will be disappointed

 

[OldCraig71]

Trade him at the deadline and try to sign him in July. He isn't McDavid out there despite what professor Slafkovsky claims.

 

[McGees]

We won’t trade him. Hughes loves holding players past their due date.

I’m ok to keep him long term as long as he doesn’t consider himself more than a bottom 6 $$$

 

[Spearmint Rhino]

If you think Beck is gonna what Evans brings next year, you will be disappointed

Maybe true but that’s more due to our blackhole at 2C. Evans would be an elite 4C on a contender, you don’t/cant pay 4MM+ for that. If we can’t address the elephant in the room we have no 2C then Evan’s staying or going is irrelevant

 

[Le Barron de HF]

We won’t trade him. Hughes loves holding players past their due date.

I’m ok to keep him long term as long as he doesn’t consider himself more than a bottom 6 $$$

Got any examples? Lol

 

[OldCraig71]

If you think Beck is gonna what Evans brings next year, you will be disappointed

True, most young players need time, Evans has 111 points in 300 games.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

If Vegas can win the cup with Roy making 3M on bottom six why can't Montreal pay that for Evans?

 

[salbutera]

Maybe true but that’s more due to our blackhole at 2C. Evans would be an elite 4C on a contender, you don’t/cant pay 4MM+ for that. If we can’t address the elephant in the room we have no 2C then Evan’s staying or going is irrelevant

$4M at a $100M+ cap ceiling is equivalent to what $3M is today… from what I see posted here don’t see posters having issues if Evans is locked up at $3M

The reality is there is a guaranteed 25-35% inflation on salaries w expected signifiant climb of cap ceiling

 

[LaP]

I don’t want to see Montreal start two rookies (Beck and Kapanen) at centre next year also. So if Dach doesn’t pan out what does their centre line-up look like and who plays the PK? Signing Evans gives them more stability at the centre position and if everything goes well at centre (with Beck, Kapanen, and Hage) they can move him to the wing (keep him on the PK) and they have more depth in case of injuries. With the cap, expected, to go steadily up and 4 of their top players already locked up long term, I think it’s less of a risk.

I'd rather invest the money in a good top 6 vet center than Evans personally. Beck can play the 3rd line role and Evans wont play on a 4th anymore.

If Vegas can win the cup with Roy making 3M on bottom six why can't Montreal pay that for Evans?

Did they have Anderson at 5.5 and Gallagher at 6.5? Still two years remaining. After those two years Evans will be 31 how effective will he be at that point? Roy was 25 when Vegas won their cup. Also i doubt Evans will sign at 3 and if he does it will be july 10th or so because nobody is offering more.

 

[mitchmagic]

Always liked Evans. Took that huge hit from Scheifele in our playoff run. Don't really want to see him go. I'd give him 4-4.5. You need players like him on a good team (see: Lekhonen and the Avalanche.)