The Montreal Canadiens face a difficult decision regarding forward Jake Evans, with conflicting reports adding intrigue to his future ahead of the March 7 trade deadline.
NHL insider Pierre LeBrun revealed Wednesday that Montreal is interested in keeping Evans but isn’t committing to a long-term deal, leaving the possibility of a trade on the table.
“The Montreal Canadiens have let Jake Evans know they are interested in keeping him around but that it can’t be a home-run deal,” LeBrun wrote at The Athletic. “Term is likely going to be the hurdle in this negotiation.
”Both sides will take a crack at it, but there’s no guarantee it gets done.”
LeBrun added that the New Jersey Devils have already expressed interest in the 28-year-old if he becomes available for trade.
«The New Jersey Devils are among the teams that have already kicked tires,» LeBrun wrote.
So far this season, Evans has posted 10 goals and 13 assists in 43 games, and his low $1.7 million cap hit makes him an attractive target for contenders looking to bolster their center depth.
That said, Evans is set to enter unrestricted free agency next July, which means he would only be a rental for the acquiring team.
A trade might never happen, however, according to TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie who contradicted LeBrun’s report, claiming Evans is all but guaranteed to stay in Montreal.
“I don’t know when, but there is a wedding coming to ensure that Jake stays in the organization,” Lavoie said, adding the extension is a matter of «when, not if» it’d be signed.
Montreal has surprised many by clawing its way into the playoff conversation with a 21-18-4 record and seven wins in its last 10 games.
General manager Kent Hughes remains noncommittal about fully embracing a trade-deadline sell strategy, as he laid out in his mid-season press conference.
“We wanted to be in the mix in terms of progressing as a team,” Hughes said. “We want this group to be under the pressure of learning how to win when it counts. We’re in that conversation right now and let’s see how our players respond to it.”
The Canadiens have until March 7 to determine whether Evans remains part of their future—or if his next move comes via trade.