Will the Montreal Canadiens determine to commerce Jake Evans? What might they get?
Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff: Montreal Canadiens ahead Jake Evans is a pending UFA with a $1.7 million and can draw loads of commerce curiosity. Now, will the Canadiens need to transfer him?
He’d ideally be a fourth-line middle on a contending crew however has proven he can play on the third line, at middle or on the wing.
Groups that could be considering Evans embrace the Washington Capitals, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Calgary Flames (earlier than Thursday’s commerce) and Columbus Blue Jackets.
It’s believed the Capitals supplied the Canadiens a second-round decide on the draft.
A comparable commerce could possibly be the Seattle Kraken sending Alexander Wennberg with 50% retained to the New York Rangers for a 2024 second-round decide and a 2025 conditional fourth.
A primary for Evans appears a bit a lot.
The Montreal Canadiens received’t deviate from their plan no matter the place they’re within the standings
TSN: The harm to Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle doesn’t assist their playoff push, however no matter the place they’re within the standings, they received’t deviate from the plan based on Pierre LeBrun.
“They’re not going to exit and attempt to change Guhle with a rental defenceman and pay the rental costs that you’d to salvage the season that manner.”
The Canadiens model of shopping for could also be deciding on what pending UFAs they need to hold previous the deadline – Jake Evans, Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and Michael Pezzetta, and David Savard.
“The Canadiens have had dialogue with groups,” mentioned LeBrun. The sort of commerce that they might make, even earlier than the harm, can be the sort of trades you’d do in June or July. For instance, an even bigger affect deal that may assist this crew past this season. That’s actually the place their focus is.