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Jake Evans accepted less money with the CH: is this the end of the rebuild?
Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Jake Evans accepted less money with the CH: is this the end of the rebuild?
Credit: Getty Images
It’s done: this is the end of the Jake Evans file.

Kent Hughes pulled off a big move by ensuring he would stay with the club in the long term through a contract extension. He will be signed until 2029 with the Canadiens… and it will be at a modest price.

Four years and $2.85 million, it’s really an excellent contract from the Canadiens’ GM for a center like Evans.

We must remember that initially, we were wondering if Evans wasn’t in a position to ask for a lot more money. After all, rumors suggested he had demands of $20 million over five years.

And now, he’s getting 57% of that amount ($11.4 million) over four years instead of five? #Victory

What I notice is that with Evans staying, we can think that Christian Dvorak, Joel Armia, and David Savard won’t be worth enough to justify their departure. The guys have likely managed to convince management not to sell… thanks to Evans and his contract.

Is this the end of the team’s demolition? I think so.

After all, this summer, I don’t see which big piece of the team will leave – unless it’s part of a huge transaction that would improve the Canadiens. At this point, the guys who are in town with a contract can, to some extent, hope to be part of the solution.

And if we look at Evans, who accepted less money to stay in town, we can believe that the desire to build something in Montreal is strong.

This is a great moment for the Canadiens. And by force of circumstance, there are several elements to note from this signing, which seems more important than usual for a bottom-six guy.

What do I take away?

1. This afternoon, I wrote an article saying that considering offering a contract to Christian Dvorak (a small one, that is) was possibly something that needed to be thought about.

But with Jake Evans to support Nick Suzuki, it helps with depth. It doesn’t help fill the role of second center, but okay.

2. In the long term, we know that Juraj Slafkovsky is signed until 2033. Cole Caufield and Kaiden Guhle are signed until 2031, and the captain’s contract will expire in 2030.

Jake Evans (2029) has security like few players in Montreal right now. And since he wanted to stay, it’s all the better for him and his family: they’re buying stability and ensuring they won’t be traded.

3. Martin St-Louis must be happy to keep his penalty-killing pillar among the forwards. Evans has an important role and doesn’t disrupt the team’s salary hierarchy.

But the second aspect, St-Louis shouldn’t be too worried about it.

4. Jake Evans was one of Joël Bouchard’s most important development projects in Laval. He turned him into an NHL player who serves his team well.

The Canadiens will reap the rewards of Bouchard’s work for a few more seasons. For a seventh-round pick, that’s not bad.

5. At this point, we can say goodbye to a first-round pick. If Evans and Armia (will he want to stay in town too?) had been traded together, that’s probably what it would have brought.

But it was a signing that had to be made, so all’s well.

6. Still on the draft: at this rate, we shouldn’t be surprised if the Canadiens trade one of their first-round picks to get reinforcements for the team. Whether it’s now or this summer.

A top-right defenseman or a #2 center: who would say no?

7. I don’t think Jake Evans’ agent will be fired because the player signed for less than expected. After all, there was no rush to sign since he could have done it this summer.

I really think we’re seeing a case of a guy who wanted to stay in town.

And if he wants to stay, it’s probably because the Canadiens are building something good and the team spirit must be very pleasant in the dressing room.

It must be a celebration in the plane to Edmonton: the group will obviously stay together.

8. Canadiens fans like players who want to play for the team and they like guys who are willing to do the dirty work to make the logo shine – and not just the name on the back of a jersey.

And Evans is that. If he stays healthy (there have been questions about his health, especially after the 2021 playoffs), he’ll give the Canadiens their money’s worth. After all, he’ll only be 29 years old this summer.

Evans’ reputation was already good among fans. Expect to see him get a warm welcome when the team returns to Montreal at the end of their trip.

Honorable mention to Kent Hughes, who did well. Would you be surprised to learn that he got exactly the amount he wanted?


extension

With that, the trade deadline day promises to be long. Evans was the big piece to watch in Montreal, but he’s no longer a factor after signing his contract.

What will happen on Friday, then? #LongDay

My prediction: a minor transaction (maybe to help the Rocket?) and a trade where the Canadiens will get involved to retain salary as the third team in the transaction.

Poor TVA Sports, RDS, and all sports channel analysts who will have to fill hours of airtime…

Note that Kent Hughes could very well go after a big piece for the present and the future (not a rental player, of course), but nothing is certain.

Let’s see what he has in store for the fans.

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