The Montreal Canadiens are off to a slow start and could be sellers at the trade deadline, and one player who could be moved is Jake Evans.
Evans is in the final year of his three-year $5.1 million deal and NHL insider Marco D’Amico of RG.com reports teams have shown interest in trading for the forward.
“The Canadiens have options in terms of being able to move either, but I’m hearing Jake Evans’ name a lot more so far than (Christian) Dvorak,” the source told … “I know of at least three teams that are paying close attention to Jake Evans at the moment. He’s playing some of his best hockey to start the season, he’s a leader out there and he’s an ace on special teams. It’s a contract year too. Contending teams will look for that as a rental and usually pay well.
Evans is off to a good start as through 11 games he has 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points. Evans can be a solid third-line forward who can add some scoring to a Stanley Cup-contending team while also adding some good defensive play.
However, although teams have called the Canadiens about Evans, the source told RG.com that Montreal isn’t in a rush to trade the forward.
“The Canadiens aren’t in a rush to move Evans right now, as he’s excellent for them on the penalty kill.”
Montreal is still hoping to be a playoff team, so trading Evans right now doesn’t make sense. But, if the Canadiens are out of the playoff picture by the deadline, then moving the 28-year-old does make sense.
