Hockey

NHL Source: ‘At Least Three Teams’ Closely Watching Jake Evans’ Strong Start with Canadiens

Published: Nov 1, 2024, 11:17 AM
1 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2025, 11:18 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Goaltender Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers tends the net as Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens

Goaltender Igor Shesterkin #31 of the New York Rangers tends the net as Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

 

The Montreal Canadiens have had a bumpy start to their season, but Jake Evans has been a model of consistency so far; and teams have taken notice.

According to an RG source, as the Canadiens continue to look for a starting forward, some of their forwards have begun appearing on early-season trade boards.

The Canadiens have two of their centres, Evans and Christian Dvorak, coming up as pending free agents this summer, and they have some important decisions to make about their future.

“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 Dvorak,” said the source.

“The Canadiens aren’t in a rush to move Evans right now, as he’s excellent for them on the penalty kill.”

And it makes sense. Jake Evans has been a model of consistency for a club that has been somewhat inconsistent so far this season.

So far, Evans has scored two goals and five points in 11 games for the Canadiens while spearheading one of the best penalty-killing units this season.

That jump in offensive production, combined with a mature defensive game, has created a bit of buzz around Evans.

“I know of at least three teams that are paying close attention to Jake Evans at the moment,“ said the source. “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.”

The other key here is that Evans only makes $1.7M, making him an ideal, cheap addition for any cap-strapped contending team.

If that team has cap space, the Canadiens likely wouldn’t even need to retain in a trade for Evans, as most teams would easily be able to fit Evans into their cap structure without missing a beat.

Need On Defence

If the Canadiens are indeed in the playoff mix, similarly to the Nashville Predators last season, they may look to make some moves to balance out their lineup better and capitalize on their pending free agents.

As mentioned by RG back in September, the Montreal Canadiens aren’t comfortable with the NHL depth on the right side of their defense.

It wouldn’t be outlandish to see them use existing assets to shore up that position of need, especially as the Canadiens continue to make a push.

“The Canadiens are looking for a top-4 right-shot defenseman, and I don’t know whether they would look to make that kind of move with Evans involved, but the word is they’re willing to get creative,” said the source.

Moving on from Evans would certainly hurt the Canadiens in the short term, but according to the source, if they can secure an asset or two that could be flipped for more depth at RD, the risk may be worth the venture.

“The Canadiens have other assets to trade, for sure. Four picks in the first two rounds in 2025, if I remember correctly. But they aren’t intent on sacrificing the future either, so cashing in on their pending free agents may be the best route to flip those assets for help elsewhere.”

Looking for top-rated betting sites? Check out our top canadian sports betting websites.

Senior News Editor
Marco D’Amico is an accredited hockey reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens, with a strong focus on NHL prospects, the NHL Draft, and player development. His work has appeared on TSN, RDS, CBC, and more, and he’s interviewed top talents like Lane Hutson, Shane Wright, Ivan Demidov, Logan Cooley, and Nathan MacKinnon.
Interests:
NHL
Content Marketing

More NHL News

Hockey
Interview
NHL Agent Thinks Owners Are Holding up Offer Sheets

An NHL player agent believes owners are one of, if not the biggest, reason the expected summer of offer sheets never happened.

7
08/01/2025
James Murphy
James Murphy
NHL Agent Thinks Owners Are Holding up Offer Sheets
Hockey
News Report
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain

NHL veteran Jimmy Vesey is exploring a move to the KHL, with SKA St. Petersburg emerging as a top contender for the 32-year-old forward.

4
07/29/2025
Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Jimmy Vesey Weighs KHL Offers as NHL Future Uncertain
Hockey
Analysis
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI

RG asked four AI models to rank the top 10 NHL players ever using a weighted formula. The results reveal both consensus and controversy.

16
07/28/2025
Quinn Allen
Quinn Allen
Top 10 Greatest NHL Players of All Time According to AI
Hockey
Interview
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey

Beckett Sennecke is coming off a dominant season and says he’s open to whatever path the Anaheim Ducks believe is best for his NHL development.

7
07/26/2025
Andrew Knoll
Andrew Knoll
Beckett Sennecke Trusting Ducks’ Plan For His NHL Journey
Prev
...
Next

NHL Writers

Daria Tuboltseva
Daria Tuboltseva
Hockey Reporter

Daria Tuboltseva has worked as a sports journalist since 2014 and has specialized in hockey coverage since 2016. She’s reported from some of the world’s biggest sporting events, including the Olympic Games (Beijing 2022), the FIFA World Cup (2018), the IIHF World Championships (2016–2019, 2021), the IIHF World Junior Championship (2019), and every Gagarin Cup Final since 2017.

Her work has appeared in leading Russian sports outlets like Championat.com and Sport24, as well as on the official websites of the KHL and the Women’s Hockey League (WHL). Daria has conducted exclusive interviews with some of the sport’s most recognized names, including Alex Ovechkin, Jaromir Jagr, Kirill Kaprizov, Sergei Bobrovsky, and Igor Shesterkin.

Beyond her writing, Daria brings extensive on-camera experience. She hosted NHL Today on Yandex.Efir and has produced powerful long-form projects such as the documentary Lokomotiv Crash and the series Hockey Country, featuring stars like Ovechkin, Malkin, Bobrovsky, Vasilevskiy, and Panarin. Her work has taken her to NHL games across North America and international events like the NHL Global Series in Europe.

In addition to her media career, Daria is a certified integrative nutritionist with a focus on sports nutrition. She works one-on-one with KHL players, helping them optimize performance and recovery through tailored nutrition plans. Her ability to blend media expertise with athlete support gives her a unique presence in the professional hockey world.

Daria publishes in both English and Russian and is the creator of the Telegram channel Coolest Game on Earth, where she shares insights, interviews, and behind-the-scenes stories from the hockey world.

Based in: Saint Petersburg, Russia

Languages: English, Russian

Meet All Our Experts
This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Read our
Privacy Policy
.