Hockey

“He Could Be Worth a First-Round Pick” - Canadiens Weigh Options as Jake Evans' Stock Rises

Published: Jan 7, 2025, 10:01 AM
1 min read
Updated: Jul 24, 2025, 11:19 AM
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov
Linesman Michel Cormier #76 holds back Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens and Nick Cousins #21 of the Ottawa Senators

Linesman Michel Cormier #76 holds back Jake Evans #71 of the Montreal Canadiens and Nick Cousins #21 of the Ottawa Senators (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)

Jake Evans’ breakout season has brought unexpected decisions to the forefront for the Montreal Canadiens. The 27-year-old center is on pace for over 50 points this season, a career-high that’s turning heads across the league. Despite his standout performance, the Canadiens have yet to engage in contract discussions with Evans, a pending unrestricted free agent this summer.

The hesitation isn’t due to a lack of appreciation for Evans’ contributions. His two-way play, elite penalty-killing skills, and versatility as a right-shot center—a rarity in the NHL—make him a valuable asset. However, Evans' breakout also complicates matters, especially for a rebuilding team like the Canadiens, who are balancing short-term competitiveness with long-term goals.

The Canadiens’ Rebuild Strategy

The Montreal Canadiens are firmly committed to their rebuild under general manager Kent Hughes, who has consistently emphasized building through the draft and maintaining financial flexibility. While the team has made strides in developing a young core, critical decisions loom as contracts for players like Jake Evans reach their expiration during peak value seasons.  

Evans’ career year puts Montreal in a delicate position. His offensive production has surged, bolstered by a shooting percentage of 28.3%—well above the league average—which suggests potential regression. With his next contract likely commanding $4 million or more annually, Montreal must weigh his value against the long-term goals of their rebuild.  

“The Montreal Canadiens are in a pickle,” said one source out of the Eastern Conference exclusively to RG. “Before the season started, a $3M deal for 3-4 years was attainable, but now? I don’t know. From what I’ve been hearing, Jake Evans is playing himself out of Montreal.”  

Hughes’ strategy centers on avoiding excessive spending on bottom-six forwards—a key lesson for maintaining cap flexibility. Currently, the Canadiens have a crowded depth chart with contracts tied to several players in the lower part of the lineup. Allocating significant resources to Evans could complicate efforts to address more pressing needs, such as acquiring a true second-line center to solidify the roster's competitiveness.  

“I like Jake Evans, but you can’t pay a 4th-line centre upwards of $3.5M on the long-term and hope to be competitive when it counts,” another source in the Western Conference noted.  

By focusing on developing prospects and building through the draft, Montreal aims to cultivate a sustainable contender rather than rush into short-term fixes. Moving Evans for future assets at the peak of his value could provide the flexibility needed to secure long-term success, aligning with the Canadiens’ broader vision of remaining competitive for years to come.

A Crowded Depth Chart on the Horizon

Evans’ performance has undoubtedly boosted his value, but the Canadiens also have reinforcements coming up through the ranks who could fill his role in the near future. Owen Beck, the organization’s 33rd overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, has been turning heads with the Laval Rocket this season. Beck’s exceptional hockey IQ and defensive reliability have made him one of Montreal’s top prospects.

With Beck steadily adjusting to the professional game in the AHL, the Canadiens view him as a natural fit for a bottom-six center role in the NHL as soon as next season. His ability to excel in high-pressure situations and contribute on both ends of the ice could make him an ideal replacement for Evans if the team decides to move on.

Meanwhile, Oliver Kapanen, another promising center in Montreal’s pipeline, is continuing his development overseas with Timrå IK in Sweden. Kapanen, a second-round pick in 2021, has been honing his skills in a competitive league, showing flashes of offensive creativity and strong defensive play. His size and strength down the middle offer the Canadiens an enticing option for the future, especially as he gains more experience against older, more physical competition.

“The Canadiens’ so-called depth in their prospect pool is at the bottom of the lineup—bottom-six forwards, bottom-pair defensemen. They need more quality,” said the source out of the Eastern Conference. “If you can turn a 7th-round pick like Evans into a 1st-rounder, then you do it.”

Beck and Kapanen provide Montreal with low-cost, high-upside alternatives that align with their rebuild strategy. Both players are on track to challenge for NHL roles as soon as next season, giving the Canadiens some flexibility when evaluating Evans’ future.

A Tightrope Walk to the Deadline

As the trade deadline approaches, the Canadiens’ management must decide whether to keep Evans as part of their long-term plans or maximize his value while it’s at its highest.

“Outside of Granlund, he’s the most valuable centre on the market in my eyes at the moment,” said an NHL pro scout. “If he keeps up this pace, I think he could be worth a 1st-round pick for the Canadiens. His value on the PK alone is worth a 2nd-round pick to me.”

With the salary cap expected to rise this summer and an active trade market already taking shape, moving Evans could provide the Canadiens with the flexibility they need to address critical roster gaps.

“Getting that asset to help acquire a true top-six centre or another top-4 defenseman could make sense,” said the pro scout.

For now, the Canadiens seem content to wait and see, much as they did with Sean Monahan last year. But as Evans continues to shine, the pressure to make a decision—whether to re-sign him or trade him—will only intensify.

Whether Evans stays in Montreal or becomes a sought-after piece at the trade deadline, his breakout season has already made a lasting impact. Now, the Canadiens must determine how to capitalize on it.

For a full breakdown of the latest promotions, 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.
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James Murphy is a veteran sports journalist covering the NHL, NCAA and CHL hockey for RG.

With 25 years of experience covering the Bruins, the NHL, NCAA, CHL and more, Murphy has seen it all when it comes to hockey. His hockey black book is filled with Hall of Famers, current players, coaches, management, scouts and a diverse array of hockey media personalities who have lived and worked in and around the game. Murphy also currently co-hosts The Eye Test podcast with Pierre McGuire and, along with McGuire, interviews NHL owners and executives, as well as NHL and NCAA head coaches and players daily.

The Arlington, Massachusetts, native began his writing career in hockey in 2001, when the Boston Bruins raised one of his childhood idols, Ray Bourque’s No. 77, to the rafters before their 2001–02 season opener. For 22 of his 25 years as a hockey reporter, Murphy covered the Bruins daily, including their victorious 2011 Stanley Cup run and their runs to the 2013 and 2019 Finals, multiple NHL drafts and countless Stanley Cup playoffs. He did all that for the Boston Metro, NHL.com, NESN.com and ESPN Boston.

In addition to his print work covering the Bruins, Murphy also made regular TV appearances on NESN, Fox 25 Boston, ESPN and NHL Network. From 2008 to 2012, Murphy hosted The Hockey Primetime Show on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and made numerous appearances on national and international radio shows.

Ironically, his three years not covering the Bruins were spent covering their archrivals, the Montreal Canadiens. From 2012 to 2015, Murphy was based in Montreal and covered the Canadiens for NHL.com and TSN.ca. He also appeared regularly on TSN 690 radio and CTV.

Murphy returned to Boston in 2015 and left the media business to work in sales and marketing for LiveBarn, a Montreal-based sports streaming company, for four years. In 2019, Murphy once again became a Bruins beat reporter, this time writing for Boston Hockey Now. He spent four seasons working for BHN before arriving at RG in 2024 and also dedicated more time to The Eye Test podcast.

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