Jake Evans: « I don’t think the Canadiens are comfortable going for six years »

Let’s talk about the trade market.

The Jake Evans file is probably the most important one for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton. After all, he is the best player of the Canadiens this season among the unrestricted free agents from the summer of 2025.

And I say this with all due respect for David Savard, who is also important. Yesterday, he stepped up after the second goal from the Utah representatives and it fired up his teammates on the bench.

We know that the Canadiens want to extend their center’s contract – discussions are already underway in this regard – before the trade deadline… but the club does not want to do it at any cost.

Once again, in his article of the day on The Athletic’s site, Pierre LeBrun spoke about the file. And he reiterated that the Canadiens do not want Evans to have too big of a « home run » type contract for the coming years.

What the informant mentions is that the number of years in the contract will surely be the point that complicates negotiations. The 28-year-old player will want to take advantage of his window of opportunity, but…

But the Canadiens might not want to sign the player long-term.

I don’t believe the Canadiens are comfortable going for five or six years. – Pierre LeBrun

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The journalist believes that if the Canadiens do not sign Evans by March 7, he will be shopped by force of circumstances. After all, there are teams that will want him at $1.7 million.

And since the market should pick up quickly this season, as noted by Marco D’Amico, the GM of the Canadiens’ phone will ring quickly.

If the Canadiens and Evans will « both have to be a little uncomfortable » to reach an agreement, it will then be necessary to determine what the risk management will be for both parties.

And if both are comfortable taking on a bit of risk, there should be an announcement in a few weeks.

in brief

– Notably.

– What will he do?

– Certainly.