Montreal Canadiens Forward Set to Become Hot Trade Deadline Target
An NHL insider has revealed that there hasn't been much progress on contract talks involving Canadiens' Jake Evans, and that could lead him to be traded.
Jake Evans is off to the hottest start of his career and has been one of the most important players for the Montreal Canadiens on their recent three-game winning streak, and he's definitely attracting attention around the league.
The middle-six center's defensive reliability and effectiveness on the penalty kill have been key factors for the team heading into their game Monday night against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Jake Evans is on an expiring contract and will be an unrestricted free agent unless he and the Canadiens can come to terms on an extension.
Based on how well he's played, it's fair to assume contract talks are going swimmingly. But Evans' response to a question about where things stand was somewhat surprising.
At 28, Evans will likely be a prized commodity at the deadline should a deal not be reached with the Canadiens. He's currently on pace for career highs of 17 goals and 47 points, well above his previous highs.
This now puts the Canadiens in a critical position. With Evans finding his place higher in the lineup, his trade value keeps going up. The player and the team have some very important weeks ahead as negotiations will surely take center stage.
