Maples Leafs and Canadiens Linked in a Potential Trade, per Sportsnet Analyst

Trades between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Montreal Canadiens are few and far between, but the last one came in 2018 when Tomas Plekanec went to Toronto for a playoff push.

However, with the Leafs needing forward depth and a reliable center and Montreal scuffling, could another deal be on the horizon? Sportsnet's Luke Fox suggests it's possible.

Of the possible rentals for Toronto, Fox mentioned Montreal's Jake Evans as a bit of a dark horse candidate. A 7th-round selection in 2014, Evans has become a consistent contributor for the Canadiens.

He has 10 points this season, with 4 goals, but while not a prolific scorer, he is a capable playmaker with strong defensive chops.

A Toronto boy, Evans could fit in nicely in the Leafs' bottom six. The career 51% man in the circle, he's strong on the kill and doesn't make a lot of costly mistakes.

His career totals of 102 points in 287 games speak to some amount of upside, particularly with youngsters like Fraser Minten or Nikita Grebenkin as his linemates.

Evans is just 28, can be had for $1.7M, and has second or third-line center potential. He could spark the offensive production of certain players while giving the Leafs some much-needed stability.

To get Evans, Toronto might trade a package involving Pontus Holmberg and a mid-round pick or perhaps Nick Robertson.

It's fair value for a third-line center with strong defensive prowess and good enough offensive upside, a decent value for a team trying to load up.

Fans will be keeping a close watch on these two rival teams over the coming weeks to see if any trades materialize.