Stop the press, shut down the debates, and put an end to the endless speculation—Jake Evans has signed a contract extension with the Montreal Canadiens. Four years at $2.85 million per season. We can all rest easy now.
It’s rare for a fourth-line center to generate this much ink or stir such strong opinions among fans and media alike. But here we are. Thankfully, the deal is done.
Did Evans Leave Money on the Table?
At first glance, it feels like Evans left $3-4 million on the table. On the other side, the Canadiens likely conceded an extra year beyond what they originally intended.
Throughout the season, comparisons have been made between Evans and other players in similar roles. Some projections were modest; others were a bit ambitious. To be fair, most of those estimates were based on the best offensive stretch of his career, under the assumption that he would continue at a similar pace.
3 x $3M. Take it or trade.
— JD Lagrange (@jdlagrange.bsky.social) 2025-03-03T15:11:07.772Z
Why Such a Modest Deal?
That’s the million-dollar question—figuratively speaking. We recently broke down Evans’ stats from the start of the season, particularly examining the impact of Brendan Gallagher, Josh Anderson, and later Emil Heineman on his performance. That analysis provides valuable context for this contract.
The Numbers Tell the Story
Before tonight’s game in Edmonton, Evans had 12 goals and 16 assists in 61 games. However, his offensive production has taken a significant dip in 2025:
| Period | Games Played | Goals | Assists | Points | Points Per Game | Plus/Minus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Until Dec. 30 | 36 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 0.64 | +5 |
| Since then | 25 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.20 | -4 |
Defensively, Evans has remained steady, but with just one point in his last eight games—an empty-netter in Buffalo—his scoring has dried up.
A Mutually Beneficial Compromise
Reports suggested Evans’ camp was seeking a five-year, $20 million deal. Based on his early-season performance, that wasn’t an unreasonable ask. But given his last 25 games, it was unrealistic.
According to NHL insiders like Pierre LeBrun, the Canadiens weren’t willing to overpay, and negotiations were initially far apart. Kent Hughes was reportedly more comfortable with a three-year term.
Clearly, Evans wanted to stay in Montreal, but to do so, he had to significantly lower his demands. In any good negotiation, both sides need to feel like they’ve won something. The compromise? A four-year term that met both parties in the middle.
Evans could have tested free agency and likely secured a more lucrative deal. But for some players, money isn’t everything. The Toronto native and former seventh-round pick prioritized staying with this group and being part of its rise. That decision alone has earned him even more respect.
Now the real questions: what does Kent Hughes do with his remaining pending UFAs? And does he had to his roster prior to Friday’s trade deadline?
