Jake Evans on the verge to be traded to make space for this young prospect?
Kent Hughes faces critical decisions ahead of the trade deadline and particularly concerning pending UFA like David Savard and Jake Evans.
Both players are important to the current roster and are likely to draw significant interest from contending teams.
The situation is especially intriguing for Jake Evans, who will be 29 years old at the end of the season.
His defensive reliability and penalty-killing skills make him a valuable asset for teams looking to strengthen their bottom-six forward group, he's looking a lot like Artturi Lehkonen in the past.
However, whether or not he stays with the Canadiens could depend on his contract demands and the progress of promising prospect like Owen Beck in the AHL.
Nicolas Cloutier from TVA Sports recently suggested that Jake Evans' future is closely tied to Owen Beck's development.
If Jake Evans seeks a salary of around $3 million or more, Owen Beck's entry-level contract offers far more flexibility under the salary cap for the Montreal Canadiens.
In his first professional season with the Laval Rocket, Owen Beck has been impressive and he showed his strong defensive abilities while also contributing offensively.
In 23 games, Beck has scored 7 goals and 20 points which is putting him on pace for 22 goals and 63 points over a full season. Impressive.
If we compare the two players, Jake Evans scored 13 goals and 45 points during his first AHL season at the age of 22.
Owen Beck's early success highlights his potential to become a reliable NHL third-line center soon.
And you, do you prefer Owen Beck to Jake Evans in the case of Jake Evans asking for a 3 millions salary?
| POLL | ||
Do you think the Montreal Canadiens should trade Jake Evans before the end of the season? | ||
| Yes | 47 | 42.3 % |
| No | 64 | 57.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
