The focus has been on Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki as the Montreal Canadiens continue to form their roster, but Jake Evans has continued to stand out.
Nothing has changed much since rookie and training camp opened at the beginning of September. The Montreal Canadiens still have Ryan Poehling and Nick Suzuki as the two shining options to add more youth and skill to the lineup. And after a few weeks, it’s safe to say both have delivered on what fans have been looking forward to, but they aren’t the only two who have stood out as Jake Evans is making a strong case for himself.
Evans played his first full season in Laval with the Rocket putting up 13 goals and 32 assists in 67 games. A handful of those was played as the team’s top-line centre despite being a rookie. With Laval adding more skill and speed, the Rocket should be a more dangerous team with Evans at the helm, and because of that expectation, no one considered him as a player to watch.
However, he has been one of the more consistent players for the Montreal Canadiens so far. Evans is a very smart hockey player, and it shows given his positioning and awareness of the ice. He has been responsible in all situations he’s been placed in and has helped execute a number of plays that have contributed to offence.
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Think to the team’s first preseason game where a blocked shot and a steal led to the game-winning goal for the Habs. Or how his passing – which started in the defensive zone – helped Matthew Peca score the first goal of the game against the Florida Panthers Wednesday night. Evans is involved on either end of the ice and his growth from a full year in the AHL is showing to the point where he has to be a consideration to make the team.
That said, he likely doesn’t crack the roster. If it’s not Poehling, Claude Julien will go with a standard fourth line with the likes of Nate Thompson and Jordan Weal. But that doesn’t mean Evans has to stay in the minors for the entire season.
Injuries can and will happen throughout the year, and Evans has done enough to be one of the first to earn a call-up. We’ve seen how the preseason can impact those decisions as Michael Chaput and Kenny Agostino had a strong showing last September and were one of the firsts to get the nod. Evans should be one of those options for the Montreal Canadiens even if it’s for a game or two and it could lead to a bigger role for the following season.
Peca and Thompson are UFAs at the end of the season. Phillip Danault has two years left on his deal. There are going to be more open spots on this roster, and if Evans can continue to grow as a centre, the Montreal Canadiens will have no choice but to give him a shot.
Overripening prospects has been something the Detroit Red Wings have made use of, and it can be good but also bad depending on the player.
Evans should get a look at some point this season to see if this is who he can be whenever he is called upon. And if this is truly who he is, it’ll be another victory for both the scouting staff and the development program in the organization. Evans was a seventh-round pick after all.