Montreal Canadiens: 5 Bold Habs Predictions For 2021-22 Season

Jake Evans outplays Phillip Danault

Phillip Danault became a steady rock down the middle of the ice for the Canadiens over the past few seasons. You knew he was going to get tough assignments and that he was going to shut the other team’s best player.

He was in between Tomas Tatar and Brendan Gallagher for most of the past three seasons and they were perhaps the best defensive line in hockey while being the Canadiens best offensive line at the same time.

Danault signed a six year contract with the Los Angeles Kings, and though his skates will be tough to fill, I think Jake Evans is going to quickly make us forget about Danault.

Evans is not likely to be as good defensively as Danault this season, but he will be close. Close enough that his improved offence will make him a more complete player than Danault has been in recent seasons.

While Danault was great defensively, he didn’t bring a lot of scoring. He had just one goal in the postseason and has a career high of 13. He didn’t score in the first half of the regular season in 2020-21.

I predict that Evans will blow by Danault’s career high of 13 goals and approach 20 while playing on a line with Joel Armia and Brendan Gallagher. They will also combine to form a terrific shutdown duo, and with Evans earning a fraction of Danault’s new contract, us Habs fans won’t miss Danault at all this season.