Jake Evans is playing some of his best hockey

For all intents and purposes, Jake Evans is generally the Montreal Canadiens fourth line centre.

But that has changed this season, Evans has played some of his best hockey, resulting in him assuming a third-line role between Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson on most nights. Evans has used his speed at five-on-five to create controlled zone exits and fly through the neutral zone. But his smart two-way play has been a blessing in the faceoff dot and on the penalty kill.

Evans isn't going to wow you with his skills, but every once in a while he does pull off an individual effort that you don't expect. He is a meat and potatoes player who makes his living through smart decisions and hard work. The speedy skater doesn't take many risks and has been utilized by head coach Martin St. Louis for most defensive zone faceoffs and late in games.

For a team that is so young, having a veteran - who can mentor the younger players and play an invaluable support role. Montreal doesn't need him to score 30 goals or be a power play cog. His effectiveness comes in his penalty killing and his ability to be put out on the ice to preserve leads.

Canadiens would be wise to extend Evans

Eric Engels of Sportsnet put it best, Evans fills a role that is exactly in line with where he is at in his career. Sure there are young guys that could play the third-line or even bottom-six centre role in his place. But Evans brings some experience to the team, which goes a long way with a young roster.

With the team still learning and adapting to playing together, Evans is a strong asset to help the team over the hump. If I'm Kent Hughes, I would try to pull the trigger on an extension now, before Evans racks up a career year and demands more money. It's not like he is going to break the bank for the Habs, but I think it's pretty obvious that Evans is a guy that the Canadiens should keep around.

In an interview with RDS's Pierre Houde, Evans spoke about his early season success, and keeping things in perspective. He is pleased with his success, but the veteran side of him knows that it's a long and winding season, with plenty of peaks and valleys. The goal for him is to stay consistent and continue playing his best while pushing to be better with each game that passes.

The team and Evans have the same hopes and strive for the same result, which is why extending him is a decision that seems too easy to make.