Jake Evans’s Stellar Season
In the 2024-25 NHL season, Jake Evans, a forward for the Montreal Canadiens, showcased his skills by appearing in all 82 games, netting 13 goals while achieving career bests in assists (23), total points (36), and hits (124). His effective mix of offensive contribution and physicality made him an invaluable asset to the team’s lineup.
Contract Extension
As Evans approaches free agency, his impressive performance turned heads across the league, generating significant trade interest from various teams before the trade deadline. However, the Canadiens took proactive steps to secure Evans’s future with the franchise by signing him to a four-year contract extension worth an average of $2.85 million annually on March 4. This decision underscores Evans’s long-term importance to the team, especially considering that the upcoming unrestricted free agent center market appears less favorable than previous years.
Losing Evans without a solid alternative would have been a challenging scenario for the Canadiens, making their decision to extend his contract seem even more prudent.
By committing to him in March, the team not only locked in a crucial player for their bottom six and penalty-killing unit but may also have avoided paying a higher price had they waited until the offseason when demand might have driven contract values up. As the Canadiens continue to evolve as a more competitive squad, fans will be eager to see how Evans capitalizes on the momentum from his stellar season.
Challenges for Alex Newhook
On another note, fellow Canadiens forward Alex Newhook faced a challenging season during 2024-25, posting 15 goals, 11 assists, 26 points, and a concerning minus-21 rating over the same 82-game span. As the Canadiens look to rebuild and strategize for future success, both Evans and Newhook will be integral figures in determining the team’s trajectory moving forward.
