Jake Evans Extension Demands Revealed, Will Canadiens Bite?

Jake Evans is perhaps the Montreal Canadiens' top trade candidate; there is plenty of interest for the bottom-six, two-way center, who is a pending unrestricted free agent. On the other hand, the Habs would like to keep him around and sign him to an extension.

But there's a fly in the ointment. They haven't been able to bridge the large gap in contract talks. According to Tony Marinaro on The Sick Podcast, Evans wants a whopping five-year term, with a $4 million AAV. Should the Canadiens bite? TSN's insider Craig Button says 'No way!.'

If Jake Evans is asking for a 5-year deal worth $20 million, should Kent Hughes accept?@CraigJButton: "I'd be happy to sign Jake Evans. Term is going to be a big part of this. There's no way I'm giving Jake Evans 5 years"#GoHabsGo #thesickpodcast @TonyMarinaro pic.twitter.com/CsR14HpLXQ
— The Sick Podcast with Tony Marinaro (@thesickpodcasts) February 27, 2025

"I'd be happy to sign Jake Evans," said Button. But... "Term is going to be a big part of this. There's no way I'm giving Jake Evans 5 years... I might consider giving Jake Evans five years on $2 million a year...

"He's played superbly for the Montreal Canadiens this year... Good on him... But ask yourself: 29 years of age (as of June), that takes him to 34. There's no way— no way!— I'm giving him five years."

Evans is just finishing up a three-year, $1.7M AAV contract. That's a huge raise he's asking for. He's been stuck on 11 goals for over a month. In fact, he has just one goal and four points in his last 22 games, since a December burst that saw a five-game goal-scoring streak. He remains two goals and two points off his career highs of 13 goals and 29 points, set three seasons ago. He totaled just nine goals combined over the last two years, so certainly he's had a breakthrough this year.

But his ask is a little out of line for the Canadiens.

As far as trading him, Pierre LeBrun said on TSN that Habs GM Kent Hughes is telling rival teams that they're not dealing him for draft picks. They have enough of those already—nine picks in the first four rounds this year. Hughes wants a real hockey return, or he's happy to keep Evans around through the end of the season and take his chances. That's the message being sent out to other teams.