NHL Trade Rumors: Canadiens & Maple Leafs Linked to Pre-Deadline Deal

It's rare to see a Montreal Canadiens/Toronto Maple Leafs in-season trade, but that doesn't mean there isn't one coming this year before the March 7 trade deadline. Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli released a trade matchmaker piece in the spirit of Valentine's Day, and suggested a deal involving the heated rivals.

Seravalli could see the Canadiens trading third-line center Jake Evans to the Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick, originally of the Florida Panthers, and prospect Roni Hirvonen. 

This feels unholy completing a deal between the Leafs and Habs, but it wasn’t that long ago that Montréal sent another third-line center to Toronto (Tomas Plekanec) at the deadline in 2018. It doesn’t sound the Canadiens are on a path to getting an extension done with Evans, who is now more likely to move than not. The biggest motivator here is fit as the Leafs look to reinvent their third line. GM Brad Treliving has been very clear that he wants a defensively responsible player. He has played in three Stanley Cup Final games, so he won’t be overwhelmed by the moment. Plus, he’s a Toronto kid, so there is definite re-signing potential that makes this late second-round pick a worthy expedition.

The Maple Leafs will 100% be adding down the middle of their ice before the deadline, as the team isn't happy with how Max Domi has worked out in that role, and recently moved him to the wing. They've been linked to Evans for most of the season, along with Yanni Gourde, Scott Laughton and Luke Kunin.

The Canadiens are looking to re-tool their roster, and GM Kent Hughes won't be making any trades unless they are making his team better in the short term. However, with Evans a pending free agent and unlikely to re-sign, he'd be wise to move him while his trade value has never been higher.

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