Canadiens Secure Jake Evans with Four-Year Extension

Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans has signed a four-year contract extension worth $11.4 million, with an average annual salary of $2.85 million, keeping him with the team through the 2028-29 season. The agreement was announced after Evans had been involved in trade rumors throughout the season, but he expressed a desire to stay with the team. Evans, a key penalty-killer and bottom-six forward, has contributed 28 points in 61 games this season and ranks second among NHL forwards in shorthanded ice time. The contract removes Evans from the trade market ahead of the NHL trade deadline, signaling the Canadiens' intent on making a playoff push. Since his debut in the 2019-20 season, Evans has accumulated 120 points in 329 career games with the Canadiens. Despite the extension, there remains speculation around the potential trading of other players such as Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak, and David Savard.