The Montreal Canadiens’ surprising hot streak is forcing management to rethink their trade deadline strategy. It’s the kind of problem every rebuilding team dreams of having.
The big question now: Will they keep their soon-to-be free agents for a playoff push?
Jeff Gorton, the team’s executive VP of hockey operations, isn’t showing his cards just yet. But he did drop some hints during his appearance on “The Sick Podcast.”
“You won’t see us trading young players,” Gorton said. “If there’s an opportunity to help these guys, they’ve earned it.”
One player who’s definitely caught everyone’s attention is Jake Evans. He’s been on fire since the season started, making the most of his $1.7 million contract.
What makes Evans so valuable? He’s the kind of player coaches love – reliable, consistent, and you always know what you’re getting when he hits the ice.
Sure, he’s cooled off a bit lately. But then again, so has the whole team.
That bargain contract and solid play haven’t gone unnoticed around the NHL. According to Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff, five teams are already showing serious interest:
• Washington Capitals
• Toronto Maple Leafs
• New Jersey Devils
• Calgary Flames
• Columbus Blue Jackets
The Capitals seem particularly keen. They reportedly offered a second-round pick for Evans at last year’s draft.
It’s worth noting that Evans isn’t the only veteran the Canadiens need to make decisions about. But with the team playing better than anyone expected, those choices just got a lot more complicated.
