Top NHL insider deems $5,100,000 Montreal Canadiens forward a 'prime target' for Maple Leafs, others

Jake Evans of the Montreal Canadiens is drawing attention as the NHL trade deadline nears. The 28-year-old is in the final year of his three-year, $5.1 million contract, with a $1.7 million cap hit and no trade protection. Many Stanley Cup contenders, including the Toronto Maple Leafs, are keeping an eye on him.

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period said on Wednesday that Evans is a strong target for teams looking to strengthen their bottom six. He noted that Evans' cap-friendly deal makes him appealing. Teams can add him without having to make salary cap moves.

“He’s got that great cap hit, as you mentioned," Pagnotta said (via thefourthperiod.com). "So, there wouldn’t even need to be necessarily retention from Montreal’s perspective. For teams looking to stabilize their bottom-six, Evans is going to be a prime target for a lot of Cup contenders."

Evans played a key role in the Canadiens’ Cup Final run, which makes him even more valuable to playoff teams. Toronto and Los Angeles are among the teams that may target him. He has 11 points in 22 games this season, with four goals and seven assists.

Along with Evans, Montreal defensemen David Savard and Mike Matheson are also expected to attract trade interest. Savard is in the final year of his contract, while Matheson has one year left. The Montreal Canadiens may look to trade these players for assets as they approach the deadline. However, Evans, with his affordable deal and playoff experience, is expected to be one of their most sought-after players.

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Jake Evans and the Montreal Canadiens' 4-3 win over Columbus Blue Jackets

Nick Suzuki scored 42 seconds into overtime, giving the Montreal Canadiens a 4-3 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Wednesday. Suzuki put in his own rebound after his shot was blocked by goalie Elvis Merzlikins.

“It was a pretty solid game for us. Nothing too special,” Suzuki said (via NHL.com). “Working hard. Keeping things simple and we got a good result out of it...”

Juraj Slafkovsky ended a 14-game goal drought, and Cole Caufield scored a power-play goal. Emil Heineman also found the net for Montreal.

Zach Werenski had a goal and an assist for Columbus, who tied the game late but couldn’t win. Canadiens goalie Cayden Primeau made 21 saves. Both teams had played overtime games in their previous matches.

The Montreal Canadiens (8-11-3) will next face the New York Rangers (12-8-1), on Saturday at 1:00 PM ET. Montreal has struggled on the road, posting a 3-6-1 record. The Rangers have a solid home record of 5-4-1.