The Montreal Canadiens have signed center Jake Evans to a four-year contract extension worth $2.85 million annually, the team announced Tuesday.
The deal for the pending unrestricted free agent doesn’t include any trade protection, according to TSN’s Chris Johnston.
Evans has scored 12 goals and added 16 assists for 28 points in 61 games this season. Five of his goals have been game-winners.
The 28-year-old has won 52.8% of his faceoffs and ranks second among all NHL forwards in average shorthanded ice time at 2:52 minutes per game. He’s contributed three goals and three assists while killing penalties this season.
Evans is on pace to set new career highs in both goals (16) and points (38).
With this new contract, Evans appears to be off the trade market. The New Jersey Devils were reportedly interested in acquiring him in January.
Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli reports the Washington Capitals attempted to acquire Evans at the 2024 NHL Draft, offering a second-round pick.
Evans is completing the final season of a three-year contract with a $1.7-million cap hit. Montreal selected him in the seventh round of the 2014 draft.
He has recorded 120 points in 329 career games with the Canadiens.
The Habs sit just one point behind the Detroit Red Wings for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, though Detroit has played one fewer game.
Montreal currently has an 11.6% chance of making the playoffs for the first time since reaching the Stanley Cup Final in 2021, according to MoneyPuck.
The Canadiens have won five straight games and will face the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET.
