Veteran Canadiens centre Jake Evans is staying in Montreal after signing a four-year contract extension on Tuesday that kicks in next season and will pay him an average of US$2.85 million through 2028-29.
On this week’s Hockey Inside/Out Show, The Gazette’s Stu Cowan is joined by former Canadiens teammates and 1986 Stanley Cup champions Chris Nilan and Rick Green to weigh in on that contract and also discuss what GM Kent Hughes might do ahead of Friday’s NHL trade deadline with three other players who can become unrestricted free agents on July 1 — Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and David Savard.
Nilan and Green also reflect on what it was like when they were traded during their NHL playing careers — with Nilan going from the Canadiens to the New York Rangers and Green from the Washington Capitals to the Canadiens.
Nilan points out that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side — which is something Evans probably realized himself when he made the decision to stay in Montreal.