The Toronto Maple Leafs’ interest in Jake Evans signals their continued effort to solidify the third-line center position, which has been a revolving door this season. Evans, a reliable two-way center for the Montreal Canadiens, brings defensive responsibility, penalty-killing prowess, and solid faceoff ability. While his offensive upside is limited, his versatility and ability to play a shutdown role could make him an ideal fit for Toronto’s needs.
The Leafs’ experimentation with various players in the role, including Max Domi, Pontus Holmberg, and even John Tavares sliding down temporarily, highlights their struggle to find a long-term solution. While William Nylander’s stint at center during training camp was intriguing, moving him back to the wing better aligns with his strengths and offensive impact.
Evans is a realistic target for the Leafs because he’s under contract through the 2024-25 season at a reasonable $1.7 million AAV, which fits well within Toronto’s tight cap situation. However, Montreal’s willingness to trade him to a division rival could complicate matters, likely increasing the price for Toronto to acquire him.
If the Leafs can pull off the move, Evans would bring much-needed stability to their bottom six.
The injury woes for the Maple Leafs this season have certainly added to the challenge of finding stability down the middle. With three key centers—Auston Matthews, David Kämpf, and Max Domi—sidelined at one point, the Leafs were forced to experiment and adapt under Craig Berube in his first season as head coach. It makes sense that the team has shuffled lines not only to manage these absences but also to allow Berube to evaluate the roster’s versatility and depth.
The Leafs’ thin center depth during those injuries likely amplified their urgency to explore the trade market for someone like Jake Evans. While the team has options like Fraser Minten and Pontus Holmberg, they may not yet be ready for consistent third-line responsibilities, especially with the added defensive demands of that role.
On top of injuries, integrating a new coach’s system takes time, and Berube’s approach emphasizes structure and accountability. It’s possible that Evans’ defensive acumen and adaptability would make him an ideal fit, especially in a system that values disciplined two-way play.
Evans a Great Fit For Toronto
Jake Evans’ rise to becoming one of the NHL’s most reliable penalty-killing forwards is a testament to his work ethic and adaptability. Despite being a seventh-round pick, Evans has carved out a niche as a responsible two-way player, trusted heavily by Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis in high-pressure situations. His ability to handle defensive-zone draws and lead the league in penalty-kill minutes for forwards demonstrates his value beyond the scoresheet.
For a team like the Maple Leafs, Evans represents exactly the kind of depth player needed to shore up their bottom-six center role, particularly in the playoffs. His defensive reliability and faceoff skills would complement Toronto’s more offensively focused stars, such as Auston Matthews and John Tavares. Brad Treliving’s reported interest, along with the Los Angeles Kings’ potential pursuit, highlights how coveted Evans is as a piece that can make an immediate impact for contending teams.
The question is whether the Leafs can meet Montreal’s asking price, as trading within the division often comes at a premium. Additionally, Evans’ cap-friendly contract through 2024-25 makes him even more attractive, likely increasing his trade value. The Kings, with their depth and assets, could pose serious competition for the Leafs in landing him.
Comparing Shut-Down Centres
Jake Evans’ profile as a defensive center makes him a logical alternative—or even a potential upgrade—to David Kämpf for the Maple Leafs. The financial and tactical benefits of swapping Kämpf for Evans are compelling: the Leafs would save $700K in cap space, gain a right-handed faceoff option (an area Berube has identified as a need), and acquire a player one year younger. Given that Evans’ contract has only one year remaining, this move poses minimal long-term risk while offering immediate flexibility.
Evans’ ability to shut down opponents and maintain possession aligns closely with Kämpf’s role, but Evans also has some offensive upside, as seen in his five goals and 14 points in 26 games this season. If he maintains this pace, he could set career highs in goals and points, showing that he might bring a bit more offensive balance to a checking-line role than Kämpf. Additionally, his experience leading NHL forwards in penalty-kill minutes this season would give Toronto an added edge on special teams.
The Leafs’ need for a right-handed faceoff specialist could also tip the scales in favor of pursuing Evans, as it would address a specific gap in their roster. Kämpf, while reliable, doesn’t bring that same versatility, and his higher cap hit could make him expendable in a cap-tight environment.
The question for Toronto is whether they can offload Kämpf’s $2.4M contract to facilitate the move for Evans or whether they would consider carrying both players, which might create redundancy
