Martin St. Louis, since becoming the head coach of the Montreal Canadiens, has often emphasized that maintaining consistency is the toughest challenge for young players. This is precisely why teams rely on seasoned veterans to set an example and provide stability, helping players understand the league and elevate their game. However, this season, Montreal’s experienced players have fallen short in this regard. According to data from Moneypuck.com, three Canadiens players rank among the lowest in point differential on the ice.
Among those with at least 50 minutes of playtime, center Jake Evans stands at 722nd with a minus-28 rating, defenseman Alexander Carrier is 720th with minus-25, and Evans’ teammate Josh Anderson is 718th with minus-23. Evans, who had a strong offensive year last season during his contract year and earned a four-year contract extension valued at $2.85 million, is now scoring fewer points, projected at only 23 compared to his career-high 36 last year.
The coach’s patience with Evans seems to be wearing thin. For instance, in the Dec. 2 game against the Ottawa Senators, Evans was on the ice for just 9 minutes and 22 seconds over 14 shifts, with only a 25% success rate in faceoffs, winning 2 of 8 draws. Although he improved in the following game with over 16 minutes of play and a 73% faceoff win rate, he again struggled in a game against the Blues, winning just 3 of 12 faceoffs and managing only 12 minutes and 37 seconds on the ice with another 25% faceoff success.
There is no room for compromise here—Evans must improve if the Canadiens hope to make the playoffs this season. Though his life has shifted with the arrival of twins, adjusting to this new reality is crucial and needs to happen quickly. With a demanding December schedule ahead, coach St. Louis will need to rely on Evans to contribute more, especially as star Nick Suzuki sees his ice time decrease.
Fan Take: This update highlights the pressing challenge for the Canadiens—a lack of veteran consistency that directly affects their playoff chances. For hockey fans, seeing a player like Evans struggle in a contract year is a reminder of how personal life changes and pressure impact performance, underscoring the delicate balance required to succeed in professional sports.
