Habs Daily: Jake Evans Wanted To Stay, Hutson Busy, Reinbacher

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Tuesday.

Montreal Canadiens News

While most of us expected the Montreal Canadiens to trade Jake Evans by the deadline, the team and the player came to terms on a four-year contract extension. It’s a great value deal at just $2.85 million per season, but more importantly, it shows players believe in what’s being built in Montreal, and are willing to take a discount to play here.  [Canadiens Analysis: Impact Of Jake Evans Contract Extension]

Evans was in a rather good mood after his contract extension was announced.

You know him, you love him:

Jake Evans ♥️

pic.twitter.com/JumIljD1G8

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) March 4, 2025

It was obvious due to the terms of the deal, but Pierre LeBrun confirmed Evans told his agent that he wanted to stay in Montreal.

“This morning, Jake Evans realized he did not want to leave Montreal,” explained LeBrun. “His agent and Kent Hughes had not communicated in about two weeks, but a discussion resumed on Sunday, and this morning Evans decided to stay.”

« À la fin de la journée, c’est Jake Evans qui a dit à son agent qu’il voulait rester à Montréal. »@PierreVLeBrun pic.twitter.com/Uj1lHZonx3

— RDS (@RDSca) March 4, 2025

LeBrun also agrees that Evans’ deal is a good sign when it comes to the Montreal’s appeal, a nice change of pace considering it was essentially a ‘do not sign’ city for over a decade.

LeBrun on Insider Trading: “Jake Evans could’ve done better on July 1st but he didn’t want to leave and it also speaks to perhaps the culture that Kent Hughes at the front office is building in Montreal where a player like him would forgo that opportunity and stick around”

— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 4, 2025

Even though Lane Hutson is logging a ridiculous amount of ice time as a rookie, he never misses an opportunity to get his reps in. We’ve sent a lot of praise Hutson’s way, but it must be said that he has the type of work ethic and dedication to his craft that we tend to see in some of the best athletes of all time.

Of course, I’m not saying Hutson will necessarily become one of the best players in the NHL.

Unless…

Devinez qui est là à l’entraînement optionnel ce matin… pic.twitter.com/FRhsDtsFoy

— TVA Sports (@TVASports) March 4, 2025

Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent had nothing but good things to say about David Reinbacher.

“He has good footwork, good hands, and his hockey sense is very, very good,” he analyzed. “There are players who make good reads, but don’t have the hands to complete what their eyes see, or they lack the skating ability. Reinbacher, on the other hand, has the head, the eyes, the feet, and the hands [to make the plays].” [Laval Rocket]

The Montreal Victoire continue to hold the top spot in the PWHL. They beat Minnesota 2-1 in the shootout on Tuesday, and shockingly, it was Marie-Philip Poulin who secured the win.

CAPTAIN CLUTCH DOES IT AGAIN! 🔥

The @PWHL_Montreal win with Marie-Philip Poulin’s game-winning goal and Ann-Renée Desbiens’ five straight saves in OT! pic.twitter.com/hSCwC1ZQJD

— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) March 5, 2025

National Hockey Now Network

The Boston Bruins have made their first move of trade deadline season, sending forward Trent Frederic to the Edmonton Oilers as part of a three-team deal. [Boston Bruins]

The Florida Panthers signed one of their first-year players to a contract extension on Tuesday, inking Jesper Boqvist to a two-year deal worth $1.5 million annually. [Florida Panthers]

For the first time in over a month, the Detroit Red Wings will be waking up Wednesday morning outside of the playoffs.[Detroit Red Wings]