As the NHL trade deadline approaches, the Montreal Canadiens and forward Jake Evans find themselves at an impasse in contract negotiations. With financial disagreements preventing progress on an extension, speculation is growing that the Canadiens might move Evans before the March 7 deadline.

TSN’s Pierre LeBrun shed light on the situation, revealing that the two sides have exchanged numbers but remain far apart on a deal. “As discussed at intermission during our Habs TSN broadcast, my understanding is Jake Evans and the Canadiens have exchanged numbers on what an extension might look like and they’re not close,” LeBrun reported. “Obviously, things can change with one phone call, but as of now, that makes it more likely Evans gets dealt before the March 7 deadline.”

With Montreal struggling in the standings and multiple teams expressing interest in the 28-year-old center, the possibility of a trade seems increasingly likely. LeBrun noted that calls from teams inquiring about Evans have surged as the Canadiens continue to slide in the Eastern Conference playoff race.

Montreal’s Playoff Struggles and Evans’ Value

The Canadiens’ recent form hasn’t helped their case for keeping Evans long-term. Montreal has dropped eight of their last ten games heading into the 4 Nations break, leaving them with a 25-26-5 record. Sitting at 55 points, they trail the Detroit Red Wings by six points for the final wild-card spot in the East, making a late-season playoff push an uphill battle.

Evans, however, remains a bright spot in an otherwise inconsistent season. With 11 goals and 27 points through 55 games, he’s just two points away from matching his career-high. His strong two-way play and affordable $1.7 million cap hit make him an enticing option for teams looking to add center depth for a playoff push. Given his pending unrestricted free-agent status, Montreal might see this as their best opportunity to gain assets rather than risk losing him for nothing in the offseason.

Adding fuel to the trade speculation, Evans’ recent comments to Sportsnet’s Eric Engels sounded like a player coming to terms with a potential departure. “It’s been an honor,” Evans said. “It’s such a fun place to play, it’s such a great place to live, and I’ve just really enjoyed it. It’s truly an honor. There’s so much tradition here, so many great players that have worn this great jersey with pride, and it’s truly an honor.”

With Evans expressing deep appreciation for his time in Montreal but negotiations stalling, the writing might be on the wall. The next few weeks will determine whether he remains a Canadien or finds himself wearing a different sweater for the playoff push.

Igor Shesterkin secured his second consecutive shutout with a flawless performance, stopping 20 shots as the New York Rangers cruised to a commanding 5-0 victory over the Ottawa Senators on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden.

Shesterkin, coming off a 27-save effort in Saturday’s 1-0 shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets, notched his third shutout of the season and the 18th of his stellar career.

The Rangers’ offense came alive, with Alexis Lafrenière opening the scoring in the first period, followed by Arthur Kaliyev extending the lead in the second.

Matt Rempe, Artemi Panarin, and Will Cuylle sealed the game with three third-period goals, giving the Rangers a resounding win and extending their impressive nine-game point streak (6-0-3).

Leevi Meriläinen was pulled after conceding two goals on 16 shots, with Anton Forsberg stepping in to make 10 saves for the Senators. Despite their best efforts, Ottawa’s six-game point streak (5-0-1) came to a grinding halt.

The Rangers seized control with two quick goals spanning the first and second periods, setting the tone for a dominant performance.

The opening goal came with just over a minute left in the first period when Adam Fox’s blue-line shot deflected off defenseman Artem Zub and rebounded off Meriläinen. Alexis Lafrenière pounced on the loose puck, slotting it into the net as Meriläinen was caught leaning in the wrong direction.

New York doubled the lead just 1:50 into the second period. A failed clearing attempt by Ottawa’s Nikolas Matinpalo was intercepted by Braden Schneider.

After a scramble, the puck trickled to Arthur Kaliyev, whose sharp-angled shot from the boards clipped Meriläinen’s glove and found the back of the net.

The Rangers turned the game into a rout in the third. Matt Rempe capitalized on a turnover, capping a fluid end-to-end sequence with a slick backhand finish for his second career goal at 3:34.

Artemi Panarin added a highlight-reel moment on a five-on-three power play at 9:01, rifling a wrist shot from the left circle that rang off the post and into the net.

Just 56 seconds later, Will Cuylle converted another power play opportunity, extending the lead to 5-0 and sealing a dominant victory for New York.

Are you tired of hearing about J.T. Miller and the New York Rangers yet? The saga of the East Palestine, Ohio native remains one of the most prolonged trade stories in the NHL, with fans eagerly waiting for resolution.

Discussions between the Rangers and the Vancouver Canucks about Miller continue, though the constant speculation has worn out many fans. However, new details about the Rangers’ rejected trade proposal have emerged.

According to Thomas Drance, the Rangers offered a package including Filip Chytil, Ryan Lindgren, and a conditional first-round pick in exchange for Miller. While Chris Drury’s offer aimed to bring the former Blueshirt back to New York, it didn’t meet the value expectations of many Canucks fans.

However, it’s important to note that Vancouver is negotiating from a position of weakness, which limits their leverage in trade talks.

Reportedly, discussions fell apart over the conditions tied to the first-round pick. The Rangers are wary of removing those conditions, as it could expose them to significant risk if the pick turns into a high draft selection should the team hit a rough patch before the season ends. New York’s inconsistent performance this year only adds to the hesitancy.

The uncertainty surrounding J.T. Miller’s future will likely persist until he, Elias Pettersson, or possibly both are traded. Once Miller finally lands on a new team, some of the noise will die down, though it won’t disappear entirely.

If the Rangers fail to acquire him, they will likely be linked to other top-tier players as they search for reinforcements ahead of the March 7 trade deadline. With Chris Drury’s available cap space, it’s almost certain that deals will be made to strengthen the team’s future. For now, the wait continues.