The Columbus Blue Jackets will get immediate help to their roster with both Boone Jenner and Kirill Marchenko being activated off IR. However, with the Trade Deadline only two weeks away, the Blue Jackets will be looking externally for another forward option.
One option for Columbus would be Montreal Canadiens forward Jake Evans. The 28-year-old is a very good third-line center option. With the addition of Jenner and eventually Sean Monahan, the lineup will be very deep at center.
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Typically, there are two areas on a roster where depth is crucial when the playoffs start: center and defense. That’s why adding Evans to the organization would be ideal.
In 56 games this season, he has scored 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points. He also has a very low cap hit, which may not be a concern for the Blue Jackets but is still a good selling point. His cap hit is $1.7 million for the rest of the season, after which he will become a UFA.
If they were to acquire him and he fit into the lineup well, then an extension could be worked out to help carry that forward depth into next season.
The Canadiens' asking price for Evans likely won't be too high. As a bottom-six forward, the Blue Jackets may be able to land him for a third-round pick, of which they have two in the 2026 NHL Draft.
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