Jake Evans

Jake Evans (born June 2, 1996) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who is a centre for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the seventh round, 207th overall, by the Canadiens in the 2014 NHL entry draft.

Playing career Early years As a youth, Evans played with the Mississauga Rebels of the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL) and won the OHL Cup during his midget year. Thereafter, he joined the St. Michael's Buzzers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) for two seasons beginning in 2012, where he helped lead his team to a championship berth at the annual Dudley-Hewitt Cup and was likewise named as finalist for Rookie of the Year across the Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL).

Collegiate Evans committed to play collegiately for the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) beginning in the 2014–15 season, and was named as team captain prior to his senior year in September 2017.

Professional

Following his senior campaign with the Fighting Irish, Evans was signed to an entry-level contract by draft team the Montreal Canadiens in April 2018. Initially assigned to the Laval Rocket, the Canadiens' American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, he received his first NHL recall during the course of the 2019–20 season. On February 10, 2020, Evans scored his first career NHL goal in a 3–2 loss to the Arizona Coyotes.

On June 2, 2021, Evans scored his first career NHL playoff goal during Game 1 of the second round of the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs, but in retaliation received a hard open ice hit from Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele that resulted in him being stretchered off the ice. For his actions, Scheifele was suspended for four games following the hit. Evans subsequently missed the remainder of the series against the Jets as well as the entire semi-final matchup with the Vegas Golden Knights due to a concussion, but returned as a replacement for teammate Joel Armia during the 2021 Stanley Cup Finals versus the Tampa Bay Lightning. He later signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract extension with Montreal that October.

Entering play for the 2024–25 season, Evans reached a series of milestones in the early stages of the campaign. On November 16, 2024, he registered his 100th career NHL point in a game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, effectively becoming the first draft pick in franchise history selected in the seventh-round to reach this milestone. Thereafter, he skated in his 300th career NHL game versus the Detroit Red Wings on December 20. In March 2025, Evans agreed to a four-year contract extension with the Canadiens.

Evans had 12 goals and 12 assists in 68 appearances during the 2025–26 regular season, the first of his new contract, continuing his usage as a defensive forward in the team's bottom six. On May 14, he scored his second career playoff goal, and his first in five years, in a 6–3 victory over the Buffalo Sabres in the second round.

International play

Internationally, Evans first represented Hockey Canada as part of team Canada East at both the 2013 and 2014 iterations of the World Junior A Challenge.

In December 2017, Evans was member of the Canadian national senior team that captured the Spengler Cup in Davos, Switzerland.

Personal life Evans was born in Toronto, Ontario, to parents Wayne and Marilyn. His mother is a family physician with a practice in Mississauga while his father is a salesman. and two cousins who played college ice hockey at Cornell University.

In June 2023, Evans got engaged to high school sweetheart Emily Flatley. They were married at the Luttrellstown Castle Resort located in Dublin, Ireland a year later. The couple welcomed twin boys in August 2025.

He is the son-in-law of Patrick Flatley who played a total of 14 NHL seasons most notably with the New York Islanders.

Career statistics Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2011–12 St. Michael's Buzzers OJHL 5 2 2 4 0 — — — — — 2012–13 St. Michael's Buzzers OJHL 50 12 32 44 45 24 8 9 17 14 2013–14 St. Michael's Buzzers OJHL 49 16 47 63 79 5 0 5 5 8 2014–15 University of Notre Dame HE 41 7 10 17 22 — — — — — 2015–16 University of Notre Dame HE 37 8 25 33 29 — — — — — 2016–17 University of Notre Dame HE 40 13 29 42 47 — — — — — 2017–18 University of Notre Dame B1G 40 13 33 46 18 — — — — — 2018–19 Laval Rocket AHL 67 13 32 45 26 — — — — — 2019–20 Laval Rocket AHL 51 14 24 38 26 — — — — — 2019–20 Montreal Canadiens NHL 13 2 1 3 0 6 0 1 1 0 2020–21 Montreal Canadiens NHL 47 3 10 13 29 7 1 1 2 4 2021–22 Montreal Canadiens NHL 72 13 16 29 22 — — — — — 2022–23 Montreal Canadiens NHL 54 2 17 19 28 — — — — — 2023–24 Montreal Canadiens NHL 82 7 21 28 24 — — — — — 2024–25 Montreal Canadiens NHL 82 13 23 36 10 5 0 1 1 2 2025–26 Montreal Canadiens NHL 68 12 12 24 28 19 2 8 10 22NHL totals 418 52 100 152 141 37 3 11 14 28

International Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM 2012 Canada East WJAC 4th 5 0 0 0 10 2013 Canada East WJAC 6th 4 1 1 2 2 2017 Canada SC 4 0 0 0 0 Junior totals 9 1 1 2 12 Senior totals 4 0 0 0 0

Awards and honours Award Year RefGTHL Top Prospects Game 2012 OHL Cup 2012 First Team All-Prospect 2013, 2014 OHA Top Prospect Award 2014 College B1G First All-Star Team 2018