Montreal Canadiens sign a pair of OHA graduates
Photo: Montreal Canadiens/NHL.com
- With files from the OJHL
MONTREAL, Que. - The Montreal Canadiens announced this week that the club has locked up a pair of Ontario Hockey Association graduates for the next three seasons.
Jake Evans, 25, signed a three-year contract extension with Canadiens Oct. 4. Evans was drafted by the Habs 207th overall in the seventh round of the 2014 National Hockey League (NHL) draft and is entering his third NHL season.
The Toronto, Ont. native's new deal kicks in in 2022-23 and carries through 2024-25. He will earn an annual average salary of $1.7 million. To date, Evans has played 60 NHL regular season games and has scored five goals and 11 points. He is expected to have an increased role with the Canadiens this season with the departure of centres Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Philip Danault.
Evans, a former St. Michael's Buzzers (OJHL) captain, played 104 games during two-plus seasons at St. Mike’s, scoring 30 goals and adding 81 assists. He earned a scholarship to Notre Dame where he starred and was named captain again, leading the NCAA in scoring at one point and being nominated for the Hobey Baker Award in 2018. He was the recipient of the 2013-14 OHA Top Prospect Award.
After signing of professional tryout contract with the Habs earlier in training camp, defenceman Arber Xhekaj earned his first professional contract on Tuesday. The Canadiens announced the club has signed Xhekaj to a three-year entry-level contract which begins in 2021-22 and carries through the 2023-24 season.
Xhekaj was released from camp and assigned to the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) following the announcement of the signing. The 20-year-old defenceman had a strong showing at both the Canadiens' rookie camp and training camp.
Xhekaj played one season in the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) with the St. Catharines Falcons in 2017-18. The Hamilton, Ont. native stands 6'4" 225 pounds and will enter his third season with Kitchener in the OHL.
The OHA extends congratulations to both Jake Evans and Arber Xhekaj on earning new contracts.
