Jake Evans replaced Jesperi Kotkaniemi in Monday night's matchup and Kotkaniemi proved that his coach made the right decision. This change in direction certainly sent a clear message to Jesperi Kotkaniemi, according to Dany Dube: "We won't treat you like a youngster anymore. But you shouldn't give up with a 21-year-old. "
Going back to Evans, who is 25 years old, he remains a mature player physically and in terms of accepting his role. He is happy to be a part of the team and is committed to his role as a defensive center. He is doing his job very well and he is a game changer by accepting a defensive role. In Jesperi Kotkaniemi's case, since he is a first round pick, he has the pressure of being an impact player, which can certainly stifle him.
Without taking anything away from "KK", who is still developing and searching for his identity as a field hockey player, Phillip Danault was thrilled to have Jake Evans back in the lineup. Evans, because of his impeccable work and because of his acceptance of his role, is overly appreciated by the veterans in this group. Danault called Ducharme's move "a great move", which shows how much the locker room loves Evans.
With Paul Byron and Artturi Lehkonen, it gives Ducharme one more option on the defensive end and gives Phillip Danault's combination some breathing room. It's absolutely nothing against "KK" since it's just a matter of context... Do you follow me? As one fan wisely pointed out, it was a great move to form that unit. Period.
