The 19-year-old turned heads of campmates, coaches and front office executives while playing responsible defense and showing his puck-carrying and playmaking skills in practices and Tuesday's game at Edmonton. He played 20-plus minutes against the Oilers, blocking two shots and notching two hits.
Evans, who turns 20 in December, got to the net with a quality shot chance during Tuesday's game and showed a slick wrap-around move during the Blue-White scrimmage Saturday at Kraken Community Iceplex. His play in camp validated the vote of confidence the entire Seattle amateur scouting showed by persuading Kraken GM Ron Francis to select Evans high in the second round in July.
Fellow draft picks, third-round Ryan Winterton and fifth rounder Jacob Melanson, will return to their respective juniors clubs. Winterton, a center, will play his second season with Hamilton of the Ontario Hockey League after missing the entire 2020-21 OHL season was canceled. Winterton impressed as a solid contributor to gold-medal Team Canada at the U18 World Championship in May.
Melanson will play this season for Acadie-Bathurst in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL aka the 'Q'), where he scored eight goals and added 11 assists in 18 games after a mid-season trade. Melanson added two goals and an assist in five playoff games.
It's rare for fifth-rounders to earn ice time during an NHL preseason game during their first pro camps. Melanson played nine-plus minutes of ice time in Wednesday's 4-3 shootout win for the Kraken. He blocked a shot, adding more evidence to his training camp impressions as a two-way forward who can contribute on both the offensive and defensive ends.
Forwards Brent Gates Jr., Tye Kartye, Ryan Lohin and Cole MacKay, plus goaltender Frances Marotte, were all released from tryout agreements.
