Evangelista, 21 (2/21/02), has been called up from the Admirals for the first time after leading Milwaukee in points with 41 (9g-32a) through 49 games this season as a rookie. The 6-foot, 183-pound forward is first among AHL first-year skaters in assists (32) and is tied for second in points, helping him earn a spot in the league's All-Star Classic earlier this month. Entering Tuesday's game, he has tallied a point in nine of his last 12 contests, posting a goal and 11 assists during that stretch; it comes on the heels of a six-game run from Dec. 30-Fan. 11 in which he recorded nine points (4g-5a), including his first career AHL hat trick on Jan. 10 at Tucson.
Originally drafted by Nashville in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft, Evangelista enjoyed a decorated OHL career with the London Knights, where he tallied 174 points (78g-96a) in 151 games from 2018-20 and 2021-22. Captaining London during his final junior season, he led his league in goals (55) and was fourth in points (111), the most in an OHL regular season by a Predators draft pick, a mark previously held by David Legwand in 1997-98 (105). He also became the third player drafted by Nashville to score at least 50 goals in a CHL season. Internationally, the Oakville, Ont., native competed for Canada White at the 2018 U-17 World Hockey Challenge, where he picked up an assist in five games. Evangelista is second cousins with two-time Stanley Cup champion and Hockey Hall of Famer Brendan Shanahan.
