"I'm having a great season," Evangelista said. "I'm finding a lot of success on the ice and putting up a lot of points, but also the entire team is doing really well here in London."
None of Evangelista's success has been surprising to the Predators, however. Predators Assistant General Manager/Director of Scouting Jeff Kealty saw the upside in Evangelista's offensive ability from the moment they used the 42nd overall pick on him in 2020.
"When he gets the puck on his stick it's like his mind slows down," Kealty said. "He can see everything that is happening on a different level."
Predators North American Amateur Scout Matt Paton shared similar sentiments, saying Evangelista stuck out immediately with his playmaking ability and hockey IQ.
"He has a great mind for the game that you can't teach," Paton said. "He has never made a bad play, and he makes his teammates around him better.
It's not all about being able to see the plays develop, however - it's about being able to capitalize on them, too, which Evangelista has shown he can do time and time again this season. He credits a portion of his success to the confidence booster that came with being named team captain.
"It was well known in the organization that [being captain] was a goal of mine," Evangelista said. "When I got chosen to be captain of the team, it felt great because it showed that everybody in the organization thought I was the right guy for the job."
In fact, Evangelista's leadership ability is one of the traits that attracted the Predators to him during the scouting process.
"He's a guy that just does everything the right way," Kealty said. "He works hard and wants to get better. He's a top player and leads by example in terms of what he's doing for his team."
Evangelista and his family were ecstatic when his name was called by the Predators during the 2020 NHL Draft.
"I'm super excited about being in Nashville," Evangelista said. "It's turned into an awesome hockey town, and the way I've been treated there makes it feel like a family."
Evangelista, who signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the team in November 2020, notes that he speaks with the Preds development staff every other week. They frequently attend his games, and when they can't be there in person, they send video clips of his shifts with helpful advice.
"There's a lot of communication, and they make it pretty clear what they expect from me," Evangelista said. "They make it really easy for me."
The forward is in his third year with London but has already gotten a taste of professional hockey. After the OHL canceled its 2020-21 season due to COVID-19, Evangelista joined the American Hockey League's Chicago Wolves for 14 games, where he posted four assists. That first glimpse of professional hockey made a lasting impact on Evangelista both on and off the ice.
"I got to experience the professional game, which a lot of the guys in the OHL didn't get to experience, and I want to use that to my advantage," Evangelista said. "But also, in terms of being a leader, I got to see how some of the older guys that have been in the league for years were treating me. It was eye-opening, and that was another thing I wanted to bring back to London; how well everyone was treated on the team, whether you were there for five years, 10 years, or if it was your first year."
Kealty also emphasized the importance of last year to Evangelista's development.
"He's such a smart kid and a smart player and diligent about his game," Kealty said. "I have no doubt that he used that experience to make himself better and make himself more prepared for this season. When he came back to the Ontario Hockey League you could see another level in his game."
Evangelista has a simple goal for his professional career: To be a guy who can play anywhere in the lineup and have an impact. But many on Nashville's staff see a future NHL star in the making.
"He is a good person and a good hockey player," Paton said. "If he keeps putting in the work, the sky's the limit for him."
At the end of the day, Evangelista is just grateful to be playing hockey.
"I'm just trying to take it day by day, live in the moment, and not take anything for granted."
