A draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, it took J. Paul Evans four years in the minors and a trade to get him to the National Hockey League with the Philadelphia Flyers in 1978-79. Evans, who was born in Toronto, Ontario on May 2, 1954, played 44 games with the Flyers that year, scoring six goals and eleven points. A centre, he put up 40 more points in the minors that year.
Despite logging 44 games as a rookie, Evans spent the 1979-80 season entirely in the minors, but posted solid numbers with the Maine Mariners. He played 80 games and scored 77 points. The next year, he returned to the NHL but played just one game with the Flyers. Again Evans proved he could score at the minor pro level this time amassing 80 points in 78 games.
Again he didn't make it back to the NHL the next season, this time upping his totals with the Mariners to 90 points in 79 games. He was named to the AHL Second All-Star Team for his efforts.
He was given a chance to be a regular with the Flyers and took advantage of it in 1982-83. Playing a career high 58 games that year, Evans scored eight goals and added 20 assists. Despite his breakthrough, Evans spent the next two years of his career back in Maine and retired following the 1984-85 season.
