2024-03-11 23:30:00
We were all surprised Friday when Jake Allen was traded. Surprised because the Devils were on the list of teams Jake Allen didn’t want to be traded to and surprised because the Canadiens still got a third round pick in return. This pick might become a second round pick if the Devils make the playoffs next season and if Jake Allen plays a minimum of 40 games.
• Read also: NHL: Jake Allen wants to help and play more often
We were also surprised that the Newark team committed to Jake Allen when he is having a difficult season, as indicated by his 3.65 average. On the other hand, for the Devils, this transaction makes a lot of sense because they only have to pay half of Jake Allen’s salary ($1.925M), which is perfect for a backup goalie. But this will not prevent them from finding a number one goalkeeper for next season. Linus Ullmark of the Bruins and Jakob Markstrom of the Flames are the two goalies who might have been traded to the Devils during the season, but without success. Still, everything indicates that it is very likely that one of these two goalkeepers will be traded to the Devils next summer.
A FLOODED MARKET
The reality is that Kent Hughes had to move quickly to trade Jake Allen because of the very large number of goalies who will be available on the trade or free agent market for next season. And with the quality of goalies who might change addresses, Jake Allen would not have been in high demand, even if the Canadiens kept 50% of his salary.
The Kings will once once more try to pry Linus Ullmark out of Boston, as they attempted to do at the trade deadline. But the list is long of guards who might change addresses. This is the case of Ilya Samsonov, Casey DeSmith, Laurent Brossoit, James Reimer, Alex Nadeljkovic, Anthony Stolarz, Scott Wedgewood, Cam Talbot, Martin Jones, Chris Driedger, Kaapo Kahkonen, Kevin Lankinen, Eric Comrie and that’s without counting the other goalkeepers who are currently in the American League.
Without forgetting Marc-André Fleury. We had the impression, at the start of the season, that the Sorel goalkeeper was going to retire at the end of the current campaign. Today, I am told that everything is still possible and that no final decision has been made on its future. From the way Marc-André is currently playing it is obvious that he still has his place in the NHL.
ALLEN HAD NO CHOICE
Obviously Jake Allen didn’t want to leave Montreal even though his family is well established here. But even though he hesitated for a few days before agreeing to lift his no-trade clause, he and his agent Allain Roy had several discussions regarding the impact such a refusal might have on his career.
The reality is that even if the Canadian did not intend to submit his name for waivers this season, so that he might continue his career in Laval in the American League, there is nothing to indicate that this option would not have been possible. not been considered next season.
Now at the Devils, we don’t want to push Jake Allen into the lions’ den right away. First we want to give him time to acclimate to the team and he should get his first start this week when the team goes to Dallas on Wednesday. It is very likely that his first game will be Saturday in Arizona, he who has the right to practice with the Devils, but who cannot yet play since he does not yet have his American work visa. This visa is expected in the coming days.
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