Speaking last night on NHL Network, David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reports that the trade market is heating up considerably around Montreal Canadiens goaltender, Jake Allen. With plenty of competitive teams dealing with poor play and injuries between the pipes, Allen has been an oft-rumored trade candidate throughout much of the year.
In the report, Pagnotta indicates that before the roster freeze went into effect on December 19th, the Carolina Hurricanes, Edmonton Oilers, and New Jersey Devils had all made contact with Canadiens’ brass to gauge the price tag on Allen. With another year left on his contract after this season, Allen’s salary is set at $3.85MM, meaning any acquiring team will likely need to move around funds to acquire him.
At any rate, all signs indicate that Allen’s career in Montreal is coming to an end, as the organization appears comfortable moving forward with Sam Montembeault as the start, and Cayden Primeau serving as the primary backup. In 12 games this season, Allen has produced a very modest 4-6-2 record, carrying a .907 SV% and a 3.43 GAA.
Even though Allen had seen his name pop up in rumors dating back to last summer, the Canadiens handed a three-year, $9.45MM contract extension to Montembeault, effectively ending any chance that Allen would stay in Montreal beyond this season. Even aside from both Montembeault and Primeau already on the NHL roster, the team is still prepared to introduce 2023 draft pick, Jacob Fowler, within the next several years.
It is more than reasonable for all three teams mentioned to be interested as Carolina, Edmonton, and New Jersey are tied for last place in the NHL in SV% as a team, sitting a .879. Currently, Carolina is the only one of the three currently in a playoff position, sitting in the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, while both Edmonton and New Jersey are on the outside looking in.
Regardless of interest, it will be more difficult to ascertain the price point for Allen, given his current contract and his status as a backup goaltender. With teams having less financial ability during the season, the last time a similar goaltender was traded was on September 19th, with the Canadiens shipping Casey DeSmith to the Vancouver Canucks for Tanner Pearson and a third-round selection in the 2025 NHL Draft.
If Allen does ultimately end up with one of the three teams listed by Pagnotta, all three of them will likely need to move salary the other way, as currently, none would be able to assume the contract of Allen outright.
Habs retain 50% & take Raanta for picks / prospects from Carolina.
Habs have used two of their three retention slots on Petry & Edmundson. If they retain on Allen, that will tie up two slots for this season & next. It will have to be a tempting offer to persuade the Canadiens to retain salary.
Salary cap rising next year about 4 million. That and the remainder of the deal this year shouldn’t be a problem for the acquiring team.
Edmonton absolutely cannot afford him. They have a projected 200k of deadline space. Not today’s space, deadline space. The other 2 could probably tweak things to make a deal work.
Ladies and gentlemen… Chris Driedger has entered the conversation.
A healthy Dreidger is better than Allen and he’s on an expiring contract. Certainly, encouraging results after being off 20 months from an ACL tear. Seattle knows his recovery better than everyone else, so if he looks to be back, they have to keep him. If Seattle is making him available, I’d be cautious.
Seattle tried to move him before the season. If Grubauer returns and Driedger still looks good, I would be surprised if they didn’t try moving him once more. His AAV for this, his final year, was $3.5m but he was actually owed $4.5m, so I would assume some retention or a player the other way with most interested teams.
If I were Francis, this would be a trade deadline move, if at all. I would want to get a bead on his current level of play & try to project his performance from there. If he’s playing well, though, the Kraken may decide he’ll be too expensive once he becomes a UFA. I don’t think Seattle will be in playoff contention this year, so a TDL move makes sense, if they don’t plan to keep him. You need somebody other than Grubauer (who will falter at times). Daccord is OK as a backup but they need someone like Driedger. In most cases, adequate goaltending will be expensive as demand greatly exceeds supply.
I agree on the deadline… but they’ve gotta move him or let him walk. They’re stuck with Grubauer, which means Joey’s $1.2m (and his play) make him a lock for next year. I really can’t see them returning Driedger.