Montreal Canadian General Manager Deadline Day Trade Of Jake Allen Faulted As…
Kent Hughes searched for months to break up his team’s unusual three-goalie logjam.
As the trade deadline neared, that opportunity finally opened up.
The Montreal Canadiens general manager sent goaltender Jake Allen to the New Jersey Devils for a 2025 conditional third-round draft pick in his only trade on NHL deadline day.
“We had been talking with teams for months,” Hughes said Friday at CN Sports Complex, the Canadiens’ practice facility. “But it’s really this week that we received offers.”
The pick could become a second-round selection if Allen plays in 40 or more games next season and his team makes the playoffs. Montreal retained 50 per cent of Allen’s US$3.85 million salary through the end of 2024-25.
The 33-year-old Allen had a .892 save percentage, a 3.65 goals-against average and a 6-12-3 record in 21 starts in Montreal this season while splitting the crease with Sam Montembeault look (27) and Cayden Primeau (24), both of whom are on one-way contracts.
Montembeault, with a .905 save percentage, has steadily grown into a solid starter over 30 games this season and signed a three-year, US$9.45-million contract extension in December.
Meanwhile, Primeau put up a solid .901 in 14 starts. Hughes said the Canadiens believed they would have lost the young netminder on waivers had they solved the three-goalie system by sending him to the minors.
As a result, Allen was the odd man out.
“Cayden did well and led us to feel more comfortable that he was ready for more regular NHL action,” Hughes said. “Given where we are, and the age difference of the three goalies, Jake became the more likely candidate to be traded.
Otherwise, Hughes kept his rebuilding team intact on deadline day as Montreal moves toward missing the playoffs for a third straight season.
On Allen, opinions says it was not the best time for Allen to be traded.