TSN reporter believes Jake Allen's time is coming to an end in Montreal
According to TSN's Eric Macramella, this will likely be Jake Allen's final season with the Habs, with the veteran netminder very likely to be dealt this year at some point.
Allen is entering the final year of his contract that will pay him $2.875M, but with uncertainty surrounding Carey Price, it will be surprising if he is traded before Price comes back (if he comes back). The Habs have Samuel Montembeault signed for the next two seasons at $1M per season and have Cayden Primeau waiting in the wings.
Price is on schedule to return during training camp, but with his recent knee issues constantly bothering him, should he get hurt and the Habs deal Allen, they will be forced to play with two unestablished goalies in Montembeault and Primeau. While Allen's numbers have not been the greatest since joining the Habs for the 2020/2021 season, his experience would be valuable in mentoring either Monetembeault or Primeau, whichever would be his backup should Price miss time again. Allen has posted a 3.01GAA and .906 save percentage over two seasons with the Habs and while his numbers haven't been great, neither has the team in front of him.
If Allen is dealt, expect it to be a deadline type of deal depending on where the Habs are standings wise at that point in the season. It sounds like it may be another long season for the Habs and their fans, but their youngsters did show a lot of promise once Martin St. Louis took over behind the bench in the last quarter of the season last year.
The "x-factor" here is that perhaps the Habs are going to embrace the losing culture for one more season for a crack at the Connor Bedard lottery. In that case, maybe dealing Allen this summer does make some sense to maximize their chances of bottoming out. That is, of course, if they're considering sending Juraj Slafkovsky to Laval this season.
