Devils News

BREAKING: Devils Trade for Montreal Canadiens Goaltender Jake Allen

Jake Allen holds a 6-12-3 record with a 3.65 GAA and .892 SV%.

Published

7 months ago

March 8, 2024

James Nichols

NEWARK — The New Jersey Devils have acquired goaltender Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens.

The Devils send a conditional 2025 third-round pick back to the Canadiens. The third-round pick can become a second based on if Allen plays 40 games and the Devils make the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Montreal is also retaining 50% of Allen’s contract which runs through the end of 2024-25.

Allen (33) is in the first year of a two-year contract signed with the Canadiens that carries an average annual value of $3.85 million. Allen’s contract includes a seven-team no-trade list.

In 21 games this season, Allen’s accrued a 6-12-3 record in rotation with two other goaltenders in Montreal in Samuel Montembault and Cayden Primeau. Allen sports a 3.65 GAA and .892 SV%.

Allen comes in as a former Stanley Cup champion with the St. Louis Blues — although the majority share of the starts went to Jordan Binnington in the 2019 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Young goaltender Nico Daws has received the lion’s share of the starts in net for the Devils since veteran Vitek Vanecek went down with an injury. Akira Schmid has relieved Daws on occasion.

The Devils have certainly needed an upgrade in goal as they sit 31st in the NHL with a team SV% of .833.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald acquires Allen despite making a heavy push for Calgary Flames goaltender Jacob Markstrom. Reports also suggest Fitzgerald inquired about Boston Bruins goaltender Linus Ullmark.

On Tuesday, Fitzgerald commented on the Devils’ goaltending situation in need of an upgrade.

“I say this knowing I have goaltenders in my (locker) room that are trying to stop pucks every day,” Fitzgerald explained. “There’s a human element to it, and our goalies are listening to me answer this right now, and that’s tough for me. But the reality is, yes, as you know, I’m in the market.”

Allen will seemingly remain with the Devils at least through next season. Whether or not this deal changes Fitzgerald’s course of action on someone like Markstrom or Ullmark remains to be seen.