Montreal Canadiens: Hindsight is looking good on the Jake Allen extension

The Montreal Canadiens opted to extend Jake Allen before the team got underway with the 2022-23 season. Allen has started the season strong and performed exceptionally well. It’s early to make any true distinctions, but the hindsight is looking great early on.

When the team extended him, there were not a ton of public updates with regard to Carey Price and his future with the Montreal Canadiens. While the hopes were not very high for a return from Price, the latest updates seem like the end is here.

It’s nice to know the Habs have a netminder who can do the job in a 1A/1B scenario. His extension helps them have some peace of mind with the future of Habs goaltenders. A two-year, $7.7 million contract extension helps the Habs get some consistency moving forward.

The extension takes effect next season. Effectively, Allen will be with the Habs through the 2024-25 season, barring any trade. With Cayden Primeau also getting an extension, he will continue to tend goal with Laval and possibly emerge as the future backup.

Jake Allen’s extension looks great for the Montreal Canadiens so far.

Allen has played in three games for the Habs, where he may be 2-3-0 but has played exceptionally well. He’s been peppered with shots from the opposition, which leaves him in a tough spot, but he has gotten the job done.

He has posted a .917 save percentage and a 2.62 goals-against average to this point. He’s managed an 80% quality start percentage through the first five games of the season that Allen has been in net.

Allen has also managed a 1.9 Goals Saved Above Average(GSAA) early on, speaking to his ability to make saves and keep the opposition off the scoreboard. Plenty to like from what Allen has been able to accomplish early on.

It may be a long season ahead, but if Allen can continue to play this well, he will continue to prove his worth with a $3.85 million AAV for the next two seasons. Plus, with both Allen and Primeau getting extensions, it helps build for the future.

Allen will have the chance to show Primeau the ropes when he arrives in Montreal. It’s a good move from the Habs organization, and the initial hindsight is looking pretty good. A lot of things could change between now and the end of the contract or even the start of his extension next season.

But Allen has played remarkably well, given the circumstances, and it looks like he’s going to be an asset that keeps this team from really toppling over the edge. They could have had a much different start to the season without Allen playing well.