Montreal Canadiens Rumour: Jake Allen Won’t Be Odd Man Out In Goal

The Montreal Canadiens made a surprising mid-summer trade as they got involved in the Erik Karlsson trade between the San Jose Sharks and Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Canadiens ended up clearing up a logjam of forwards in the deal by shipping Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick to the Sharks. However, they added to a crowded blue line and crease in the process.

Jeff Petry was acquired but has already been traded again, this time to the Detroit Red Wings, for Gustav Lindstrom and a fourth round pick. That still leaves a plethora of defenders on the roster, but a few can start the year with the Laval Rocket to keep NHL-ready options nearby for the inevitable injuries that will occur.

The Canadiens also acquired Casey DeSmith and the final year of his $1.8 million salary. This adds yet another NHL goaltender to a team that already had Sam Montembeault and Jake Allen locked up for next season. Cayden Primeau is also waiting in the wings and will need to clear waivers for the first time, so the crease is quite crowded at this point.

It seems like another trade is surely coming, but who will be on the way out?

According to TVA Sports, it will not be Jake Allen leaving town. The veteran goaltender has two years left on his contract with a cap hit of $3.85 million and apparently has been reassured that he will be staying in Montreal to begin this season.

That makes a lot of sense as there probably isn’t a huge market for a backup goaltender with that cap hit. That’s especially true when you consider he had a 3.55 GAA and an .891 SV% last season. Those numbers would likely be improved on a better team, but it isn’t enough for a contender to bring him in at nearly $4 million.

That leaves DeSmith and Montembeault to trade, with Primeau likely heading on waivers to begin the season. Montembeault showed flashes of possibly being a future starting goalie, so he isn’t likely to be moved either.

That really leaves DeSmith as the likely trade candidate. We will have to wait and see who eventually gets moved, but at least we know it won’t be Jake Allen.

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