With just 52 points through February 20th, it’s clear the Montreal Canadiens will have a tough time seeking out a playoff berth in 2024. But that shouldn’t worry too many fans, as the Habs are still relatively early in their rebuild.
However, it also means Montreal will sell at the trade deadline, and there are quite a few under-the-radar talents who could draw the interest of other teams. Sean Monahan already left for Winnipeg, and with a recent hat trick to his resume, it’s safe to say he’s faring well for the Jets.
So, which under-the-radar talents could provide a boost for the NHL’s contenders as the trade deadline approaches and the playoff race intensifies? Here are three names who the Canadiens can move before the deadline who won’t be around for most of this team’s rebuild.
Jake Allen makes for a tremendous backup goalie for several contenders
With Cayden Primeau playing relatively well in the net, the aging Jake Allen is arguably the most expendable Canadiens player at the moment. Allen’s 0.894 save percentage and 3.66 GAA aren’t impressive, but he won’t be asked to do much more than to provide insurance for a team that lacks goaltending depth, and that will be important should anything happen to a starting netminder.
It’s also hard to blame Allen for his inconsistencies, given the 33.3 shots on goal he’s facing per game in Montreal. His 0.474 quality starts percentage also isn’t awful, and it shows that he’s put together some rather sound performances throughout the regular season for a young Canadiens team.
Overall, Allen isn’t a goalie contenders want to see start in every game. But given his past success as a member of the St. Louis Blues and experience in the playoffs, at the absolute least, he makes for a solid locker room leader and a capable backup.