The Montreal Canadiens have secured their depth in net.
As the regular season creeps closer on the horizon, the Canadiens decided to solidify one of their most important positions, agreeing to terms with goaltender Jake Allen on a two-year contract extension worth an average annual value of $3.85 million.
The deal, which ties Allen to Montreal through the 2024-25 season, will kick in at the start of 2023-24, as Allen has one year remaining on his current contract that will pay him $2.875 million for the coming year.
With Carey Price’s career in a state of flux at the moment, locking up Allen for the next two years is a very shrewd piece of business. Even as the Canadiens spiraled down to the NHL’s basement in 2021-22, Allen continued to play solid hockey while keeping his underlying numbers afloat, finishing with a 9-20-2 record and two shutouts to go with a .905 save percentage in 35 games.
Those might not seem like the numbers worthy of an additional commitment. But given just how atrocious the roster was around Allen last season, the fact that he continued to put forth replacement-level performances is something to behold.
With Allen’s contract now in the books, the Canadiens now have both members of their goalie tandem locked in for the next two years, with backup Sam Montembeault having recently signed a two-year extension of his own this past summer.
If Price ever becomes healthy enough to play in the NHL once again, he and Allen will make a fine tandem. And if not, then the Canadiens are at least confident enough in Allen to hold the fort moving forward.
