This summer, Spencer Lazary and I will continue our series with more potential free agent targets that could be on the market on July 1st.
Today, we talk about 12-year vet Jake Allen.
Target: Jake Allen - G - Age: 34 - 12 Years Experience
Jake Allen was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2008 and spent the first seven years of his career there. On September 2, 2020, Allen was traded to the Montréal Canadiens, where he would play until March 8, 2024. At the trade deadline in 2024, he was again traded, this time to the New Jersey Devils, where he would be for the last two seasons.
Stats
Allen started 29 games for the Devils this past season, and played a big part in the Devils season when Jacob Markstrom went down with an injury. Allen went 13-16-1 with a SV% of .908, and a GAA of 2.66, while tacking on four shutouts. Allen kept the Devils afloat until their star goalie was back.
Allen has started 23 games in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and played in 29 total, all for the Blues. he has a record of 11-11-1 with a SV% of .935, and a GAA of 1.89.
Previous Salary
Allen signed a 2 year, $7,700,000 contract with a cap hit of $3,850,000 per season in 2022. Contract experts put his next deal at 2 years, and $3.5 million per season.
Realistic Chances Of A Signing: Warm
Don Waddell will take a look at any goalie on the market, most likely. Unfortunately, there aren't many out there on the free agent market. The only way Allen would be an option is if Waddell decides to move on from Elvis Merzļikins, which will be a little easier this summer compared to last, based on last season's stats and his buyout options.
The main question is, can Allen be a #1 starter? He was on that trajectory early in his career until Jordan Binnington burst on the scene in 2019 and carried the Blues to their first title. Since then, though, he hasn't been looked at as anything other than a backup in most people's eyes.
This is 50/50 in my opinion. Is a tandem of Allen and Greaves better than a tandem of Elvis and Greaves?
Let us know what you think below.
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