Insider: Trade Talks Set To Heat Up For Canadiens Goaltender

All season long we’ve been expecting the Montréal Canadiens to deal one of their three goaltenders. Now, as the calendar is set to turn to the new year, it appears that talks are heating up again for veteran netminder Jake Allen.

It wouldn’t be a rental, as Allen still has another year left on his contract at a $3.85 million cap hit. Insider David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period says calls are coming in to the Habs front office.

He mentions the Carolina Hurricanes, the New Jersey Devils and the Edmonton Oilers as teams that have poked around to see just what it would cost to acquire the veteran as a backup.

For a team that’s looking to bring in a depth goaltender, somebody that can come in as a 1B that has Cup experience, he’s going to generate more interest in the next little bit.

But there are a couple of caveats here. One is that Allen has a 7-team no-trade list, and the other is the suggestion that the Canadians aren’t in a definite rush to trade him. According to Pagnotta, they’re comfortable keeping three goalies all season if they don’t get a deal that moves the needle for them.

However, ever since the Habs handed out a three-year, $9.45M contract extension to starter Sam Montembeault earlier this season, it’s seemed like a fait accompli that Allen would be on the move.

The 33-year-old has a 4-6-2 mark this year with a 3.43 goals against and a .904 save percentage. He does have a Stanley Cup under his belt with the 2019 St. Louis Blues, though he played just one game for them in that playoff run.

 Photo: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports