Trade completed between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins: Habs' goalie Jake Allen brings forth a new solution
Many raised eyebrows when they saw that the Canadiens had acquired another goaltender, Casey DeSmith, in the mega trade that ultimately sent Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins. In a recent press briefing, Kent Hughes stated that he has a plan in mind and even reassured the newcomer that he won't end up in the AHL.
Adding to this, the call that the GM made to Samuel Montembeault's agent after the transaction aimed at reassuring him might give us some insight into the club's goaltending plans. But one of those who might be in danger in front of the net for the Canadiens, Jake Allen, has introduced a sensible new theory.
In an interview with Marc Antoine Godin for Radio-Canada, the 33-year-old goalie commented on the situation. He even suggested that the Canadiens might opt for a three-goaltender rotation to start the season.
"The game is so fast. Injuries are becoming more frequent because young players are playing hockey more and more often. The body accumulates mileage at a younger age. I think in the future, we will see three or four goalies being used very regularly throughout the year." - Jake Allen
This isn't a crazy idea, especially if we consider the trend of recent years. As Godin points out in his article, 107 goaltenders were used in the NHL last season. That's much more than the seasons before the pandemic, where around 95 goaltenders were used. Prior to the 2012 lockout, the average was below 90.
Even though Allen might see less time in the net this season, he, who has seen it all in his career, doesn't seem afraid of this sudden competition. He knows the battle will be intense, and he seems ready to jump into the game.
Contrary to what many think, Kent Hughes still has plenty of time to sort out the situation in front of the net. As seen, he has interesting options to keep his goaltenders and maximize their value. It's certain that a goaltender will get injured in the league sooner or later, and Hughes will be ready to make the price steep for any GM wanting to replace their injured player.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 20 | 1478 ANSWERS Trade completed between the Montreal Canadiens and the Pittsburgh Penguins: Habs' goalie Jake Allen brings forth a new solution What would you do if it was your decision? | ||
| Trade Allen | 850 | 57.5 % |
| Trade DeSmith | 276 | 18.7 % |
| Keep everyone | 222 | 15 % |
| Trade Montembeault | 130 | 8.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
