With the trade deadline approaching on Friday, March 8, Kent Hughes may have several assets to offer. While no one is guaranteed to depart from Montreal, players like David Savard, Tanner Pearson, and Johnathan Kovacevic could potentially find themselves on different teams.
Additionally, Jake Allen is a player who might attract interest from other teams. Discussions surrounding the goaltender were held between Michael Traikos and Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News.
According to Kennedy, Allen, who has a salary of $3.85 million annually through July 2025, possesses an appealing contract.
I can’t speak for other teams, but personally, the fact that his contract extends beyond 2024 is concerning, especially considering the goalkeeper’s recent struggles…
When asked if Edmonton could be a suitable destination for Allen, Traikos provided an argument in favor of a potential deal. He suggested that the transition wouldn’t necessarily be difficult since both cities are in Canada and have a strong hockey culture, minimizing the potential for a significant culture shock.
Traikos believes that Allen could be traded, even if Edmonton isn’t interested. However, there are already several goalkeepers available on the market, including Jacob Markstrom, Juuse Saros, Elvis Merzlikins, and Kaapo Kahkonen.
In my opinion, all four of these goalies are superior to Allen. However, they could come with a higher price tag, particularly Markstrom and Saros. As mentioned previously, Kent Hughes doesn’t seem to be in a rush to resolve the goaltending situation. If he doesn’t receive the desired price, he may not make a move.
Acquiring a goalie wouldn’t be a bad idea for Edmonton. While Stuart Skinner is performing well currently, he’s not the most consistent goalie in the NHL. Having Allen as a backup could provide valuable support and bring added playoff experience to Connor McDavid’s team.
The situation will continue to unfold until March 8.
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