Jake Allen explains why he left the Canadiens for the New Jersey Devils

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Jake Allen loved being a member of the Montreal Canadiens.

The hockey-crazy market, the crackling Bell Center on a Saturday night, the iconic logo of the Original Six franchise.

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The 33-year-old goalkeeper is also realistic.

With the Canadiens still in full rebuild mode, and two young netminders, Sam Montembeault and Cayden Primeau, set to get more playing time, Allen could see the writing on the wall.

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Desperate for help in their own sector, the New Jersey Devils asked Montreal about the veteran’s availability. But the team, general manager Tom Fitzgerald told reporters earlier this month, was initially on Allen’s no-trade list.

There was nothing the Fredericton product didn’t like about the organization or the city. The Devils just seemed to have their place in the years to come.

But when the club that finished with 112 points and reached the second round of the playoffs in 2022-23 was severely hampered by the poor play of Vitek Vanecek, Nico Daws and Akira Schmid (each goalkeeper had save percentages below .900 ), the Devils turned around. .

And Allen had changed his tune.

“I loved my time as a Hab,” he said of the red, white and blue threads of Montreal. “I will always appreciate it. He wears probably the most special jersey in hockey, in my books. But you realize that your career doesn’t last forever.

“Sometimes you have to make decisions.”

Allen, who was signed through next season, ultimately agreed to a deal that sent him to New Jersey ahead of the March 8 NHL trade deadline for a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 draft.

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In addition to playing meaningful hockey on a team trying to get back into the Eastern Conference playoff race, the trade gave him more leeway to settle his family in a new city rather than wait to see what the crowded NBA market might bring. goalkeepers this summer.

“Sometimes you have to be a little selfish,” said Allen, a Stanley Cup champion with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. “Look in the mirror and ask yourself what’s best for you and your family.”

He’s been really good for his new team.

Allen was subdued in the first period Tuesday against the Toronto Maple Leafs, making an astonishing 25 saves in what would become New Jersey’s 6-3 victory.

So far he is 4-2-0 with a .925 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against average in six starts for the Devils, who sit five points behind the second wild card in the East.

“A true professional,” interim head coach Travis Green said.

Allen is a combined 10-14-3 in 2023-24 with a .900 save percentage and a 3.39 GAA. Across his 11 seasons with St. Louis, Montreal and now New Jersey, he is 193-164-41 with a .908 save percentage and 2.75 GAA.

“He makes the stops we need to get some momentum back,” Devils captain Nico Hischier said. “If you have a solid goalie in net, your job will be easier.”

Allen is also 11-12 with a .924 GAA and 2.06 all-time in the playoffs, a good sign for his new club should New Jersey make the cut.

For now, though, he’s just enjoying being back in a postseason run.

“I thought it was a good opportunity to come the rest of this year and play some games,” Allen said.

“It’s been a good start.”

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