2. Jake Allen
Jake Allen has been phenomenal for the Devils since being traded by the Montreal Canadiens. His numbers in Montreal weren’t great, but the way his team played in front of him made his job difficult. He held an .892 SV% and a 3.65 GAA. Now, he’s 4-2 with a .925 SV% and a 2.51 GAA in six games with the Devils. In their win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on March 26, he stopped 42 shots.
We were skeptical about the trade when it happened, but Allen has shown his value. He’s been reliable and consistent. The Devils trust him to make big saves, keep them in a game, and even steal a game. Allen has embraced his opportunity to come in and spark some life into this team.
Looking toward the future, Allen is under contract for next season. The Devils are aiming to acquire a top goaltender this summer. Allen has made a strong case to stay with the Devils next year as the team’s 1B. With both Akira Schmid and Nico Daws getting close to losing waiver-exempt status and showing shades of readiness to assume the role of 1B themselves, it’s likely that one of them or Allen will be included in a trade during the offseason.