The New Jersey Devils have been active in the goalie trade market for months. Since last offseason, they've been tied to Connor Hellebuyck, Juuse Saros, Jacob Markstrom, John Gibson, Linus Ullmark, Elvis Merzlikins, Kevin Lankinen, and Kaapo Kahokonen. After all this time and probably hundreds of Tom Fitzgerald phone calls, the Devils finally made a move for a g
Allen will go to NJ for a conditional 3rd (games played could make it a second)
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) March 8, 2024
The New Jersey Devils acquired Jake Allen from the Montreal Canadiens for a conditional third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. As the tweet states above, the third can become a second-round pick based on games played. We highly recommend the Devils do not do that. The condition is if Allen plays 40 games between this year and next year. That seems way too attainable.
As part of the deal, the Canadiens agreed to pay half of Allen's salary and cap hit. He's under contract this year and next for a $3.85 million cap hit. That means the Devils are on the hook for just under $2 million next season.
This coming after the less-than-stellar return for Tyler Toffoli isn't going to sit well with the Devils fanbase. It hasn't been a banner day for Tom Fitzgerald.
Some are saying that this could lead to another trade. The Devils could use Allen as part of a bigger Markstrom or Saros trade next season. However, if the Devils talk with a team that doesn't want Allen, they might be looking at a much older tandem. This would push Akira Schmid and Nico Daws down the list.
This is a bizarre move to say the least. Fitzgerald said he wanted to get a goalie who could take some of the stress away from Schmid and Daws down the stretch, but getting a questionable goalie with term seems like they are in the same situation they already have with Vitek Vanecek. Now, both Vanecek and Allen are signed through next season at a combined almost $6 million. On top of that, both Daws and Schmid need new contracts.
This seemed like the wrong move for the Devils on the surface, but it's a move that deserves some time to percolate. Let's see how everything falls into place throughout the offseason.