Allen settles in… Next Caufield?

Jake Allen sees his contract extension as a great opportunity, especially with an offer from Kent Hughes and the Canadiens appealing for the goalkeeper to play a specific role.

Is he number one? Yes, in the case of Canadians. No, for most other National League teams.

The decision-makers of the Canadian undoubtedly made a list of goalkeepers who are likely to acquire their status of free agent without compensation in July 2023 and came to the following conclusion: Allen has nothing to envy his teammates.

Names? Frederic Anderson, Carolina Hurricanes, Jonathan Bernier, Cam Talbot, Anton Khudobin, Alex Nedeljkovic and Mackenzie Blackwood.

Anderson and Blackwood dominate the group, but can they do better than Allen in the new formation we want to implement with the Canadian?

Hughes responded by offering a two-year extension to a goaltender respected by all his teammates, a goaltender who wanted to participate in a program set up by a new management team.

He wants other goalkeepers to benefit from everything he has learned in his long experience in the National League.

Good decision.

Fans love it

Are we going to dwell on the Cole Caufield file now?

We don’t want to rush the negotiations. And with good reason.

Caufield, 21, is completing the final year of his contract and will be a restricted free agent. Is the small forward risking a move to the team?

He could accept a negative offer from one of the league’s other 31 teams, but given the Canadiens’ chance to match the offer, he almost certainly would.

Fans love Caufield, a player with a certain charisma who has quickly earned his spot in the organization.

And, not really…