Jake Allen (ice Hockey)
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Jake Allen (born August 7, 1990) is a Canadian professional
ice hockey Ice hockey (or simply hockey in North America) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. Tw ...
goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...
for the
New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
of the
National Hockey League The National Hockey League (NHL; , ''LNH'') is a professional ice hockey league in North America composed of 32 teams25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. The NHL is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United States and Cana ...
(NHL). He was selected in the second round, 34th overall, by the
St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
in the
2008 NHL entry draft The 2008 NHL entry draft was the 46th entry draft for the National Hockey League. It was hosted by the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Place in Ottawa, Ontario, on June 20–21, 2008. The Senators were originally awarded the 2005 NHL entry draft ...
and won the
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
with the Blues in
2019 This was the year in which the first known human case of COVID-19 was documented, preceding COVID-19 pandemic, the pandemic which was declared by the World Health Organization the following year. Up to that point, 2019 had been described as ...
. Allen has also previously played for the
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
.


Playing career


Amateur

Allen was born in
Fredericton Fredericton (; ) is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of New Brunswick. The city is situated in the west-central portion of the province along the Saint John River (Bay of Fundy), Saint John River, ...
,
New Brunswick New Brunswick is a Provinces and Territories of Canada, province of Canada, bordering Quebec to the north, Nova Scotia to the east, the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the northeast, the Bay of Fundy to the southeast, and the U.S. state of Maine to ...
, and played for the Midget "AAA" Fredericton Canadiens before being selected in the third round of the 2007
Quebec Major Junior Hockey League The Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL; , LHJMQ), formerly the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League is one of the three major junior ice hockey leagues that constitute the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). The league includes teams in Quebec ...
(QMJHL) draft by the
St. John's Fog Devils The St. John's Fog Devils were a junior ice hockey team in the Eastern Division of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) from 2005 to 2008. They were based in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and played at Mile One Centre ...
. After one season with the team, the Fog Devils were sold and relocated to
Verdun Verdun ( , ; ; ; official name before 1970: Verdun-sur-Meuse) is a city in the Meuse (department), Meuse departments of France, department in Grand Est, northeastern France. It is an arrondissement of the department. In 843, the Treaty of V ...
, a
Montreal Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...
suburb, becoming the
Montreal Junior Hockey Club The Montreal Junior Hockey Club ('' French: Le Club de Hockey Junior de Montréal'') was a junior ice hockey team in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The team was based out of the Verdun Auditorium, in Verdun, Quebec, Canada. The St ...
for the 2008–09 season. In January 2010, Allen was traded to the
Drummondville Voltigeurs The Drummondville Voltigeurs are a Canadian junior ice hockey team of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The franchise was originally granted for the 1982–83 season, and is based in Drummondville, Quebec, playing its home game ...
following the annual World Juniors tournament, and posted a record of 18 wins and three losses with a .933
save percentage Save percentage (often known by such symbols as SV%, SVS%, SVP, PCT) is a statistic in various Goal (sports), goal-scoring sports that track Save (goaltender), saves as a statistic. In ice hockey and lacrosse and association football, it is a sta ...
and 1.75
goals against average Goals against average (GAA), also known as average goals against (AGA), is a statistic used in field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and water polo that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender or goalkeeper (depending on spo ...
(GAA). He was named the recipient of the
Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy The Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the goaltender in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) with the best goals-against average. It is named for Hockey Hall of Fame goaltender Jacques Plante. Prior to the creation ...
as QMJHL goaltender of the year in 2009–10.


Professional


St. Louis Blues

On October 22, 2008, Allen was signed to an entry-level contract by draft team, the
St. Louis Blues The St. Louis Blues are a professional ice hockey team based in St. Louis. The Blues compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
. He made his NHL debut during the
2012 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2011–12 season. It began on April 11, 2012, after the conclusion of the regular season, and ended on June 11, with the Los Angeles Kings def ...
, coming in to briefly relieve
Brian Elliott Brian Elliott (born April 9, 1985) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender who played parts of 16 seasons in the National Hockey League. He was drafted by the Ottawa Senators in the ninth round, 291st overall, of the 2003 NHL E ...
late in the Blues' second game against the
Los Angeles Kings The Los Angeles Kings are a professional ice hockey team based in Los Angeles. The Kings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. ...
in the Western Conference semifinals on April 30. Amidst the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Allen was recalled to the Blues and recorded his first NHL start and win in a 4–3
overtime Overtime is the amount of time someone works beyond normal working hours. The term is also used for the pay received for this time. Normal hours may be determined in several ways: *by custom (what is considered healthy or reasonable by society) ...
victory over the
Detroit Red Wings The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
on February 13, 2013. On April 17, 2014, Allen was named the
Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award The Aldege "Baz" Bastien Memorial Award is presented annually to the American Hockey League's best goaltender. The award winner is chosen by AHL media and players. The award is named after former AHL Pittsburgh Hornets goaltender Aldege "Baz" Bas ...
winner as the
American Hockey League The American Hockey League (AHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America that serves as the primary developmental league of the National Hockey League (NHL). The league comprises 32 teams, with 26 in the United States and 6 in Cana ...
's (AHL) best goaltender for the 2013–14 season. On March 26, 2016, Allen registered a 4–0
shutout In team sports, a shutout (North American English, US) or clean sheet (Commonwealth English, UK) is a game in which the losing team fails to score. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketba ...
win over the
Washington Capitals The Washington Capitals (colloquially known as the Caps) are a professional ice hockey team based in Washington, D.C. The Capitals compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NH ...
to help the Blues break their franchise record for longest stretch without allowing a goal. In the 2015–16 season, he tallied 26 wins along with a 2.35 GAA and .920 save percentage. During the 2016–17 season, Allen was pulled four times in six starts during a rough stretch of play, including a poor showing on January 19, 2017, where he allowed four goals on 10 shots against the Washington Capitals. Allen did not travel with the team to Winnipeg for the January 21 game against the
Winnipeg Jets The Winnipeg Jets are a professional ice hockey team based in Winnipeg. The Jets compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The te ...
, and stayed home to be with his newborn daughter. He was scheduled to rejoin the team on January 23, for the remaining two games of the road trip. His play soon rebounded however, and he was named Second Star of the Week on February 13. Allen went 3–0–0 with a 1.00 GAA, a .967 save percentage along with his 13th career shutout against the
Ottawa Senators The Ottawa Senators (), officially the Ottawa Senators Hockey Club and colloquially known as the Sens, are a professional ice hockey team based in Ottawa. The Senators compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Di ...
on February 7. His two other wins were against the
Toronto Maple Leafs The Toronto Maple Leafs (officially the Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club and often referred to as the Leafs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Toronto. The Maple Leafs compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the A ...
on February 9, and
Montreal Canadiens The Montreal Canadiens (), officially ' ( Canadian Hockey Club) and colloquially known as the Habs, are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal. The Canadiens compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic D ...
on February 11. On November 16, 2017, Allen recorded his 100th career NHL win in a 4–1 defeat of the
Edmonton Oilers The Edmonton Oilers are a professional ice hockey team based in Edmonton. The Oilers compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. Th ...
. Allen won the
Stanley Cup The Stanley Cup () is the championship trophy awarded annually to the National Hockey League (NHL) playoff champion. It is the oldest existing trophy to be awarded to a professional sports franchise in North America, and the International Ic ...
behind rookie netminder
Jordan Binnington Jordan Binnington (born July 11, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender for the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). Binnington was raised in Richmond Hill and Toronto, Ontario. He played major junior hockey for ...
in the
2019 Stanley Cup Finals The 2019 Stanley Cup Finals was the championship series of the National Hockey League's (NHL) 2018–19 season and the culmination of the 2019 Stanley Cup playoffs. The Western Conference champion St. Louis Blues defeated the Eastern Confe ...
. He had begun the season as the starting goaltender, however, after the team dove to last place in league standings midway through the 2018–19 campaign, the latter was given a shot. While Binnington shone in goal, Allen finished the second half of the season with a 5–4–4 record.


Montreal Canadiens

On September 2, 2020, Allen was traded to the Montreal Canadiens with a
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seventh-round pick in exchange for
2020 The year 2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of even ...
third-round and seventh-round picks. On October 14, Allen signed a two-year, $5.75 million contract extension with the Canadiens taking him through the 2022–23 season. Allen immediately distinguished himself as a capable
backup goaltender In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as goalie or netminder) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their own team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays ...
to
Carey Price Carey Price (born August 16, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey goaltender currently under contract with the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). Considered one of the best goaltenders in the world during his career, ...
, especially during a stretch of the 2020–21 season where Price was unable to play due to a concussion. Allen's performance in net was widely credited with allowing the Canadiens to make the
2021 Stanley Cup playoffs The 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs was the playoff tournament of the National Hockey League (NHL) for the 2020–21 season. The playoffs began on May 15, 2021, and concluded on July 7, 2021, with the Tampa Bay Lightning winning their second consecu ...
, though Allen did not see action during the playoffs following Price's return. For his efforts, Allen received recognition as the team's annual recipient of the Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy, awarded to the player deemed to have had a dominant role during the course of the regular season. Entering the off-season, it was widely assumed that Allen would be taken by the
Seattle Kraken The Seattle Kraken are a professional ice hockey team based in Seattle. The Kraken compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The t ...
in the 2021 NHL expansion draft, as the rules allowed for teams to protect only one goaltender, and Price had a contractual guarantee of such protection. However, Price and Canadiens general manager
Marc Bergevin Marc Bergevin (born August 11, 1965) is a Canadian professional ice hockey executive and former player. He is currently senior advisor to the general manager of the Los Angeles Kings. Bergevin played as a defenceman in the NHL. Playing career As ...
opted to waive Price's no-trade clause and expose him, allowing them to protect Allen while calculating that Price's age and salary would deter the Kraken from taking him. Following Price entering into the
National Hockey League Players' Association The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA, ) is the trade union, labour union for the group of professional List of NHL players, hockey players who are under Standard Player Contracts to the 32 member clubs in the National Hockey ...
's (NHLPA) Player Assistance Program at the start of the 2021–22 season, Allen again assumed the role as the Canadiens' starting goaltender. He was generally judged to be performing strongly even as the team struggled offensively, most notably posting a 45-save shutout in an October 28 road game against the
San Jose Sharks The San Jose Sharks are a professional ice hockey team based in San Jose, California. The Sharks compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Con ...
that represented the Canadiens' first victory in San Jose in over two decades. On January 12, 2022, Allen sustained a groin injury in a game against the
Boston Bruins The Boston Bruins are a professional ice hockey team based in Boston. The Bruins compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The t ...
, and it was announced that he would miss eight weeks of the season. He returned to the team for a March 17 game against the
Dallas Stars The Dallas Stars are a professional ice hockey team based in Dallas. The Stars compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference. The Stars ...
, making several noteworthy saves in a 4–3 overtime loss. Allen made 10 more appearances in net with the Canadiens, but was forced to exit an April 9 game against the Toronto Maple Leafs after suffering a lower body injury while attempting to stop a shot by Leafs forward
Auston Matthews Auston Taylour Matthews (born September 17, 1997) is an American professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and captain (ice hockey), captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). Matthews is widely considere ...
. Missing the team's remaining schedule with yet another groin injury, Allen referred to his sophomore campaign with Montreal as a "season from hell." With Price ruled out of the lineup for the entirety of the 2022–23 season, Allen, entering the final year of his contract with the Canadiens, assumed the role as the team's starting goaltender. On September 28, 2022, newly appointed team general manager Kent Hughes confirmed that he was hoping to negotiate a contract extension with Allen. Thereafter, Allen signed a two-year, $7.7 million extension with the Canadiens on October 1. The ensuing season was marked by the ascending profile of Allen's former backup goaltender, Sam Montembeault, who enjoyed success early on in a supporting role before taking over for a stretch of games in January 2023 when Allen himself was injured. Upon Allen's return to the lineup, he and Montembeault largely alternated starts on an equal basis. Allen finished third in
Molson Cup The Molson Cup is an award presented to a distinguished player on Canadian ice hockey teams. After each game, the " three game stars" are selected, usually by a member of the media. At the end of the season, the player with the most three-star h ...
voting as the team's most valuable player at the end of the year, behind captain
Nick Suzuki Nicholas Suzuki (born August 10, 1999) is a Canadian professional ice hockey Centre (ice hockey), centre and Captain (ice hockey), captain for the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 13th ov ...
and Montembeault respectively. Montreal began the 2023–24 season with three goaltenders on their active roster as, in addition to Allen and Montembeault, prospect
Cayden Primeau Cayden Primeau (born August 11, 1999) is an American professional ice hockey goaltender for the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the seventh round, 199th overall, by the Montreal Canadiens in the 2017 N ...
was no longer exempt from waivers and thus could not be sent down to AHL affiliate
Laval Rocket The Laval Rocket () are a professional ice hockey team based in Laval, Quebec. They are the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL) and Trois-Rivières Lions of the ECHL. The Rocket play ...
without possibly being lost to another team. This precipitated discussions about one of the netminders being traded. Despite his sporadic use, Allen played in his 400th career NHL game on November 2, 2023, and would post a 6–12–3 record and .892 save percentage for the Canadiens that season.


New Jersey Devils

On March 8, 2024, Allen was traded to the
New Jersey Devils The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference (NHL), Eastern Conference. The club w ...
in exchange for a conditional
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third-round pick. He made his Devils debut on March 14, making 35 saves in a 6–2 victory over the Dallas Stars. On October 14, Allen recorded a 20-save shutout in a 3–0 victory against the
Utah Hockey Club The Utah Mammoth are a professional ice hockey team based in Salt Lake City. The Mammoth compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division in the Western Conference. The franchise joined the league as an expansion ...
. Being the first loss in franchise history for Utah, Allen effectively became the first goaltender in NHL history to record a win against 33 different league franchises. On November 23, Allen recorded his 200th career NHL win in a 3–2 victory over the Washington Capitals.


International play

Allen was chosen to play for the Canadian under-18 team in the 2008 World U18 Championships where he won gold and was named both top goaltender and the tournament's most valuable player (MVP). He then represented the national junior team at the 2010 World Junior Championships, capturing a silver medal after posting four wins and one subsequent loss in the final to
Team USA The United States national team or Team USA may refer to any of a number of sports team representing the United States in international competitions. Olympic teams Additionally, these teams may compete in other international competitions such as ...
.


Personal life

As a teenager, Allen was a promising young golfer, and won back-to-back junior golf championships on the same course he worked on up until he was drafted to the NHL. Allen and his wife Shannon have three daughters.


Career statistics


Regular season and playoffs


International


Awards and honours


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Allen, Jake 1990 births Living people Canadian ice hockey goaltenders Chicago Wolves players Drummondville Voltigeurs players Ice hockey people from New Brunswick Montreal Canadiens players Montreal Junior Hockey Club players New Jersey Devils players Peoria Rivermen (AHL) players St. John's Fog Devils players St. Louis Blues draft picks St. Louis Blues players Canadian expatriate ice hockey players in the United States Sportspeople from Fredericton Stanley Cup champions 21st-century Canadian sportsmen