Jake Allen has reopened an uncomfortable chapter from Martin St-Louis' tenure behind the Montreal Canadiens' bench.
The veteran goaltender didn't hide his frustration when discussing Montreal's three-goalie system during the 2023-24 season.
Allen shared the crease with Samuel Montembeault and Cayden Primeau for months, creating an unusual setup that became a constant talking point around the Canadiens.
The situation left Allen without the workload or stability he wanted while trying to show he could still handle meaningful NHL starts.
He recently addressed the experience during an interview with Daily Faceoff, making it clear that the arrangement never sat well with him.
“Montembeault and I had them, and they kept Cayden Primeau.
-
We thought Cayden was going to be demoted, but they kept us.”
Jake Allen felt pushed aside in Montreal
Allen then explained how the Canadiens' decision affected him personally as the crowded crease continued through the winter.
“Personally, I didn't really appreciate it, because we felt left out,” the veteran said about that controversial period.
That quote cuts directly to the problem. Allen wasn't only frustrated by reduced playing time. He felt the organization's handling of the situation left him and Montembeault in an awkward position.
Stu Cowan later added another detail on The Sick Podcast, saying Allen wasn't a major fan of goaltending coach Eric Raymond.
That relationship had received far less public attention than the three-goalie rotation, but it adds context to Allen's difficult final months in Montreal.
Raymond carried an old-school reputation and could be demanding with his goalies during daily work around the crease.
For Allen, the combination of limited starts, an unsettled rotation and tension with the coaching staff created a situation that was never going to last.
Kent Hughes eventually moved Allen to the New Jersey Devils, ending the Canadiens' three-goalie experiment and giving the veteran a fresh opportunity.
Allen's latest comments show the trade offered more than a change of jersey. It removed him from a setup he openly disliked and a locker-room dynamic that had become uncomfortable.
Did the Canadiens mishandle Jake Allen's final season in Montreal?
Also read on Markerzone.com:
A major trade development involving Shane Wright has just been confirmed and it's the price is substantial
