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Jake Allen: Kings and Oilers showed interest this summer

Jake Allen is off to an excellent start to the season. It’s no secret any more.

In five starts, he has a 3-1-1 record, a .927 goals-against average and a 2.72 goals-against average.

Every game, he gives his team a chance to win.

Let’s just say that if Kent Hughes is considering the option of trading him, he must be satisfied; his goaltender’s value increases from game to game.

This summer, the Kings and Oilers, among others, showed interest in the 33-year-old. This is what The Fourth Period mentioned in its article below.

Are they still interested? Have the Sabres negotiated with Montreal as well?

As for the Kings, their number-one goaltender Cam Talbot is doing well. After a disappointing season in Ottawa, he’s maintaining an efficiency average of .923 and a goals-against average of 2.14, through nine games in 2023-2024.

His assistant, Phoenix Copley, represents a bigger question mark. His numbers are disastrous , and GM Rob Blake may turn to the Habs to solve his number-two goaltending problem. Because let’s face it, I don’t think Talbot will keep up similar numbers all season long. He needs protection, after all…

Los Angeles has big ambitions this season. In view of a trade, they still hold their first-round picks for the next three seasons, but the California team no longer has their second- and third-round picks in 2024.

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As for the Oilers, it’s been a nightmare season for them. Edmonton, who many thought would win the Stanley Cup or at least go far in the playoffs, has a 2-7-1 record.

Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl are still the two-headed monster (though their production has dropped off a bit), but it’s in front of the cage that’s the real problem. Both goalies, Stuart Skinner and Jack Campbell, have efficiency averages below .880 and goals-against averages above 3.60…

Allowing around four goals a game isn’t going to win the team any duels. In any case, if the goaltending problem isn’t addressed, the season will turn into a bigger nightmare very quickly.

Is Jake Allen, who is being paid $3.85 million for another season after this one, the best option for the Canadian team? The problem: the team is financially strapped and doesn’t necessarily have any bad contracts to part with. A third team could be negotiating, then.

Kent Hughes probably wasn’t interested in the potential offers from his counterparts for his veteran goaltender this summer. Will the other GMs start making more serious offers?

In brief

– Great job by the GM.

– The Canucks offense is on fire.

– Pascal Vincent has guts.

– Stay tuned for the next Leafs-Bruins game.

– Well done.