Monster trade between Oilers and Canadiens fell apart last minute

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Liam McCormick
January 20, 2024 (8:18 PM)

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On the latest edition of the 32 thoughts podcast, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman dropped a bombshell report about a trade that nearly sent Canadiens' goaltender Jake Allen to the Oilers, but the deal fell apart just as it was nearing a close.

According to Friedman, the deal was near completion when the Oilers decided to pull out of the deal. Their goaltending from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard had certainly improved, and the cost for Jake Allen simply didn't seem to be worth it for Edmonton.

With two more seasons left on Allen's contract for $3.85M, a contending team like Edmonton would also need the Habs to retain some of Allen's salary - which Friedman reported also drove up the price for the trade. For a 33 year old goaltender with a 3.49 GAA and .901 save percentage, there's a lot of risk in paying premium assets for Allen.

I think what's happened there is that he's got a price that he's set, I think it's a draft pick. There's the trade price and then there's the retention price. And the price gets higher if there's retention.

If the Habs were asking likely a first round draft pick plus a prospect for Allen with retention, it's the right move for Holland and the Oilers to hold off on a deal and see if their goaltending can sort itself out. Now on a franchise record 12 game winning streak and getting quality goaltending from Stuart Skinner and Calvin Pickard, as well as Campbell improving in the minors, the Oilers may now look to improve their defence or forwards at the trade deadline instead of goaltending.