Everyone loves Jake Allen. Certainly, no polling firm has measured his love rating in society in general. But the moment you enter the Canadian’s environment, the 33-year-old goalkeeper is unanimously adored and admired.
The “good teammate” that the players talk about is him. The one who, injured, sent text messages to encourage Samuel Montembeault when the team was at its worst. The one who remains calm in the midst of the worst storms. The one who converses at length with members of the media, rain or shine.
Allen is also among the CH’s most generous people when it comes to complimenting a teammate. All last season, he only had good words for Montembeault. Thursday, at the start of training camp, he repeated that the Quebecer had “proved that he is a very good goalkeeper.”
Regarding Cayden Primeau, he held nothing back: “I like him a lot, I’ve gotten to know him well since I’ve been in the organization. He has all the talent and tools in the world. I wish I had that many. »
Primeau, as we have already written, often struggles to establish himself among professionals. In the American League, he is without a shadow of a doubt up to the task. But he is also a goalkeeper who, for two years, has allowed three goals per game. In the NHL, there are few positives to note. He has won just 3 of his 17 career starts and has yet to appear like a goalkeeper ready to play full-time in the best league in the world.
“Patience is important, and bygones are bygones,” Allen said of the 24-year-old American. He must seize the opportunities. I know a lot of guys who were probably good enough to play in the NHL, but they didn’t get the opportunity. And others who had their chance, but didn’t take it. As soon as an opportunity presents itself, you have to make the most of it. »
So much for the good wishes. No one will question Jake Allen’s sincerity. However, there is an inevitable contradiction between his wishes for his teammates and his own ambitions.
At 33, we said, and after 400 NHL games, Jake Allen doesn’t play hockey to pass the time.
After a very difficult season, marked by injuries and ended with pitiful statistics, he wants to bounce back.
Even though he has always refused to quantify his personal goals, he did quantify his personal goals a little on Thursday: “I want to play more matches than last year. » More, therefore, than the 42 meetings, including 41 departures, from 2022-2023.
This remark, as laudable as it may be, betrays the Cornelian dilemma into which Allen is plunged. And which, fortunately (or not) for him, will not have the odiousness of having to unravel.
If the goalie duo that survives the camp is indeed made up of Montembeault and Allen, it is because Primeau will have failed to seize his chance. Conversely, if a chance presents itself to Primeau and he seizes it, it will very likely be to the detriment of Allen. And if Allen sees his desire to play more games come to fruition last year, it will mean that he will have been given number 1 status, to the detriment of Montembeault, who showed obvious progression last season.
We therefore asked him if he would be ready to play fewer matches than last season. Unusually, number 34 seemed taken aback for a moment.
“Yes, of course,” he breathed. All the goalkeepers will say that they want to play every match. I’m here for the group. »
And repeat: “I want to play well. But first and foremost I am here for the group. »
This is probably why everyone loves Jake Allen.
Canadiens fans will not be disoriented: the organization already announced Thursday that a player would have to be absent for an “indefinite” period. With a back injury, Chris Wideman will miss the start of training camp, at least. No additional information was provided by the team about it. Wideman, 33, is entering the final season of a two-year contract with CH. He was limited to 46 games in 2022-23, sometimes spending long weeks in the stands without playing. At this camp, he immediately appeared as the club’s eighth, or even ninth, defender.