Jake Allen in Edmonton: Elliotte Friedman isn’t a big believer

The Oilers need a goalie for… obvious reasons. The club looks great on paper, but the goalies have been dragging the club down all season.

And when I say since the start of the season, I mean longer than that.

But the Oilers aren’t about to panic. They’re not interested in making a big-ticket deal, and that’s why nothing is moving in Alberta right now.

The other teams are waiting for Holland with a brick and a lantern.

But that doesn’t stop club members from doing their homework. And as Elliotte Friedman reported on Saturday night, all three CH goalies are on the Oilers’ radar.

On the bangs of his podcast, 32 Thoughts, the tipster added a little more.

According to him, the Oilers have been watching all three Canadiens goaltenders over the past week at CH home games. Is that why all three have been keeping goal? Most likely, yes.

And still according to Friedman, it would be more surprising if it were Jake Allen who went to Alberta than one of his two young colleagues, in the end.

In the end, it’s quite possible that none of the three will head to Alberta. After all, if it’s not Allen, if the Oilers don’t necessarily see Cayden Primeau as the answer, and if Samuel Montembeault isn’t up for trade (unless he has the moon), it just might not work out.

At $3.85 million per season for another 19 months, Jake Allen isn’t necessarily the most attractive of goalies… and one wonders if the goalie, who can refuse certain trades, wants to go to Edmonton?

The question, however, is how far the Habs have progressed in their contract negotiations with Samuel Montembeault. After all, that’s part of the deal, too.

Here’s what the journalist had to say about the matter:

I think the Habs would like some clarity on Montembeault. – Elliotte Friedman

Friedman says he doesn’t know where the Habs stand in their negotiations with the Quebec goaltender. But if things aren’t moving forward quickly, and the CH wants to settle its ménage à trois, could that get things moving?

Whether it’s agreeing to sign the Quebecer or making a deal involving Montembeault or Primeau, the options are on the table for a GM who’s fed up with a three-way street. That’s not an easy thing to do when it comes to managing the rest of the roster.

Because goalies with no-trade (or no-movement) clauses don’t always want to accept a deal to Edmonton, and because Jack Campbell can’t find his way back to the AHL, Montembeault or Primeau are realistic options.

To share the task with Stuart Skinner, the Oilers might not say no.

The Habs don’t want to drag out the fun with their goaltenders, and they must be tired of sharing the net like this. Will Kent Hughes be patient for much longer?

Remember that recently, Darren Dreger brought Xavier Bourgault’s name into the discussion.

In gusto

– The Avalanche are looking for reinforcements.

– Jayden Struble is excited.

– Marc-Antoine Dequoy explains.

– Still.

– Lindy Ruff: contract extension to come?