Jake Allen Bio
Jake Allen is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who serves as a goaltender for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). Selected 34th overall by the St. Louis Blues in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Allen built a reputation as a reliable netminder across the AHL and NHL before winning the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019. He later played for the Montreal Canadiens before being traded to the Devils in March 2024. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 203 pounds, Allen is regarded for his calm demeanor, sound positioning, and ability to perform under heavy workloads.
Early Life and Background
Jake Allen was born on August 7, 1990, in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. He grew up in the province’s capital, where he developed a passion for sports at a young age. Before focusing on hockey, Allen was a promising young golfer and won back-to-back junior golf championships on the same course where he worked as a teenager. He continued to play golf on that course until he was drafted into the NHL.
Allen began his competitive hockey career with the Midget “AAA” Fredericton Canadiens, where his goaltending skills quickly drew the attention of junior scouts. His family supported his athletic development, and the local hockey community in Fredericton helped him refine his technique. Allen’s combination of size, athleticism, and composure between the pipes set him apart from peers in his age group.
Path to Hockey
Allen’s junior hockey career began when he was selected in the third round of the 2007 Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) draft by the St. John’s Fog Devils. After one season with the Fog Devils, the franchise was sold and relocated to Verdun, a Montreal suburb, and became the Montreal Junior Hockey Club for the 2008–09 season. Allen continued his development within the QMJHL system, working with coaches who emphasized fundamentals and game management.
In January 2010, following the World Junior Championships, Allen was traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs, where he posted an impressive 18 wins and just three losses, along with a .933 save percentage and a 1.75 goals-against average. He was recognized for his outstanding play by winning the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy as the QMJHL’s goaltender of the year in 2009–10. That same year, Allen represented Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championships and won a silver medal after losing the final to Team USA.
Jake Allen Career
Early Career (2010-2012)
On October 22, 2008, Allen signed an entry-level contract with the St. Louis Blues after being drafted in the second round of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He spent time developing in the minor leagues while continuing to play for Drummondville. Allen was assigned to the Blues’ AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, where he sharpened his skills and adjusted to the professional game.
Allen made his NHL debut during the 2012 Stanley Cup playoffs, briefly relieving Brian Elliott late in the Blues’ second game against the Los Angeles Kings in the Western Conference semifinals on April 30, 2012. The brief appearance gave him his first taste of NHL action and set the stage for his full-time transition to the league.
St. Louis Blues Breakthrough (2012-2020)
During the lockout-shortened 2012–13 season, Allen was recalled to the Blues and recorded his first NHL start and win, a 4–3 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings on February 13, 2013. In April 2014, Allen was named the recipient of the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Memorial Award as the American Hockey League’s best goaltender for the 2013–14 season.
On March 26, 2016, Allen registered a 4–0 shutout win over the Washington Capitals to help the Blues break their franchise record for the longest stretch without allowing a goal. During the 2015–16 season, he tallied 26 wins with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .920 save percentage. On November 16, 2017, Allen recorded his 100th career NHL win in a 4–1 defeat of the Edmonton Oilers.
Allen won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 behind rookie netminder Jordan Binnington. After starting the season as the starting goaltender, Allen finished the second half of the 2018–19 campaign with a 5–4–4 record as Binnington took over the starting role and led the team to the championship. On September 2, 2020, Allen was traded to the Montreal Canadiens along with a 2022 seventh-round pick in exchange for 2020 third-round and seventh-round picks.
Montreal Canadiens Era (2020-2024)
On October 14, 2020, Allen signed a two-year, $5.75 million contract extension with the Canadiens. He immediately distinguished himself as a capable backup goaltender to Carey Price, especially during a stretch of the 2020–21 season when Price was unavailable due to a concussion. Allen’s strong play was widely credited with helping the Canadiens reach the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs. For his efforts, he was awarded the Jacques Beauchamp Molson Trophy as the player who had a dominant role during the regular season.
Following Price’s entry into the NHLPA Player Assistance Program at the start of the 2021–22 season, Allen assumed the role of starting goaltender. He posted a 45-save shutout against the San Jose Sharks on October 28, 2021, marking the Canadiens’ first victory in San Jose in over two decades. On January 12, 2022, Allen sustained a groin injury and missed eight weeks. He returned on March 17, 2022, but suffered another lower-body injury on April 9, 2022, missing the rest of the season and later calling it a “season from hell.”
With Price ruled out for the entire 2022–23 season, Allen served as the Canadiens’ starting goaltender and signed a two-year, $7.7 million extension on October 1, 2022. He split starts with Sam Montembeault and finished third in Molson Cup voting behind Nick Suzuki and Montembeault. During the 2023–24 season, Allen played in his 400th career NHL game on November 2, 2023, before being traded to the New Jersey Devils on March 8, 2024.
New Jersey Devils Era (2024-Present)
Allen made his Devils debut on March 14, 2024, stopping 35 shots in a 6–2 victory over the Dallas Stars. On October 14, 2024, he recorded a 20-save shutout against the Utah Hockey Club, becoming the first goaltender in NHL history to record a victory against 33 different league franchises. On November 23, 2024, he earned his 200th career win in a 3–2 victory over the Washington Capitals. Entering unrestricted free agency, Allen agreed to a five-year contract extension with the Devils on July 1, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Allen is recognized for his calm positioning, strong rebound control, and ability to handle high shot volumes. He plays an efficient, technically sound style that allows him to remain effective deep into games and across long stretches of the schedule. His partnership with Devils goaltending coaches and the broader defensive structure has helped him extend his prime into his mid-30s.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Allen’s most significant career moments are winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019, recording his 100th NHL win in 2017, earning his 200th career win in 2024, and becoming the first NHL goaltender to defeat all 33 active franchises. He also won gold with Canada at the 2008 World U18 Championships, where he was named top goaltender and MVP.
Jake Allen Career Wins
Jake Allen has compiled more than 200 regular-season wins across his NHL career with the St. Louis Blues, Montreal Canadiens, and New Jersey Devils. He has added several notable shutouts and postseason appearances, including helping the Blues capture the 2019 Stanley Cup. Allen has also posted a win and a shutout at the international level, including gold at the 2008 World U18 Championships and silver at the 2010 World Junior Championships.
NHL Highlights
Allen’s first NHL win came on February 13, 2013, in a 4–3 overtime victory over the Detroit Red Wings. He recorded his 100th career NHL win on November 16, 2017, in a 4–1 defeat of the Edmonton Oilers, and his 200th career win on November 23, 2024, against the Washington Capitals. He won the Stanley Cup with the Blues in 2019 and later played a key role in helping the Canadiens reach the 2021 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Other Wins and Performances
At the junior level, Allen won the Jacques Plante Memorial Trophy in 2009–10 as the QMJHL’s top goaltender. He captured gold at the 2008 World U18 Championships, where he was named both the top goaltender and tournament MVP, and added a silver medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships.
Jake Allen Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Jake Allen was raised in Fredericton, New Brunswick, where his family supported his development in both hockey and golf. While not from a prominent hockey lineage, Allen’s family provided a stable foundation that allowed him to pursue competitive sports at a high level from a young age.
Personal Life
Jake Allen and his wife, Shannon, have three daughters. The family has remained close throughout his professional career, and Allen has spoken publicly about the importance of his family life alongside his playing responsibilities.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Jake Allen entered the first year of a five-year contract extension signed with the New Jersey Devils on July 1, 2025. The extension underscored the organization’s confidence in his ability to serve as a stabilizing veteran presence in the Devils’ goaltending tandem. Allen’s late-career milestone of becoming the first goaltender to defeat all 33 NHL franchises gave him a strong platform heading into the new campaign.
Allen’s veteran experience and consistency are expected to be central to the Devils’ playoff ambitions in 2025. With a long-term deal in place, he can focus on consistent performance and supporting the team’s younger goaltending prospects. The Devils’ outlook for the season includes competing in a competitive Metropolitan Division while building on the strong finish Allen provided after his March 2024 arrival.