‘You have to be able to manage it properly’: Devils’ Jake Allen on three-goalie tandems

The three-goalie tandem is becoming more popular in the NHL. Just last season, the Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes leaned on this system, with both teams finding success by making the playoffs, and in the Hurricanes’ case, winning the Stanley Cup. More teams look to be in a position for a three-goalie tandem this season, including the Edmonton Oilers, Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils.

Devils’ goaltender Jake Allen joined Daily Faceoff Live last week to talk about the pros and cons of the three-goalie tandem.

Jake Allen: I actually had a first hand experience in my last year in Montreal. We had me and Montembeault, and they kept Cayden Primeau around. We thought Cayden was going to be going down, and they just kept us around. So personally I didn’t really like it, just because you feel on the outs.

The way you need to do it is you got to be able to just manage it properly from the goalie coach to the head coach to the goalies, and also have a common understanding that this is for the benefit of the group, and it is what it is, and we’re just going to make it work.

As long as there’s a clear line of communication and understanding and you know where everyone stands, I think that’s the biggest thing. Because as a goalie, you’re sitting there, you got three, and you’re like “Man, am I ever going to play? Is this guy going to play? Is my next game in two weeks? Is it in three weeks?” As long as there’s a clear communication path, I don’t see any problem with it, especially the way the game is going like you mentioned, with a lot of teams leaning that way. I think that’s the biggest thing. If I was in that position again, that’s definitely what I would recommend and would like from my vantage point.

But everyone needs three good goalies and I’m a realist, I get it. I’d love to be in the net all the time, but if I’m running a hockey team, you got to have three good goalies nowadays. There’s just so much variability. Every game is so important. You see the internal pressure and you just can’t have peaks and valleys in the season anymore. You got to do what you got to do to find a way to get the job done.

And yeah, I’ve had first hand experience. It wasn’t the greatest situation for me, but for me, at the end of the day, it worked out to get to the Devils and here I am.

So it’s a thing you’re definitely going to see way more in the future. And honestly, I know people talk about it taking up a roster spot. But I think at the end of the day, it might actually benefit you to get more points at the end of the year.

You can watch the full episode here…