To hear Doug Armstrong explain it, the Blues’ starting goalie next season might be a guy that didn’t play a single minute this year.
Jake Allen, the 23-year-old prospect who played exclusively in AHL Chicago this season, will be one of the two goalies St. Louis carries next season -- and apparently has a legit shot at being the No. 1.
“Jake Allen’s partner is going to have to hold Jake Allen out,” Armstrong said, per the Belleville News-Democrat. “He’s earned the right -- he will be one of the two. Who his partner will be will be discussed at the appropriate time, and that will be over the next few weeks.”
In-house options for Allen’s partner are Ryan Miller and Brian Elliott, both pending UFAs. Here’s what Armstrong said about the possibility of re-signing Miller, his big acquisition at the trade deadline:Armstrong on Ryan Miller (1/2): “It’s a two way street with Ryan right now. He has opportunities.” #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 29, 2014
More Armstrong on Miller: "(I want to) see where he thinks we’re at, see if he even has any interest in being a St. Louis Blue.” #stlblues
— Lou Korac (@lkorac10) April 29, 2014
Armstrong’s right in that Miller does have opportunities. The Capitals and Islanders don’t have a bonafide No. 1 goalie; Pittsburgh is one Marc-Andre Fleury meltdown away from looking for another option in net and, if Miller wants to be in California as speculation has suggested, San Jose now has questions in goal after Antti Niemi was parked in Game 6 in favor of Alex Stalock.
It’ll be curious to hear if Armstrong’s comments will affect Miller’s decision to stay in St. Louis. It’s no secret the organization is very high on Allen -- he was the 34th overall pick in 2008, made the NHL’s All-Rookie team in 2013 and captured the Aldege “Baz” Bastien Award this year as the American League’s top goalie -- but he has a pretty small NHL resume, consisting of exactly 15 games.
Are the Blues, a team built to win now, really willing to hand the goalie reins to such an inexperienced guy? Or are Armstrong’s comments just posturing, trying to show Miller the Blues aren’t totally dependent on his return?