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Jake Allen signs five-year contract in New Jersey
Bob DeChiara-Imagn Images

The New Jersey Devils have managed to retain the services of Jake Allen.

The goaltender had been negotiating in the last few hours to stay with the Devils, and now it’s done. But the contract structure is special, as it’s a five-year deal.

He will earn a total of $9 million, since his impact on the payroll is… $1.8 million.

The contract is a surprise. After all, you’d expect more guaranteed money, more money per year… but fewer years. The veteran is almost 35…

Clearly, he’s done the Devils a favor by signing such a contract. The Devils are stretching the sauce in terms of years to lower the per-year value of the contract each year.

It’s a bit like Brad Marchand, but…

But Marchand signed a contract until he’s 43, and he hasn’t compromised on the total amount. We know he’ll end his career on the long-term injured list.

But Allen? Not necessarily.

He could therefore play out the five years of his contract at a lower price. He earned $3.85 million a year on the heels of his last contract, signed in Montreal. But the transaction with the Devils involved money withheld.

Details to come…

This article first appeared on Dose.ca and was syndicated with permission.

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