Blues re-sign goaltender Allen to two-year contract

The St. Louis Blues on Thursday announced they have re-signed restricted free agent goaltender Jake Allen to a two-year contract.

The contract is a two-way deal that in the first year would pay Allen $750,000 in the NHL and $125,000 in the AHL. The second year is a one-way deal that would pay Allen $850,000.

Allen made his NHL debut last season, going 9-4-0 with a 2.46 goals-against average and .905 save percentage in 15 games. He topped NHL rookie goalies in wins and GAA, and was second in save percentage.

But with Jaroslav Halak and Brian Elliott still under contract this season, Allen understands he'll likely have to go back to the American Hockey League this season.

"It's a situation where we still have [Elliott and Halak] up there on one-way deals, so it's a bit of a different situation for me," Allen told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Obviously you want to be there, but you have to keep things in perspective and bide your time.

"I had a good season last year, but that's just a step. I think I still have to prove myself in camp. I'm looking forward to coming in and it's going to be a challenge. It doesn't matter about my contract ... I'm locked up for a couple of years."

A 2008 second-round pick (No. 34), he also played 35 games last season for the Blues' AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, going 13-19-2 with a 2.89 GAA, .904 save percentage and two shutouts.