Jake Allen is poised to enter the upcoming season as the Blues' No. 2 goalie, NHL.com's Lou Korac reports.

Allen is poised to enter the upcoming season as the Blues' No. 2 goalie, NHL.com's Lou Korac reports.

Analysis:

Coach Ken Hitchcock has already appointed Brian Elliott for the opening night start in the net, but Allen's standing as one of the best goalie prospects in hockey should make him one of the league's more-used backups, particularly with Elliott having never entered a season as a No. 1 goalie. The 24-year-old Allen earned AHL Goalie of the Year honors in 2013-14 while playing for AHL Chicago, where he went 33-16-0 with a 2.03 GAA and .927 save percentage. His numbers were predictably less impressive in a 15-game cameo with the Blues in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 campaign, but he's developed significantly since then and should make for a good spot start option most any time he's guaranteed to be in the net.