Murray was better than Allen last season. Murray is also more likely to be the starting goalie that the Leafs need. He has at least been that goalie before while Allen has never measured up.

difference netween the 2 isnt enough to give up knies if at all

To say ottawas defense is better than montreals is laughable. Allen’s save percentage was one .001 less than murray. One is cheaper and better and the other is more expensive and worse. Knies isn’t untouchable and Hutson is solid return for him.

Allen's save percentage was .001 less but the underlying fancy stats are much worse. It's because Ottawa allowed much more dangerous chances than Montreal did. Murray was better in every way than Allen last season and has been better across his career. There shouldn't be any doubt who is the better goalie between the 2 and it's not the one you want it to be.

Beyond that, you are ignoring what the Leafs need in net. The Leafs don't need another backup, they need someone capable of being the starting goalie. Murray has at least done this in his career, including playoff runs, while Allen has never been able to. It's much more likely for a 28 year old to return to form than it is for a 32 year old to break new ground.

worse defense?

edmundson, petry, savard, chiarot, kulak, romanov, wideman, clague, scheuneman
chabot, zub, holden, brannstrom, del zotto, zaitsev, mete, brown, thomson

Chabot > Petry
Zub > Edmundson
Holden < Chiarot (lost after TDL)
Brannstrom < Romanov
Del Zotto < Kulak (lost after TDL)
Zaitsev > Savard
Mete = Wideman
Brown > Clague
Thomson > Scheuneman

maybe not a better defense but allen played behind a very injury-plagued habs defense. none of the defensemen played over 68 games except for romanov who played 79

That doesn’t mean anything. The xGA is higher for montreal than for ottawa. Not to mention Allen played in more games than murray and was much more consistent. Without Allen, montreal would have finished with maybe 40 points. Allen’s high danger save percentage for a higher than Murray’s and so is the medium danger ones too. Only one where murray was better was on low danger chances. Murray was in the 13th percentile for high danger shots and the 7th for medium. One is clearly much better than the other.

Not to mention the advanced stats are so much better as well. “Oh more high danger” sure but less xGA which is the umbrella stat. It’s like saying one player is better than the other because his plus minus is better despite his point totals being worse.

Now you are just making things up. Murray had a 0.828 high danger save % compared to Allen's 0.823.

Check the stat cards little boy. Check them and come back to me afterwards.

I just posted the stat line.

Not the stats cards. Stat cards account for projected save percentage. Sure one was worse but that was also because he was subjected to worse high danger opportunities.

So we should take in opportunities? Then we are just looking at goals saved above expected which uses the expected goals model to measure the danger of chances. Murray with a +0.163/60 while Allen is sitting on a -0.068/60. Or if you don't like rate stats since you seem to struggle with the fancy stuff: Murray saved 3.2 more goals than expected in 20 games, a number which was likely to grow as he played more to catch up to Allen's 32, and Allen allowed 2.2 more than expected.

If we look across their careers it's even more pronounced, If we look in the playoffs, when it matters to the Leafs, it's no competition at all.

Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Ok I'm actually just kidding. I agree with 95% of what you said.
Mete, unfourtunately (personally I think he's an awesome individual) is not an NHL dman. He will never be able to clear the front of the net. I can't believe his coaches never taught him...Great skater tho