The Province
September 7, 1999
By Ben Kuzma

KAMLOOPS -- One day into the Canucks' main training camp and Bryan Allen -- the team's reluctant poster boy for aches, pains and sprains -- was sporting an unwanted souvenir of his Riverside Coliseum debut.

Strapped to Allen's left shoulder was a giant ice bag to soothe the pain from a minor scrimmage collision.

Just the sight of the prized yet injury-prone defenceman in any sort of difficulty was enough to make coach Marc Crawford wonder aloud about the towering rearguard's status for today's scrimmages.

No need to worry.

"No, I just bumped into somebody and it (shoulder) just needs a little ice -- it's fine and not a big deal at all," said Allen, the team's first pick (fourth overall) in the 1998 Entry Draft whose progress has been dogged by shoulder, foot and knee ailments over the past year.

"I'm just going through a growing period now and you've just got to grow into your own body and see what happens."

After hurting his left shoulder in a preseason scrap last year, Allen banged up his knee at the world junior tournament and missed three weeks of play with the Oshawa Generals of the OHL, where he finished with seven goals and 15 assists in 37 games. If that wasn't enough, Allen was in a cast on July 2 after rolling his right foot, curtailing his training and leading to some tentative play Monday.

"I was a little nervous and there's always going to be pressure coming into a camp like this in my situation," said the

6-foot-5, 215-pound blueliner, who finally signed a three-year, $3-million-US contract on May 12 after much haggling over bonus clauses. "You've just got to get a handle on it and go out and play hockey."

That he did Monday.

While not spectacular in his conservative stay-at-home style, Allen seems to struggle with lateral movement. He was late trying to put a shoulder into pinching defenceman Brent Sopel who slipped between Allen and the boards.

"I'd like to see him (Allen) get a little stronger and he hasn't developed that strength yet," assessed Crawford. "He does read the play well and makes good stick-to-stick passes and that's important.

"He looks to have the type of tools you look for."

The question now is, does Allen have the toolbox, too?

The Canucks aren't hiding the fact they'd love to see Allen challenge for a starting spot or at least stick with the team instead of heading back to junior.

"He's only 19," cautioned Crawford of the player who as a 16-year-old OHL star was being compared to Bobby Orr. "It's not the same as when you're 26 or 27, a more professional and polished guy. Our job is to develop him and how he comes along will show us if he's ready."

To that end Allen is smart enough to address his weaknesses and lean on experience to make the tough transition to the pro game. That's why he picked the brain of 16-year NHL veteran Doug Bodger, who signed as a free agent with the Canucks on Aug. 4.

"My mobility is my biggest challenge and playing with faster players I just have to get used to it," said Allen. "Even during practice I'll ask him (Bodger) questions and I've gotten some good advice.

"I'll take all I can get."



BACK