The Province
April 24, 2002
By Ben KuzmA

A year ago, Bryan Allen could have been frozen in the glare of the playoff spotlight. Instead of seizing up against the Colorado Avalanche, the promising Vancouver Canucks defenceman proved in two games that he can play in the NHL.

"The biggest moment was warm-up," Allen, 21, recalled Tuesday of his two GM Place playoff outings in place of the injured Scott Lachance.

"The fans were already yelling and screaming and the adrenalin was pumping. The ice was just shaking and it was an emotional ride.

"Probably two of the best games I've ever played."

However, two games pale in comparison to the 82-game regular-season grind.

Allen, who has just 19 games on his NHL resum�, knows that. Recalled as postseason insurance with the Manitoba Moose eliminated in the AHL playoffs, Allen is playing a waiting game.

Still, he knows many wonder about the draft class of 1998 and why Allen isn't already earning a big-league cheque. After all, he was selected fourth overall and ahead of NHL regulars such as Mark Bell (eighth overall), Alex Tanguay (12th), Martin Skoula (17th), Robyn Regehr (19th), Scott Parker (20th), Mathieu Biron (21st), Simon Gagne (22nd), Jiri Fischer (25th), Mike Van Ryan (26th) and Scott Gomez (27th).

However, Allen has already endured adversity.

He earned a Canucks roster spot at age 18 but couldn't come to contract terms. He then played just 14 games in junior and the minors in the 1999-00 season because of injury. Allen has had knee, foot and shoulder surgeries and has escaped the scalpel only the last three seasons.

That's why it doesn't bother him to see the top three picks of '98 -- Vincent Lecavalier, David Legwand and Brad Stuart -- already established as household NHL names.

"I don't think it plays on my mind," said Allen, who appeared in 72 games with the Moose this season and was paired with Zenith Komarniski.

"I'm ready to make that next step. I played a lot against top lines and it was a good opportunity. It's just consistency -- trying to play the same game every night, not getting down and dealing with adversity. Sometimes things don't go right and you've got to play through them."

When things don't go right for the defensive defenceman, it's often Allen's lateral movement. At 6-foot-4 and 228 pounds, the Kingston, Ont., native is still adjusting.

"It's getting the balance," added Allen. "You're so lanky and trying to learn your body -- trying to get it all aligned."

Canucks coach Marc Crawford doesn't believe that will be a problem. "We all think he's going to be here next year," Crawford said of Allen, who played 11 NHL games the first two months of this season.

"He thinks the game very well and has an edge to his game. We just haven't had a spot for him because [Murray] Baron and Lachance play a similar style."

Moose coach Stan Smyl often threw Allen to the offensive wolves and liked what he saw. "It's making the first pass and keeping it simple for himself," stressed Smyl. "But you could just see him getting better and better. Where he's at now is where he should be."

If Allen needs any inspiration, he need look no further than Bryan Helmer. The 30-year-old started this season as Allen's roommate in Manitoba but has earned his NHL blueline time.

"He's always upbeat and nothing affects him," said Allen. "He can have a bad game and come right back."

That's exactly what Allen plans to do next NHL season.



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