The Province
March 7, 2003
By BEN KUZMA

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's taken years for first-round draft choice Bryan Allen to prove he's worthy of NHL employment. Now it will take only a matter of days to see just how steady those big-league cheques become.

With Vancouver Canucks defenceman Mattias Ohlund sidelined at least an additional 10 days following arthroscopic left-knee surgery Monday to remove bone chips from a Feb. 27 collision with San Jose's Matt Bradley, Allen responded Thursday by scoring to force overtime before the Blue Jackets claimed a 5-4 victory.

Allen's timing couldn't be better. The Canucks have budget room to add a playoff-tested blueliner before Tuesday's trade deadline -- Lyle Odelein, 34, of Chicago and Glen Wesley, 34, of Carolina merit consideration -- but they may stand pat. That's because Allen, 22, is far from that gangly kid who struggled with lateral movement and handled the puck like a grenade in just 19 career NHL appearances prior to this season.

And the asking price for Odelein and Wesley is apparently high.

"He [Allen] is starting to pay huge dividends for us and looks like he's our next really good defenceman," Canucks coach Marc Crawford said of Allen, who finished with a plus-2 rating in 15:16 of ice time last night.

"I like the way he's responded to knowing he's going to play. You have to get used to having tremendous focus and he has to see if he can keep it up. He's going to be a great defender in this league."

Canucks general manager Brian Burke won't rule out a depth move by Tuesday, but is buoyed by Allen's development.

"It makes a big difference in terms of not worrying about that spot, and I don't have anything on the go right now," said Burke. "It's what you hope for when a guy gets hurt. He [Allen] has been smart, is making good passes, is hitting and even fighting."

Allen finally looks comfortable and confident in a role calling for a good first pass, good body position and a good head for the game. He was never caught out of position against the Jackets as his quicker feet have caught up to his towering 6-foot-4, 220 pound frame.

"In being tall, I tried to use my reach a lot before and I was getting off balance," Allen said. "That has helped my play so far and I put that shot tonight right where I wanted it."

Allen also understands when push comes to shove he can't be a spectator. Allen willingly took on Montreal enforcer Gordie Dwyer to open this five-game trip on Saturday in Montreal.

"I'm not looking for things, but I won't back down," stressed Allen, who has 62 penalty minutes and plus-13 rating. "You have to look at what you can contribute and I'll do anything for the team."

That's not lost on Allen's teammates.

"He played great in Philly," blueliner Murray Baron said of Allen's effort in a 3-0 loss Tuesday. "I thought he was one of our best defencemen."



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