The Vancouver Sun
September 04, 2003
By Iain MacIntyre

Yes, Bryan Allen had heard. Or maybe he'd read it. Whatever, he knew. Jiri Slegr.

The Vancouver Canucks were adding another defenceman, Slegr, another player who -- in theory -- would get in the way of Allen finally establishing himself as a regular in the National Hockey League.

Last summer, it was Nolan Baumgartner who was supposed to get in the way.

In the fall, Sami Salo and Marek Malik did get in Allen's way.

Three years ago, it was Scott Lachance.

Allen has seen many players arrive since he was drafted fourth overall -- a can't-miss prospect -- by the Canucks in 1998. Some cluttered his path to the NHL, some didn't. Mostly, Allen has been in his own way, which is why he will try not to concern himself with Slegr and the next defenceman the Canucks acquire and the one after that.

At age 23, five years after he was chosen behind Vince Lecavalier, David Legwand and Brad Stuart, Allen has hold of an NHL job.

His challenge this fall is to keep it.

"I think it's hard not to look at the situation, but you have to block it out as best you can," Allen said Wednesday after scrimmaging with teammates in Burnaby.

"You've got to worry about yourself and control your own destiny as much as you can ... no matter who is here."

Slegr will be here by the weekend. The Canucks will officially announce his signing when the 32-year-old passes a physical.

Slegr replaces free agent Murray Baron and becomes the Canucks' sixth defenceman, one rung ahead of Allen.

But the departure of Baron --he is not expected back because the Canucks will pay Slegr the $800,000 Baron was offered in July -- could help Allen, valued for his size and toughness.

Last season, Allen played 48 games for the Canucks. He was a healthy scratch 28 times and also sent to minor-league Winnipeg for four brief stints.

The previous season, Allen played only 11 NHL games, up from six the year before.

Allen's progress has received far less attention than his failure to match the level of the players drafted ahead of him.

"It has taken him a fair bit of time," Canuck director of hockey operations Dave Nonis said. "Has it taken him longer than we expected? I don't think so.

"He has improved every year. He has probably come as far as any player we have here. He's a player we expect to develop into a top- four defenceman. Whether that happens this year or takes another year, who knows?"

Allen would settle this year for top-six, which would mean playing every night instead of when someone ahead of him is injured.

But to do that, he needs to develop consistency and better lateral mobility.

"Over the last couple of years, growing into my body, [I've been] learning about balance and limitations of reach," Allen, 6'4" and 225 pounds, said. "I've got to stay under my centre of gravity. Every summer I try to get better and better, and for me that's quickness."

Allen spent most of the summer home in Kingston, training with NHLers and minor-leaguers from the area.

The Canucks have exempted him from their main prospects camp, which starts Friday, and placed him in their main training camp next week.

"Sometimes you sit and wonder what's going to happen next," he said. "But you've got to live in the moment and realize things can change in a hurry. Some guys can jump right into the NHL and make the adjustment. For other players, it's tough.

"I definitely think my time is inching closer. It's an exciting feeling."



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