RD Cameron Allen - Guelph Storm, OHL (2023, 136th, WSH)

Pavel Buchnevich

"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Dec 8, 2013
60,207
26,936
New York
it's actually incredible how people make the same mistakes year after year.... valuing physical tools over mental processing and diagnosing ability. It's literally the only trait coupled with work ethic that you can argue every single high end player to ever play the game has had in common. and most "sleepers" that pan out have.

Then any physical tools on top of that is gravy or what helps push them to that next level. But certainly isn't the foundation for an elite player.

It's like everyone would draft Mason Raymond over a Robert Thomas type in their respective draft years....
On the other hand, the SC champ the last three years had like 1-2 total defensemen sub 6'0. Cale Makar, who I don't think I need to explain why he'd be an exception. And then you can kind of argue Girard, who played less than half of the playoffs. Girard himself is a really good player, and even with a top 10 pick of a small defenseman you cannot guarantee you'll get a player that good.

I wouldn't ignore what results in success in the NHL. There's a reason the best GM's like Brisbois, Yzerman, Sakic are putting an emphasis on size with their defenseman decisions. Doesn't mean smaller defenseman don't have a role, but it's still a game of roles. You can't just throw 19 players out there on any given night and expect the tactical part of the game to not matter.

As it relates to Allen, we'll see have to see what his height ends up being at the combine. People say size doesn't matter or we shouldn't talk like that, but then you see Joakim Kemell go 10 spots lower than expected probably almost entirely because he measured in at shorter than 5'10 when his expected height was 5'11. He may not even accurately be 5'9, but this stuff matters to NHL teams. If you are a smaller defenseman, you better really stand out in other areas. Otherwise, teams have shown they will hold it against players. Allen being a well-rounded player who may lack height and may not be an elite offensive defenseman is going to have these parts of his game picked apart for the next year until it's proven they shouldn't be. For now, I would say they are valid talking points, especially if we are talking about him as a top 5-15 pick.
 

DatDude44

Hmmmm?
Feb 23, 2012
6,244
3,043
On the other hand, the SC champ the last three years had like 1-2 total defensemen sub 6'0. Cale Makar, who I don't think I need to explain why he'd be an exception. And then you can kind of argue Girard, who played less than half of the playoffs. Girard himself is a really good player, and even with a top 10 pick of a small defenseman you cannot guarantee you'll get a player that good.

I wouldn't ignore what results in success in the NHL. There's a reason the best GM's like Brisbois, Yzerman, Sakic are putting an emphasis on size with their defenseman decisions. Doesn't mean smaller defenseman don't have a role, but it's still a game of roles. You can't just throw 19 players out there on any given night and expect the tactical part of the game to not matter.

As it relates to Allen, we'll see have to see what his height ends up being at the combine. People say size doesn't matter or we shouldn't talk like that, but then you see Joakim Kemell go 10 spots lower than expected probably almost entirely because he measured in at shorter than 5'10 when his expected height was 5'11. He may not even accurately be 5'9, but this stuff matters to NHL teams. If you are a smaller defenseman, you better really stand out in other areas. Otherwise, teams have shown they will hold it against players. Allen being a well-rounded player who may lack height and may not be an elite offensive defenseman is going to have these parts of his game picked apart for the next year until it's proven they shouldn't be. For now, I would say they are valid talking points, especially if we are talking about him as a top 5-15 pick.
I just mean in general drafting purposes. Teams pick million dollar body, nickel head types and wonder why they don’t pan out, while the Adam fox’s, Robert Thomas’s etc…. Of the world continue to “shock” everybody at the next level.

I’m with u on big D. But those big D can process the game and play within their role and skill sets.

I didn’t mean everyone had to be Adam fox when I discuss mental processing and hockey sense.
 

Artorius Horus T

sincerety
Nov 12, 2014
19,599
12,351
Suomi/Finland
Great start to his draft season.
Sure its only 2 games but.

3 points
+3
13 shots on goal
11 penalty minutes

Also, for some reason
he has shaved his head

1664683870316.png
 
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thefeebster

Registered User
Mar 13, 2009
7,217
1,796
Vancouver
What’s going on?

Seems like a slow start to the season for him.
I have caught 5 games thus far. It has been a very poor start for the team as a whole, but Allen is definitely a contributor to that poor start and they look like they are playing with a lot of frustration. It shows in Allen's play and on-ice demeanor. Based on his play thus far, i think its time to start asking ourselves if he is really the top defender in this draft, or even the OHL. I think Brzustewicz needs to be talked about over-taking that top OHL defender spot at least.

Allen has not played that well defensively, imo, several giveaways a game. But what is more alarming is the lack of offense imo, generating dangerous chances seem few and far between. He likes to lob shots in that don't seem very dangerous. He was taken off the top PP, Buchinger seemed to generate a lot more yesterday.
 
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MichaelFarrell

Registered User
Aug 29, 2016
2,631
3,612
Pittsburgh, PA
What’s going on?

Seems like a slow start to the season for him.
I haven’t liked his game in any game I’ve watched this year. I’ve seen him in a lot of people’s top 15 but I just don’t see the upside right now.

In the games I’ve watched, I really haven’t been a big fan of his decision making and overall skating ability. He seems to cause a lot of odd man opportunities by pinching, making a bad pass or losing the puck in traffic, and not having a the speed to catch up to make up for his mistake.

Don’t get me wrong, I like some of the tools he has. He’s an athlete with a great shot from the point. But, he needs to mature his game if he’s going to go before a guy like Brzustewicz in my rankings.
 
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Dominance

99-66-4-9-87/97
Sep 30, 2017
7,929
12,579
The Land of Hockey
Yes.


Please elaborate...
Watch pretty much any of his games. His U18s are probably most easily accessible. You’ll see what I mean. Turnovers, bad shot selections, bad reads in his end, over-committals on odd man rushes, etc. It’s not like it’s every shift, but it seems like he he’s a sure bet to make at least one incredibly poor play a game.
 
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ORRFForever

Registered User
Oct 29, 2018
19,926
11,134
He had a strong D-1 season and entered the year as a potential top ten pick but was disappointing pretty much the entire draft season. Still has some intriguing tools but as others have stated his IQ is pretty cooked
Wow. Thanks! It's too bad.
 

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