Conor Allen Explained

Conor Allen
Birth Date:31 January 1990
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:2
Weight Lb:210
Position:Defense
Shoots:Left
Played For:New York Rangers
Grizzlys Wolfsburg
HC Plzeň
Mountfield HK
Motor České Budějovice
BK Mladá Boleslav
Draft:Undrafted
Career Start:2013
Career End:2021

Conor Jay Allen (born January 31, 1990) is an American former professional ice hockey defenseman. He played with the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL).

Playing career

Prior to his enrollment at UMass Amherst, Allen played his junior hockey with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League (USHL) as was a graduate of The Latin School of Chicago.[1] He played NCAA Division I hockey with UMass Amherst in the Hockey East conference. Allen was signed to a two-year entry-level contract as an undrafted free agent by the New York Rangers in March 2013, and was assigned to the club's AHL affiliate, the Connecticut Whale.[1]

On December 28, 2013, Allen was called up for the first time from Hartford to the Rangers,[2] and played his first NHL game on December 29, 2013, logging 16 minutes against the Tampa Bay Lightning, in a game the Rangers won 4 – 3.[3] After the game, the Ranger's Coach Vigneault noted that Allen was "poised with the puck, wasn't afraid to take a hit to make a play, and that's why he got that ice time."[4] Within a week, Allen played his second and third NHL games with the Rangers—December 31 against the Florida Panthers [5] and January 3, 2014 against the Pittsburgh Penguins.[6]

On November 7, 2014, Allen was called up to the Rangers for the first time in the 2014 season due to injuries in the Rangers defensive core. Allen was primarily paired with fellow UMass Amherst alum Michael Kostka in his time with the NHL club.

On July 2, 2015, Allen as a free agent signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Nashville Predators.[7] After attending the Predators training camp, Allen was assigned to AHL affiliate, the Milwaukee Admirals to begin the 2015–16 season. After 31 games with the Admirals, Allen was traded by the Predators to the Ottawa Senators in exchange for Patrick Mullen on January 14, 2016.[8] Allen played 17 games with AHL affiliate, the Binghamton Senators before in a quick turnaround, on February 29, 2016, Ottawa traded Allen to the Minnesota Wild in return for forward Michael Keranen.[9]

On August 18, 2016, Allen signed a one-year contract with the Grand Rapids Griffins, the American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings.[10] In the 2016–17 season, Allen appeared in 56 regular season games with the Griffins in contributing 11 points. He did not feature in the post-season through injury as the Griffins claimed their second Calder Cup in franchise history.

As a free agent in the following off-season, Allen opted to continue in the AHL after securing a one-year contract with the Rochester Americans on August 30, 2017.[11] He was released from his contract on February 6, 2018.[12] He was signed by Grizzlys Wolfsburg of Germany's Deutsche Eishockey Liga the same day.[13]

Career statistics

Team League GP GPG A Pts PIM
2008–09St. Louis BanditsNAHL4651015481214515
2009–10Sioux Falls StampedeUSHL48781569
2010–11UMass-AmherstHE3124629
2011–12UMass-AmherstHE35771428
2012–13UMass-AmherstHE335141953
2012–13Connecticut WhaleAHL10000
2013–14Hartford Wolf PackAHL726253171
2013–14New York RangersNHL30000
2014–15Hartford Wolf PackAHL7211233411312 1 1 2 10
2014–15New York RangersNHL40004
2015–16Milwaukee AdmiralsAHL3115652
2015–16Binghamton SenatorsAHL1714510
2015–16Iowa WildAHL181236
2016–17Grand Rapids GriffinsAHL561101149
2017–18Rochester AmericansAHL171238
2017–18Grizzlys WolfsburgDEL3000472242
2018–19HC PlzeňELH4995149412 2 2 4 34
2019–20Mountfield HKELH80332
2019–20 Czech 1. Liga season2019–20Motor České BudějoviceCzech.1333710118
2020–21Motor České BudějoviceELH212138
2020–21BK Mladá BoleslavELH243478
NHL totals70004

Honours and achievements

AwardYearRef
College
HE All-Academic Team2011
AHL
Calder Cup (Grand Rapids Griffins)2017[14]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Treff . Leslie . Hockey's Future – Conor Allen . Hockeysfuture.com . 2013-12-28.
  2. Web site: Yerdon. Joe . Rangers lose Stralman to injury, recall Allen from minors. Pro Hockey Talk. NBC Sports. 28 December 2013. 28 December 2013.
  3. News: Rangers top Lightning in Henrik Lundqvist's return to net. 30 December 2013. ESPN. 29 December 2013. Associated Press.
  4. Web site: Conor Allen Gets Almost 16 Minutes Ice Time in Rangers Debut . Zipay . Steve . 2013-12-29 . 2014-01-03 . Newsday.
  5. Web site: Richards SO goal lifts Rangers over Panthers . 2013-12-31 . 2013-12-31 . CBS Sports.
  6. Web site: Connor Allen Moves the Puck Up Ice . . 2014-01-03 . 2014-01-03.
  7. Web site: Predators sign Conor Allen . . 2015-07-02 . 2015-07-02 .
  8. Web site: Predators acquire Mullen from Ottawa . . 2016-01-14 . 2016-01-14.
  9. Web site: Wild Acquires Allen From Ottawa, Sabourin From Los Angeles. National Hockey League. 2016-02-29.
  10. Web site: Griffins sign Aubry and Allen . . 2016-08-18 . 2016-08-18 . August 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160820193915/http://griffinshockey.com/news/releases/?article_id=3459 . dead .
  11. Web site: Amerks ink pair to AHL contracts . . 2017-08-30 . 2017-08-30 . March 28, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180328231835/http://www.amerks.com/article/AMERKS%20INK%20PAIR%20TO%20AHL%20CONTRACTS . dead .
  12. Web site: Amerks Release Defenseman Conor Allen . Our Sports Central . February 6, 2018 . March 28, 2018.
  13. Web site: Grizzlys Verpflichten Conor Allen . Wolfsburg Grizzly Adams . German . February 6, 2018 . March 28, 2018.
  14. Web site: McNair . Brian . Pickering pair win Calder Cup hockey championship with Grand Rapids Griffins . durhamregion.com . January 18, 2019 . June 19, 2017.