Allen Pedersen
Allen was definitely not a scorer. He only scored 5 goals in 8 years. Four times he went scoreless the entire season. In fact he went a stretch of about 200 games without scoring a goal at one point. He never scored a single point in 64 playoff games.
So how could a guy who put up so little stick in the NHL for 428 games?
Pedersen was an intimidating stay at home defenseman. A willing shot blocker, Pedersen was at his best clearing the front of his net. Although not a bone crunching hitter, Pederen played a strong positional game based strictly on defensive posturing.
Pedersen's game was handcuffed by his skating ability. He was an awkward and slow skater, with little mobility. This hurt him even defensively as he couldn't wander even a step or two out of position to chase a loose puck or make a big hit, as more likely than not he would get burned.
Pedersen's game also was limited by his lack of self confidence. He seemed to always be down on himself, and this hurt Allen's development from a strictly one dimensional hockey player.
Drafter 105th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1983, Pedersen joined the B's three years later for the 1986-87 campaign. He stayed in Boston for 5 years before making a one year stop in Minnesota and another one year stop in Hartford. By 1993-94 Pedersen found himself playing for the Whaler's farm team and was released by year's end. He then turned to the IHL and played one year with the Atlanta Knights, where he continued the same style of play he always played - scoring 0 goals. Read more...
