Allen will work with three goalies he no doubt endorsed as part of the expansion draft and free agency period: Philipp Grubauer (signed as free agent from Colorado), Chris Driedger (expansion pick and restricted free agent from Florida) and Joey Daccord (expansion pick from Ottawa).
Allen is the third assistant coach on Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol's staff, joining previously announced Paul McFarland and Jay Leach.
"We're proud to keep working with [Andrew] as he transitions to a coaching role, bringing his wealth of experience with to our team's day-to-day," said Francis.
It's no surprise Allen is excited about the Kraken goalie group.
"We're in real good shape," said Allen, "The goaltender skills, character, work ethic. They are all so solid. I look forward to getting to know them and form relationships."
Allen said his year-plus as a scout allowed him to dive deeper into pretty much every goaltender with NHL game experience plus others at the AHL and ECHL and European levels. He said "understanding how every athlete works" and "keeping up with trends" will help him become a better goaltending coach.
For the curious fans, those goaltending trends over the last few seasons has focused on tracking pucks, rebound control, staying on your feet and less sliding in the crease-all with the idea of being in position to stop shots on goal.
As a scout and goalie coach, Allen says he deems edge control and reaction speed as top factors for NHL goaltenders.
Edge control for goalies means learning to work the inside edges of the skates, while forwards and defenders work both the inside and outside edges. Goalies work during off-seasons and practices to master control of the inside edges, which leads to keeping the feet in balance.
With that balance, goaltenders are more relaxed and able to put their natural physical talents and hockey IQ into action. The goalie can get into position to make the save and even "beat the passes" by anticipating whether the puck is heading toward the goal or an opponent's teammate.
Edge control represents the ability to be in position to make the save. Reaction speed is "how you make the save."
"When a goalie is feeling the puck, confident in his natural ability, that means the goalie is not thinking as much," said Allen in an interview during his scouting days with the Kraken. "Not overthinking gets goaltenders to what they do best, which is reading and reacting to plays,"
Allen joined the Kraken staff from the role of Buffalo's goaltending coach for four seasons, including mentoring young goalie Linus Ullmark from an American Hockey League (AHL) prospect to a stellar performer during his first full season in 2018-19. The Boston Bruins signed Ullmark to a four-year, $20 million free agent contract this summer.
After his playing days in the AHL and ECHL-plus two NHL games as a backup-Allen was recruited by the Japanese Ice Hockey Federation, to serve with Japan's national hockey team for six seasons from 2006 to 2011. During that time, he also served as goaltending coach for St. Lawrence University's NCAA team from 2008-2011.
Through a connection with his former ECHL coach, Mike Haviland, then an assistant with Chicago, Allen was interviewed and hired as the developmental goalie coach for the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL affiliate, the Rockford IceHogs, from 2012 to 2015.
Prior to his coaching career, Allen played four seasons with NCAA Division I Vermont, then professionally for five seasons, including AHL time with the Utah Grizzlies, Hershey Bears, Binghamton Senators and Providence Bruins. Allen dressed for two NHL games with the Florida Panthers and compiled a 76-43-15 record in 142 ECHL games.
A highlight of Allen's playing was winning the 2005 ECHL title with Trenton with Haviland as head coach. It turned out to be Allen's final full professional season as a goaltender ECHL playoffs but to this day says, "Andrew should have been named MVP instead of me."
