WHN’s Top Capitals Prospects: Cam Allen, Former Top OHL Rookie, Lands At No. 9

In preparation for the 2023-24 season, Washington Hockey Now staff have compiled a list of the top 10 Washington Capitals prospects. The final rankings are based on the research and discussions of WHN staff.

No. 9: Cam Allen, RHD

Age: 18; Ht-Wt: 6-0, 192; Shoots: Right; Drafted: 5th round, 2023.

When Cam Allen fell into the Washington Capitals’ lap in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft, the team’s front office was confident that luck was on their side.

“To get him where we got him, I thought he definitely, for me, had a chance of going a couple rounds higher,” Ross Mahoney, Capitals assistant general manager, said.

Allen’s track record speaks for itself. At 17-years old, he took home the OHL Rookie of the Year award — joining the likes of Aaron Ekblad as only the fourth defenseman to win the award — before captaining Canada’s U18 Hlinka Gretzky Cup team in 2022.

A two-way defenseman, Allen’s offensive skill — as well as his eyebrow-raising competitive drive — allowed him to tally 37 points — 13 goals, 24 assists — in 65 games with the OHL’s Guelph Storm in 2021-22.

“I think my skating and my shot is something that helps me with my offense a lot,” Allen said at the 2023 NHL Draft. “Being that extra layer on the rush and getting pucks to run the point is something that I use to my advantage in a great way. My first year was more evident than last, but I think there’s a lot of potential in my offensive game and my skating really drives it as well, just being able to jump up in the play.”

Allen regressed last season, tallying only 25 points — five goals, 20 assists — in 62 games. Headed into this season, his consistency on the ice will be a major focal point to his game.

“I think the expectations — I put the most pressure on myself, no one puts more pressure on me than me,” Allen said. “I don’t know if that helped me back. Ultimately I think that’s why I’m sitting here today, that’s why I’ve gotten to this point — the expectations I hold myself to. I think there’s a healthy way to do it, and maybe I went over the top a little bit this year. That’s probably what caused some of the inconsistency within my game and something that I’m working on. I think that’s also an advantage of my game as well, just finding that sweet spot.”

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Where Is He Playing This Year?

Allen underwent shoulder surgery on Aug. 30 and will be sidelined until the new year, when he will suit up for his third season with the OHL’s Guelph Storm.