Allvin Balances Fresh Perspective with Organizational Knowledge

When Patrik Allvin first joined the Penguins as a European scout in 2006, he didn't necessarily have aspirations to be in management, at least not initially. But he did want to make sure he brought a consistent approach.
"I think I approached it like every day you've got to do your best, learn from others and be humble about the situation," Allvin told PittsburghPenguins.com. "And if you do that, good things will happen along the way here. I couldn't say I had any specific goals, but I always wanted to make sure I worked hard and competed and brought positive energy to the group there all the time."

That attitude helped Allvin, 46, work his way up over the years. First, he was promoted to head European scout. Then, he was promoted to head of amateur scouting. And once he was in that position, that's where Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford realized that Allvin had potential to move beyond that.
"He's done some good work over the years," Rutherford said. "But I recognized he had more to offer when I made him the head of amateur scouting and I watched him work there. His work ethic, his knowledge of players, the way he works with people - that's really what I've noticed. And really, probably over the last year, he's somebody that I've been considering to continue to move along in the organization."
And that's exactly what Rutherford did on Nov. 4, announcing that Allvin had been promoted to assistant general manager.
In his new role, Allvin will assist Rutherford with all aspects of hockey operations. And in addition to his new duties, he will continue to oversee the Penguins' amateur scouting efforts in both North America and Europe.
"I'm extremely excited and humble about this opportunity that's given to me from Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins," Allvin said. "I think that's something where I got to learn and I got to do my best."
For Rutherford, Allvin strikes the right balance of having extensive knowledge of the organization - particularly of their prospects and younger players - while also bringing a different, younger perspective to the management side.
Allvin's promotion is also notable because he joins Columbus Blue Jackets general manager Jarmo Kekalainen as the only two European-born members of management in the NHL.
"(Allvin) brings some knowledge in some areas that are so key for us," Rutherford said. "And obviously, knowing the European market and people in Europe and college free agents and junior free agents, watching these young players come up over the years. And so he brings a knowledge of things that are going to be very helpful to us."
Allvin actually began his career as a scout with Montreal in 2002 after his nine-year playing career ended. After playing for the famed Leksands program in his native Sweden, Allvin came overseas and played a couple of years in the ECHL in the late 90s before returning home.
After five more seasons playing at various levels in different Swedish leagues, Allvin suffered a knee injury at age 28 and wasn't sure if he would be able to keep playing. That's when a friend who worked for the New Jersey Devils told him he should try scouting.
And so Allvin did, getting hired by Canadiens assistant general manager Andre Savard in a part-time role. That's when Patrik's wife Marie Klingberg-Allvin, a professor in Global Sexual and Reproductive Health (who is also a midwife) told him he should also go back to college and get his degree.
So Allvin started in the sports management program at the University of Darlana in Sweden, later customizing it to be more finance-driven, while simultaneously working for Montreal. When Savard was let go by the Canadiens four years later, Ray Shero hired him as an assistant coach in Pittsburgh, and he recommended Allvin for the job.
As a scout, Allvin's priority was not only to find players who fit the identity and culture of the Penguins, but who also have a similar character and compete to captain Sidney Crosby.
That philosophy will serve Allvin well in his new role, as he will continue to project where draft picks will be a few years down the road so that they can eventually come up and fit into head coach Mike Sullivan's system, while also finding players that can complement Crosby and the rest of Pittsburgh's stars to help them win now.
"You got more of what you see is what you're going to get here, but I think the NHL is a young league nowadays," Allvin said. "You got to be able to project players coming out of different teams or organizations for other opportunities that might be provided here. They might be stuck in a position where we see something different that we could provide for them."
Over the years, Allvin learned from different members of Penguins management, reporting directly to a few of them. He points to Bill Guerin, Tom Fitzgerald, Jason Botterill and Jason Karmanos as people who were particularly influential on him.
"Fitzy and Billy, they understand the dressing room and what's going on on the ice, the feeling of players," Allvin said. "Then I think learning from Karmanos and Bottsy, with their business backgrounds it was more like structure, planning, dealing with the personnel stuff and things like that. So I've been fortunate. And all of them have always included me in things - involving me in contracts, techniques and negotiations.
"They have guided me up to this point and I've relied on them a lot. Now obviously, working with Jim, it's going to be awesome. Just to get that relationship going, that's going to be great."
Allvin also feels fortunate about continuing to work with Sam Ventura and Erik Heasley, as Rutherford said they are both going to take on more responsibility as well when it comes to the overall hockey operations budget, contracts and the salary cap.
Ventura will assume the role of director of hockey operations and hockey research, while Heasley will continue his role as manager of hockey operations and assistant general manager of Wilkes-Barre Scranton.
"Working with Sam over the last couple years here, I sure used him a lot on the amateur side," Allvin said. "I think I've learned a lot about where Sam is coming from and vice versa. I think this is just going to be a great relationship moving forward here. And I can't say enough about working with Erik. It's just amazing to have this opportunity, and on top of that, to keep working with him so tight - that's just going to make my life easier. And I know he's going to help me and guide me and all that."
The life of a scout can be a nomadic one. As Allvin joked, he's seen most of the rinks in the world. But he's looking forward to getting more familiar with the one in Pittsburgh, as his family - Marie and their two kids, 14-year-old Agnes and 12-year-old Adam - will eventually relocate there from Michigan, where they moved from Sweden after he was promoted into his last role in 2017.
"They were really happy to stay here," said Allvin, whose kids grew up Penguins fans as his oldest was born the year he joined the organization. "They were obviously proud. But I think with decisions like this, you got to have the support from your family. And they were excited about the opportunity. I thought it was great. There was no second-guessing. I'm looking forward to getting started."