Christopher Breen

History

2008-09: Chris Breen started his fourth OHL season with the Saginaw Spirit only to be traded just six games into the season. He was traded to the Erie Otters along with a fifth round draft pick in 2009 for Jordan Skellett and a seventh round pick in the same draft. The big defenseman collected an assist with nine PIMs (a fighting major) and a minus one rating in six OHL games for the Spirit. He finished the season having 12 assists and a minus six rating while taking 31 PIMs (one fighting major) in 59 games for the Otters.  The Otters were knocked out of the OHL playoffs in a five game series against the London Knights. Breen contributed an assist with a minus four rating and seven PIMs (a fighting major) in five playoff games.

2009-10: Breen started his final OHL season being trade after 12 games, along with a six round draft pick for 2012 by the Otters to the Peterborough Petes for 18-year-old Derek Holden. The large defenseman had collected two assists with a minus eight rating and 11 PIMs (one fighting major) in 12 OHL games for the Otters. Breen was asked to play a leadership and character role on the young Petes' blueline corps while getting the chance to help on their power play. He scored four goals (one on the power play) with eight assists but a terrible minus 21 rating and 36 PIMs (two fighting majors) in 53 games for the Petes.  The Petes were swept in their first round OHL playoff series against the Mississauga St. Michael's Majors. Breen contributed a power play goal with a minus two rating and a five minute major for fighting in the four playoff games. The big defensive defenseman was signed by the Flames to an amateur tryout contract with their AHL Abbottsford Heat. He collected an assist with a plus one rating and four PIMs in one AHL game but the Flames were impressed enough with his potential that they signed Breen to an entry level contract on May 31, 2010.

2010-11: Breen struggled to learn and adapt to the professional game for the first half of the AHL season but the rookie worked really hard on and off the ice with his coaches. The 21-year-old friendly giant improved so much that Coach Playfair used the big defenseman on his shutdown pairing with partner, T.J Brodie by the season's end. The big rookie defenseman scored four goals (one on the power play) with seven assists and a respectable minus six rating while taking 47 PIMs (three fighting majors) in 73 AHL games. He has started to show his potential as a late blooming defenseman to the Flames' management team.

2011-12: Breen skated for Calgary's AHL affiliate Abbotsford in his second pro season; gradually getting more ice time as the season went on. He skated in 70 of 76 games for the Heat (most amongst Abbotsford defensemen) and was plus-three with 1 goal and 6 assists while accumulating 37 penalty minutes. Abbotsford finished second in the West Division and reached the second round of the playoffs. Breen played all eight playoff games and scored 1 goal with an even plus/minus.

 

Talent Analysis

Breen has a quiet, laid back demeanor but has a great work ethic, skates well for a defenseman of his size and has a hard, accurate shot from the blueline. He will need to increase his aggressiveness, defensive urgency and competitiveness while continuing to improve his overall game to show the Flames that he can be an effective NHL calibre defenseman.

 

Future

Breen will be assigned to the AHL Abbottsford Heat for the season but could be a call-up for injuries to replace any of the big defensive defensemen for the Flames. He will be asked to play on both the power play and penalty killing units. The big, hardworking defenseman will play on the shutdown pairing while adding leadership, character and protection to the team.