Photo Credit: Chris Maher
In a season where not much is going right for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms early on, thus leading to their 3-8-3 record, they still have a few bright spots. One of those is the PSECU Player of the week Max Willman, who is a rocket who cannot be stopped. He was recalled to the Flyers yesterday, as Kevin Hayes could not play due to injury (No one knows what type of injury).
After working his tail off to get an ECHL opportunity, and kicking butt with the Reading Royals in the 2019-20 season with 25 points in 20 games. Willman took his talents to the AHL, and in particular the Phantoms. In the 2019-20 season after his Royals stint, he looked good in a 24 game stint showing off his skating ability and unmatched compete level. Remind you of any former Flyer? Cough, Tyler Pitlick.
Willman then carried his success into the 2020-21 season with the Phantoms where he really took off and impressed then-coach Scott Gordon. Willman had 16 points in 30 games but showcased not only he was a key AHL threat offensively to take notice of, but also a very nice 200-foot player. Willman’s play last season of course earned him a two game cup of coffee for the Flyers this season where he looked pretty good, even outplaying former Flyer Nicolas Aube-Kubel. Willman has that never take anything for granted mentality that all the great underrated players are made of.
As hinted at above, Willman never was guaranteed to play pro hockey and fought his tail off to make an ECHL team, and produce big time for our ECHL Reading Royals. Willman never stopped flying high as he lit the world of fire for the Phantoms, and in 2020-21 he took advantage of the weaker AHL due to Taxi Squads. Now though with no more taxi squads, and the AHL back at full force with the key AHL vets now playing a meaningful number of games. Willman is still owning teams. In fact, he is having his best start to a season yet. Willman and fellow Phantoms teammate Jackson Cates both have two short-handed goals. So as stated above, Willman plays a very nice 200 foot game, and is very good at cutting off passing lanes hence getting ample minutes on the Penalty Kill.
Overall this season and not just on the PK, Willman has been an absolute rocket force again. He quickly is making himself into one of the better compete level 200 foot talents in the AHL and a very feared offensive talent. He is a pesky 200 foot player too being he is good along the boards and on the forecheck especially. Willman on the season in total has nine points in 12 games played with seven goals and two apples. His shot has good zip to it for sure, but Willman when you watch him has the eye for goal scoring. Meaning he is someone who when he picks his spot he seems to rarely miss it. With the 200 foot competitive level of Willman’s game combined with the fact he can potentially play a nice bottom six level offensive game. It should come to no one’s surprise that he we’ll play yet another game with the orange and black, as Kevin Hayes will not play tonight against the Carolina Hurricanes.
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