Photo Credit: Zack Hill
Wade Allison is only 14 games into his NHL career with the Flyers and is already making impactful strides. He’s what you would call a vet at developmental camp, “I’m older now.,” Allison said. I’ve been to a bunch of these. I know everybody here. Just trying to stay in a good mental headspace. Do the best I can today and give myself the best opportunity tomorrow.”
In those 14 games, he has tallied four goals, registered three assists, and is a plus one. Should people be shocked by his early success, no. He played four years of collegiate hockey, so he’s more seasoned than most prospects. The NCAA is a league against some men so it’s easier in some cases for a prospect to excel coming out from the NCAA level, especially a player with Allison’s talent, “Yeah, it’s huge,” Allison said of his small sample size in the NHL. “Just a sample of what the speed, of the physicality is like. Just kind of test out the water and stuff. I feel confident my ability. I think that hopefully make a push for the team this year.”
After moving on from Western Michigan and recovering from an injury, Allison suited up for 10 games with the Phantoms and recorded four goals and five assists for nine total points. He was also a plus eight to boot.
One thing Wade Allison does well is pressure the puck in all three zones. He really showed his ability to beat players to the puck in the corners, whether it was on the forecheck or in the Flyers zone, but he knows he can’t get complacent and that’s what the coaching staff told him, “Told me not to get complacent. Show up every day ready to work. Do the best I can, so I can be better tomorrow,” says Allison. This is something that the Flyers can lack sometimes, effort to the puck.
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Allison also possesses strong skating and offensive skills. He goes hard to the net and does well to generate changes in front for himself and teammates.
Wade is a player that provides tutelage for the younger guys as he remembers being in their shoes one day, “You see a bunch of new guys here that haven’t been here before and obviously we’ve both been in their shoes before where you’re not exactly comfortable,” Allison said. “You don’t know everybody. You’re going into a new situation in a scenario. For me and Frosty, for us to reach out to these younger guys, even just the small stuff, the small conversations, it’s big for them with their comfort level. Just try to be a leader out here. Show everybody the right path, lead with the small details that really do matter. They really do add up. It’s just the simple stuff. We’re not over preaching or anything. We’re just sharing what has worked for us and what can help them move their game forward.”
He will only get better from here, as Wade really has taken pride in his two way game. Allison was great as expected at developmental camp yesterday, as there is little doubt in my mind he will make the team here in a few weeks:
“It’s new. It’s new having the body feel good. It’s nice. You’re able to put in the work that you need to every day and you’re not thinking about it. You’re not mentally stressed about whether your legs, shoulder, ankle, whatever it is, can support you. You kind of just know it’s going to be there. It’s especially good for my mental and I don’t have to think about it. Things kind of just happened out there, so that’s huge. That’s huge. That’s the biggest thing for me.” – Allison said with his full offseason of training as opposed to rehabbing from an injury
