Philadelphia Flyers sign forward Wade Allison to entry-level contract

It finally happened. The Philadelphia Flyers have officially signed exciting forward prospect Wade Allison to an entry-level contract.

Allison, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound winger from Western Michigan University, put together an impressive collegiate career despite suffering a number of significant injuries throughout his years at school. When healthy, though, Allison has flashed serious potential as a legitimate scoring threat.

The Flyers selected Allison in the second round (No. 52 overall) of the 2016 NHL Entry Draft after an encouraging 47-point campaign with the USHL’s Tri-City Storm. Allison eventually committed to Western Michigan for his draft-plus-one season to play in the NCHC — one of the more competitive conferences in college hockey.

Allison put together a solid campaign for the Broncos in his freshman year, collecting 12 goals and 29 points in 36 games. However, it was Allison’s sophomore season that really got people talking. In just 22 games, the Myrtle, Manitoba native registered 15 goals and as many assists, finishing second on the team in scoring. Had his season not ended early due to a torn ACL and separated shoulder, Allison likely would have been a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Allison ultimately decided to return to college for his junior season, which left some questioning his desire to play for the Flyers as former general manager Ron Hextall made it clear that he wanted Allison to turn pro after his exciting sophomore campaign. Due to his injuries from the previous season, Allison missed the start of his junior campaign, and while he did manage to post eight goals and 15 points in 22 games, it seemed clear that he wasn’t totally recovered from his ACL injury.

This past season, Allison looked more like the player we saw dominate as a sophomore, averaging close to a point per game with 10 goals and 23 points in 26 games. But still, Allison suffered yet another injury in his final season at WMU, which hasn’t quieted his doubters.

While Allison’s injury history is concerning, there’s no doubting his potential as a scoring threat at the next level. So long as he can stay healthy, the Flyers could have a very good player on their hands.