Did anyone have Wade Allison on their radar before this season started? NHL Central Scouting barely did. But this draft-eligible prospect turned it on about halfway through the season, and considering how far up the ladder he’s moved, it’s impossible to tell when his name might be called in Buffalo later this month.
He’s a power forward, a winner, and an ambitious young player. Here’s everything you need to know about this 2016 NHL prospect.
Age on June 26: 18
Current Team: Tri-City Storm (USHL)
Position: Right Wing
Shoots: Right
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 205 pounds
From: Carman, MB.
Twitter: @wadeallison11
NHL Central Scouting Rank (North America): 62nd
Marek’s Take: Coming off a championship season in the USHL, he’s a mix of power and skill. Fearless and asserts himself in big games.
He’s barreling through the competition
Allison has size, and he knows how to use it.
“I’m a power forward,” he told thehockeynews.com. “I take the puck to the net and take the body. I try to make the other team’s ‘D’ not want to go back and get the puck.”
What NHL general manager doesn’t want that type of player on their team?
He came out of nowhere
It was an inauspicious start to the season for Allison, who suffered a few minor injuries before rising out of anonymity with a second half for the ages.
He scored 25 goals and 22 assists for 47 points in 56 games. Along the way, he was voted MVP of Team West in the USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game.
As a result of his impeccable production, Allison went from being the 192nd North American skater in NHL Central Scouting’s mid-term rankings to 62nd in their final rankings. No other draft-eligible prospect made a bigger jump in the scouts’ eyes than he did.
He is a champion, my friend
It wasn’t just about Allison’s remarkable regular season with the Tri-City Storm — it was about how he led the team to its first-ever Clark Cup championship by scoring nine goals and seven assists in just 11 games. In fact, his final ranking was set before he embarked on his phenomenal playoff run.
MVP honours? You bet.
He’s committed to Western Michigan
The scouts at sbncollegehockey.com had an interesting assessment of Allison’s game.
While they complimented the gritty, grinder-type player Allison is, they lament the lack of polish on the player.
“Though he’s a powerful skater, Allison’s first step isn’t that great,” writes Dilks. “He’s slow to accelerate and can sometimes struggle in open ice because of it.”
The analysis continues to say Allison will require some help developing a 200-foot game that translates to the NHL.
Who better to learn it from than former NHL coach Andy Murray?
Allison is scheduled to begin at University of Western Michigan, under Murray, next fall.
