When Max Willman showed up at Reading Royals training camp two years ago he was a longshot to make the roster.
Just more than two years later, the 26-year-old forward is slated to make his NHL debut for the Philadelphia Flyers when they host the Vancouver Canucks in their season opener Friday at Wells Fargo Center.
Willman was among three players called up by the Flyers Thursday from Lehigh Valley of the AHL, along with defenseman Nick Seeler and forward Jackson Cates.
The moves were necessitated by an injury to defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen, listed as day to day with an upper-body injury, plus the unavailability of two forwards claimed off waivers earlier this week.
Patrick Brown, claimed from Vegas Monday, was placed on the COVID-19 protocol list; Zach MacEwen, claimed from Vancouver Wednesday, still is awaiting approval of his U.S. visa.
All that opened the door for Willman, who has made the most of his opportunities since signing with the Royals in September 2019.
After being a healthy scratch in 12 of the team’s first 13 games that season, he earned playing time and emerged as a key player. He ended up with nine goals and 16 assists in 20 ECHL games before signing a professional tryout contract with Lehigh Valley.
The Barnstable, Mass., native impressed again, earning a deal with the Phantoms that ran through last season — he has 12 goals and 13 assists in 54 AHL games — then signing an entry level deal with the Flyers in March.
At Flyers practice Thursday, the 6-0, 190-pound Willman played left wing on the fourth line with center Nate Thompson and right wing Nicolas Aube-Kubel.
“We love his speed, we love his energy,” Flyers coach Alain Vigneault told reporters Thursday, including Jordan Hall of NBC Sports Philadelphia. “It’s the start of a new season, there’s great opportunities out here for a lot of people right now considering our situation. Guys have got to go out, play well and help us win games.”
Willman, a fifth-round pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2014 draft, played in college for four seasons at Brown and one at Boston University. He had 17 goals and 34 assists in 135 games.
He will become the third player to play for the Royals and Flyers since the teams have been affiliated, according to the Royals, joining left wing Tyrell Goulbourne and goalie Anthony Stolarz.
