Don't Sleep On This Darkhorse Candidate For Flyers' Bottom-Six

VOORHEES, New Jersey - Last season at Philadelphia Flyers training camp, he was a late addition to the forwards group on the camp roster. The local media mistook him for a rookie defensemen for most of the first day of on-ice activities.

We're talking about Max Willman, of course.

"Definitely wasn't expecting that phone call," Willman told InsideAHLHockey.com at the start of last season. "But I was ready and prepared to go out there and play. So yeah, definitely a pretty cool experience. They were definitely thankful that I was in the area and could come and help out. "

That rookie defenseman, Mason Millman, was on an NHL contract and on the initial 2020 camp roster.

Willman, a forward who had previously parlayed an American Hockey League (AHL) tryout into an AHL contract with the Flyers' affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2019-20, wasn't on the initial roster released to media - though he left a solid impression upon Flyers' staff and management heading into the 2020-21 season with the Phantoms.

This time around, dare I say that the 26-year-old is emerging as a darkhorse candidate that should be on everyone's radar entering training camp this week. He's looking to put himself in the conversation for a spot on the NHL roster - albeit straight out of camp or in-season when injuries and call ups arise.

Willman enjoyed a bit of a breakout season with the Phantoms this past season - opening the season with points in five of his first seven games and goals in four straight. His goal-scoring surge saw him honored as the AHL's Player of the Week in late February.

All in all, Willman finished with 16 points (nine goals, seven assists) in 30 games with the Phantoms in 2020-21 while playing an effective two-way game with a prominent role on the Phantoms' penalty kill - all seemingly attributes that could translate well to a bottom-six role in the NHL.

The hard work paid off in a big way for Willman, who was rewarded on March 24 with his first-ever NHL contract - a two-year contract beginning with the 2021-22 season.

So where does Willman stand entering camp Thursday? What was his summer training like? What's his mindset coming into camp with an NHL contract this time around?

Max Willman went 1-on-1 with InsideAHLHockey.com earlier this week to provide all the details.

On his summer:

"It was good. I went home for a little bit to the Cape. I actually spent the majority of [the off-season] in Allentown, and [have been in Voorhees] New Jersey for a bit. Just the normal hockey summer workout training, a little bit of golf, skating. It was good."

On the feedback from Flyers after his season with the Phantoms prior to heading into the offseason:

"I think they thought I had a pretty good year. Basically just said to come to camp ready. Now you kind of have yo prove yourself that it wasn't a fluke of a season and that I am that kind of player and can play at the highest level. That was kind of my mindset this summer, just be as ready as I can be for camp coming up here."

On his focus this offseason in training:

"Just the normal things I focus on every summer - get a little bit of strength back that you lose over the course of the season. I think the big one for me is coming into camp in good shape and my conditioning be where I need it to be to play the kind of game that is going to be required of me this season. I spent the last month or so here in Voorhees. I did a good job, and my body is feeling ready to go."

On skating in Voorhees with the NHL regulars the past few weeks:

Ever since those guys started filtering in we've been all skating together. They've been ramping up here as we get closer to camp. They've been good, they've been fun, and they've been fast. It's good to skate with those guys in preparation for the season."

On his mindset entering training camp this year now that he has an NHL contract and can legitimately push for an NHL job:

"I think that's kind of been my mindset ever since last year, regardless of the [NHL] contract. Just getting my game where it needs to be to crack the lineup. And that's been my mindset throughout the summer - to make that team. Whether it's out of camp, or throughout the year with injuries/poor play/ whatever it is. I'm just trying to get to that next level."

On what he's hoping to show GM Chuck Fletcher, Flyers' HC Alain Vigneault and the rest of the NHL staff/management in camp:

"Just how I've been playing last year. Kind of use my speed and work ethic to be tough to play against. I know I'm not going up there to get first line minutes. It's just that grittier, hard to play against type of game that I'm willing to do and hopefully can showcase some of my other abilities as well."

On potentially having an opportunity to play in NHL preseason games, something that nobody on the bubble had the benefit of last season:

"Definitely looking forward to those [preseason games]. Basically, just looking to play in games wherever. Kind of at that point in the summer where you're almost sick of training and want to get to the season and start playing games and playing against other guys. I'm looking forward to it, and like you said, trying to showcase some of my skills that I can bring to the team."