Case Study: Jason Allison
What ever happened to Jason Allison? A one-time star with the Boston Bruins before a neck injury put his career on ice, Allison has been on the outside looking in this year. This is pretty surprising given he’s a pretty gifted player who scored 60 points (17 goals, 43 assists) in 66 games last year with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Has Allison been out of the NHL this year because he’s too slow for the new NHL? Perhaps but there’s plenty of big and slow old-guard players (e.g. Eric Lindros, Nik Antropov) holding their own in this year. Perhaps the reason that Allison hasn’t played this year is he’s a victim of the new salary cap, which rewards teams that have young, cheap players and a small number of high-price veterans. The 31-year-old Allison is a ‘tweener - neither young and cheap or older and a star. As a result, many NHL clubs may find it difficult to justify paying for a player, whose best days are clearly behind him, and who probably wants $1-million to $2-million a year. It’s too bad because Allison probably a three or four more years left in him. At the very least, he can be a useful player as a power play specialist.
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3 opinions for Case Study: Jason Allison
Paul
Jul 11, 2008 at 7:32 am
There must be more to the allison story than meets the eye. He was just as slow when he was the Captain of the bruins and yet had a 95 point season. He was slow when ih was the Canadian Major Junior player of the year in 1994/95 as well. He is/was however one of the best playmakers going. This guy with all of his injury and personal problems managed to put up almost a point per game in his career, which is a tough feat at that level of play. He was the core of the GAS line with Boston and the LAPD line in LA. He definitely drew the short straw when it came to injuries although I would not call him injury prone. All of the injuries he incurred were as the result of viscious incidents like the knee on knee in LA and the nasty two hander over his wrist in boston. I don’t buy the speed thing. Brett hull made allison look quick and look what he accomplished. The key to using allison is to put him on a line with two speedy wingers who love to shoot. Trust me allison will get them the puck as he was one of the best down low passers in the game. With boston in 97-99 his +/- was very good. Thats beause he was with Samaonsov and Guerin who knew allisons shortfalls and adjusted thier style to suit him. Check out the points that the GAS line put up. Even when with the leafs he made Tucker and mcabe’s big points year. The following year after allison left they both went into the tank. Almost all of macabes and tuckers goals involved an allison assist or play. Outside of his speed allisons biggest fault is that he did preferred to pass rather than shoot, even though he was a precison shooter with velocity. At 33 if he is still healthy and in shape he would still be worthy to pick up as a third line guy that could be used on the PP when required. A condender team won’t sign him but a team in rebuild could use him for a year or two. Bottom line is that allison is a very good hockey player, who sees the ice exceptionally well but was not gifted with speed. Boston figured out how to play him and went into the second round of the playoffs. Same in LA until the injury.
GARTH
Aug 2, 2008 at 5:51 pm
Allison is definitely a very talented hockey player that gets unfairly hammered because he is a mediocre skater. I agree with the previous poster that when he is on a line with a couple of two-way shooters he is at his best. Too may people who do not understand the game think hockey is ALL about speed. I have seen lots of lightning fast skaters who just don’t seem to get how the game is won and lost. Games are won and lost inside the blue line (especially on the PP) and not racing up the ice on one rush after another. Yes they are fun to watch but you will not win a cup with a bunch of speedy forwards who can’t make the play. Allison is one of the better playmakers and would be a very good addition if he is healthy. He never had a bad season in the O or the NHL when he was healthy. He is very strong on the puck and one of the better passers in the last 20 years. If he is done as a pro I wish him the best as I unlike some liked to watch him play. He is a true team player.
Don
Aug 12, 2008 at 2:05 am
I agree that there must be more to the story. Jason Allison could play on any team and do well. He missed 2-3 years and still nearly had a point a game season with the Leafs. How many players have ever done that? When on the ice late in a game, you always knew your team had a chance to tie it up when he was out there.
If he is healthy and available, he should be in the NHL in 08/09. Please don’t let this talent go to waste any longer.
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