Max Willman Bio
Maxwell Willman is an American professional ice hockey forward whose career path has carried him from Cape Cod youth rinks to the National Hockey League (NHL). He most recently suited up for the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL) under contract to the New Jersey Devils, where he has served as a versatile left-shooting forward. Willman was originally selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the fifth round, 121st overall, of the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, a moment that launched his long climb through amateur and professional ranks.
Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 183 pounds, Willman is recognized for his steady two-way play and willingness to move between the bottom-six forward group and the penalty kill. He remains an unrestricted free agent, with his most recent contract window tied to the 2023–24 Devils organization.
Early Life and Background
Maxwell Willman was born on February 13, 1995, in Barnstable, Massachusetts, to Peyton and Timothy Willman. He first stepped onto the ice at the age of three, and he quickly developed a passion for the sport that would define his future. As a young athlete, he played for minor ice hockey programs in Barnstable and Foxborough, Massachusetts, gaining early exposure to competitive hockey in a region better known for its baseball traditions.
Willman attended Barnstable High School, where he balanced ice hockey with lacrosse and made six total postseason appearances across the two sports. He led the ice hockey team in scoring for two seasons and served as team captain during the 2012–13 campaign, helping Barnstable win 52 regular season games and three consecutive Old Colony League championships. When no NCAA Division I scholarship offers arrived, Willman briefly considered abandoning hockey to attend Quinnipiac University as a non-athlete, before being noticed by the head coach at Williston Northampton School, a private college-preparatory program known for its showcase schedule.
Path to Hockey
Willman spent a postgraduate year at Williston Northampton School, where he served as captain and top-line center while leading the team with 21 goals and 44 points. That performance was enough to convince the Buffalo Sabres to use a fifth-round pick on him in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft, even though he had already committed to play college hockey at Brown University. The draft selection validated his decision to keep pursuing the sport.
Willman wasted little time making an impact at Brown, scoring his first NCAA goal in his very first game, a 4–2 win over the United States Military Academy. After setting career highs with 11 goals and 26 points in 31 games during the 2016–17 season, a knee injury limited him to nine games the following year. Using his remaining NCAA eligibility, he transferred to Boston University to join the Terriers for an additional season, sharpening his game against one of the strongest schedules in college hockey.
Max Willman Career
Early Career (2019–2021)
After his year at Boston University, the Sabres declined to sign Willman, so he accepted an offer from the Reading Royals of the ECHL, the minor-league affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers. He adapted quickly to the professional game, and by the end of the 2019–20 season, he had earned a promotion to the Lehigh Valley Phantoms of the AHL, the top minor league in the Flyers’ system. That steady rise through the ECHL and AHL prepared him for his eventual NHL opportunity.
Willman made his NHL debut on October 15, 2021, in the Flyers’ home opener against the Vancouver Canucks, filling in for a roster thinned by COVID-19 travel protocols and injuries. The appearance marked the realization of a long-held goal for the Cape Cod native.
NHL Breakthrough with the Philadelphia Flyers (2021–2023)
Willman’s first full professional season with the Flyers organization produced a defining milestone on December 10, 2021, when he scored his first NHL goal in the second period of a 4–3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights. The marker established him as a legitimate bottom-six contributor and rewarded years of perseverance through the minors. He continued to move between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia, refining his role as a reliable penalty killer and energy forward.
Following four seasons in the Flyers’ system, Willman departed as a free agent, capping a developmental chapter that included time with the Royals, Phantoms, and the parent club.
New Jersey Devils Era (2023–Present)
After going unsigned through the off-season, Willman accepted a professional tryout to attend New Jersey Devils training camp. On October 7, 2023, he signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Devils but was immediately placed on waivers. He cleared the next day and was assigned to the Utica Comets of the AHL to open the 2023–24 campaign. The transition gave him a fresh opportunity within a deep Devils forward group.
Willman was recalled to New Jersey on November 4, 2023, and scored his first goal as a Devil the next day in a 4–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. On May 7, 2024, while still a pending free agent, he signed a one-year, two-way contract extension to remain with the Devils organization, securing his place within the franchise for another season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Willman is best described as a two-way left-shot forward who excels at the details of the game. Coaches have trusted him on the penalty kill and in defensive-zone face-off situations, while also relying on him to provide a steady stream of opportunistic offense at the AHL level. His path through the ECHL, AHL, and NHL has shaped a resilient, adaptable playing style built on competitiveness and reliability rather than flash.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Willman’s signature moments, his first NHL goal against the Vegas Golden Knights and his first goal as a Devil against the Chicago Blackhawks stand out as bookend achievements for two NHL organizations. His selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft by Buffalo and his college debut goal at Brown also remain defining markers of his journey from Cape Cod to the pros.
Max Willman Career Wins
Willman’s professional ledger is anchored by his steady movement between the ECHL, AHL, and NHL, with verified regular-season contributions across each stop. His NHL totals are modest but meaningful, having begun with the Flyers and continuing with the Devils organization.
NHL Highlights
Willman registered his first NHL goal on December 10, 2021, for the Philadelphia Flyers against the Vegas Golden Knights, the milestone that confirmed his arrival at the top level. As a member of the New Jersey Devils, he scored his first goal for the club on November 5, 2023, in a 4–2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks. These moments bookend his limited but consistent NHL appearances to date.
Other Wins and Performances
Willman delivered strong performances at the minor-league level with both the Lehigh Valley Phantoms and the Utica Comets, helping those clubs compete in the AHL Calder Cup Playoffs. His work with the Reading Royals in the ECHL also laid the foundation for his professional development.
Max Willman Family
Family Background and Hockey Lineage
Willman was raised by his parents, Peyton and Timothy Willman, in Barnstable, Massachusetts, where his father and mother supported his early athletic pursuits. The family’s Cape Cod roots helped shape his early introduction to ice hockey and his work ethic on and off the ice.
Personal Life
Willman grew up balancing ice hockey and lacrosse at Barnstable High School, a dual-sport path that reflected his versatility as a young athlete. Public details about his current personal life, marital status, and children are not widely confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Willman remained an unrestricted free agent following the expiration of his contract with the New Jersey Devils organization. His most recent on-ice work came with the Utica Comets of the AHL, where he continued to provide veteran scoring and defensive responsibility on a competitive roster. With the NHL trade and free-agent landscape constantly shifting, Willman remained a candidate for AHL or NHL opportunity based on his two-way resume.
Should he sign with a new organization, his role would likely mirror what he has delivered in recent seasons: a reliable bottom-six or fourth-line forward capable of killing penalties and chipping in timely goals. The 2025 outlook hinges on whether teams value his experience within the Devils and Flyers systems.
Regardless of where he lands, Willman’s 2025 storyline is one of perseverance, as he continues to chase the kind of full-time NHL role that his first NHL goal in 2021 initially promised.