Making a Comeback: Jason Allison

I'm not the only one getting back to business: Jason Allison, in case you haven't heard, was invited to training camp by the Toronto Maple Leafs.  This was a bit of a surprising move on Brian Burke's part, given how deadset he is on acquiring players with heart.  Allison has taken the last three years off from the game; when John Ferguson, Jr. opted not to re-sign him, the slow-footed-but-smooth-passing centre decided to spend some time with his family.  Now, while there is of course nothing wrong with wanting to spend time with one's wife and kids - especially when your job keeps you on the road so much - it does raise the question of whether his commitment to hockey has waned a little too far.

In 2005-06, Allison's lone year with the Leafs, he chipped in 60 points in an injury-shortened 66-game season, so there's solid evidence that he can help out in the offensive zone.  At the same time, however, his plus/minus rating was an abysmal -18.  With many players, one could simply hope that Leafs coach Ron Wilson would work on the guy's defence, but Allison might be a lost cause.  Why?  Well, in order to play defence, a forward has to skate back to his own zone.  When Jason Allison takes it upon himself to high-tail it back to his own zone, though, you just hope that he gets there by next Tuesday.

Okay, maybe that was a little harsh.  But here's a fact: in the Leafs' first pre-season game of 2009, a 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins on Wednesday night, Jason Allison was dropped to last-line duty midway through the game.  The word "ineffective" doesn't describe the game he had; Allison was a defensive liability in the offensive zone, coughing up the puck multiple times - much as he did everywhere else on the ice.  His trademark passing just wasn't there, and he certainly didn't try to overcome his lack of footspeed with a swell of effort - often he would simply take a stride or two and then coast, seemingly stuck in neutral. Simply put, he's not showing the giddyup or the skill that Ron Wilson and Brian Burke want to see in their top 6 forwards. 

Jason Allison, if you really do want to make the most of this try-out opportunity and make the Leafs - or even the Marlies - it's time to put some heart in it.