Journeyman goaltender Wade Flaherty filled in when needed for three teams during his nine years in the pros. Some of his best hockey came when he provided stability on the young New York Islanders squads in the late 1990s.
Flaherty was a bit of a nomad in junior as well as the pros. During his five seasons in WHL he suited up for the Kelowna Rockets, Seattle Thunderbirds, Spokane Chiefs, and Victoria Cougars. After registering 20 wins for Victoria in 1987-88 and being placed on the WHL West second all-star team, he was drafted 181st by the Buffalo Sabres in the NHL Entry Draft.
During his first pro season, Flaherty led the Greensboro Monarchs to the ECHL title and was named the MVP of the playoffs. The next year he was superb for the last place Kansas City Blades of the IHL then signed with the expansion San Jose Sharks. Over the next two seasons Flaherty played a handful of NHL games but otherwise starred in the IHL. In 1991-92 he and Kansas City teammate Arturs Irbe shared the James Norris trophy for allowing the fewest goals in the league and backstopped the Blades to the Turner Cup title. The next two seasons he led the league in games played and was selected to the IHL second all-star team.
Between 1994 and 1997, Flaherty made 49 appearances in the NHL for San Jose. He was solid when called upon but the Sharks opted to rest their hopes on Irbe. In July 1997, Flaherty signed as a free agent with the New York Islanders and provided a steady veteran presence on the young team for two years. He didn't play much in 1999-2000 but was recalled in 2000-01 to play 20 games when rookie Rick DiPietro struggled. In February 2001 he was traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning to back up Kevin Weekes.
From Tampa Bay, Flaherty moved on to Florida and Nashville, before leading the AHL's Milwaukee Admirals to the 2004 Calder Cup title. After his stint in Milwaukee, the Vancouver Canucks acquired the 2004 playoff MVP in the summer of 2004. He spent three seasons with the Cancuks' AHL affiliate in Manitoba, providing stability in goal and posting respectable records in each season. However, after becoming a free agent on July 1, 2007 Flaherty signed with the Chicago Blackhawks.
IHL Second All-Star Team (1993, 1994) Jack A. Butterfield Trophy (AHL - Playoff MVP) (2004) AHL Second All-Star Team (2006) Signed as a free agent by San Jose, September 3, 1991. Signed as a free agent by NY Islanders, July 22, 1997. Traded to Tampa Bay by NY Islanders for future considerations, February 16, 2001. Signed as a free agent by Florida, August 2, 2001. Traded to Nashville by Florida for Pascal Trepanier, March 9, 2003. Signed as a free agent by Vancouver, July 7, 2004. Signed as a free agent by Chicago, July 27, 2007.