Midseason Grade: D

Final Grade: D+

Joined Team: Signed as a free agent on July 15, 2008.

MHH Nicknames:  Willy

Lines:

• 4th (22)
• 3rd (12)
• 2nd (6)
• 1st (2)

Positions:

LW: 10

C: 8

RW: 24

Linemates:

LW:

• McLeod (10)
• Tucker (9)
• Stewart (6)
• Smyth (3)
• Durno (2)
• Arnason (1)
• Ledin (1)

C:

• Hensick (13)
• Laperriere (7)
• Arnason (6)
• Guite (3)
• Dupuis (3)
• Galiardi (1)
• Wolski (1)

RW:

• Stewart (6)
• Laperriere (4)
• Svatos (3)
• Hensick (1)
• Hejduk (1)
• Dupuis (1)
• McCormick (1)

Ice Time:*

• TOT 11:47 (15th)
• EV 9:58 (15th)
• SH 1:38 (6th)
• PP :10 (16th)

*Rank is based on total minutes, not average per game.

Best Month: January (3 pts in 11 games)

Career Highlights: Willsie set no notable career highs in 08-09

Report: I originally had Willsie down as a C, and frankly I have no idea why. I think Willsie was signed primarily to play in Lake Erie, but, due to injuries ended up spending most of the season with the Avalanche (he was recalled on November 21st when Ben Guite was placed on the IR).

I give him points for versatility (he played with every forward other than Sakic, Stastny, Jones and Hendricks), but otherwise there wasn't much to write home about. He played some defense, but didn't exactly throw the body around (36 hits). He surprised me with his blistering shot (I guess that's where the 19 goals he scored with the Capitals a few years back came from), but he only managed to get one of those shots into the net. While he was able to play all three forward positions (again with the versatility), he was even worse at faceoffs than McCormick (33.7%).

Fun Fact: Willsie has 19 career points with the Avs, tying him with Chris Stewart, David Jones and Ken Klee on the franchise list.

The Brian Willsie Drinking Game:  If you can think of one, you are more creative than I  Drunk potential: Not

What I Said Last Year: I don't believe I wrote anything about his signing. The best I can do is my midseason report: "Is anyone 100% sure this isn't Wyatt Smith wearing a different jersey number?"

2008 Salary (and Cap Number): $600k ($600k)

2009-2010 Status: UFA

Outlook for 2009: Willsie is 30 and has had 4 straight seasons of declining points-per-game numbers (and his best season is just .5 ppg). At this point in his career he's an AHL player who can fill-in on an NHL roster if need be. Willsie was the Monster's captain and leading scorer when he was recalled and is obviously a fan of the organization (this is his second go-around with the Avs). I figure Willsie will test the waters this summer to see what else is out there, but there's a decent chance he ends up back with the Avs...or, more precisely, the Monsters.

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