Final Grade: Brian Willsie
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 12, 2009 6:00 AM MDT
in Final Grades 2009
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| GP | G | A | PTS | +/- | PIM | ESG | PPG | SHG | GTG | GWG | SOG | |
| 1st Half | 10 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| 2nd Half | 32 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 44 |
| Total | 42 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -6 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 59 |
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Final Grade |
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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.
Next Up: Super Joe
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Drink
Every time an announcer mentions Willsie by name
Drunk Potential: Sippy Cup
by Jibblescribbits on May 12, 2009 8:22 AM MDT reply actions
I already screwed it up
But I don’t think anything would be more fitting for Willsie’s time in Denver than if no one commented on it.
by Jibblescribbits on May 12, 2009 9:48 AM MDT reply actions
Did you just invent a new Reply Fail? Commenting when no comment was needed? You truly are an innovator…
2008-2009 Colorado Avalanche: Dry Humping Mediocrity
Growing up in the Hershey area, I remember seeing guys like Brian Willsie, Brad Larsen, Ville Nieminen, Dan Hinote, Serge Aubin, Eric Messier Marc Denis, and David Aebischer coming up through the Avs’ system. I remember when Willsie first made the Avs team, guys were excited that he might be another Adam Deadmarsh-type player for them. Sure.
by c0nquistad0rian on May 12, 2009 11:03 AM MDT reply actions
I think you nailed it. He was supposed to play mostly in LE, but got so much time due to injuries. Given that, I’m not sure how I feel about a grade for him at all, as it is kind of unfair to give an NHL grade to an AHL player. But he put the time in so there it is. Maybe the real grade should be D for the Avs, for having a farm system with questionable NHL talent. (discounting some of the young kids). Frankly though, I did expect a little more from a guy who could be captain and a good player in the “A”, but I guess that just goes to show what a huge jump it is to the “next level”
Personally, I said when they signed him again, “ah, crap, this is the best they could do? Didn’t we already see him do nothing once already? Well, maybe it will be better this time”.
My drinking game suggestion- Drink whenever you realize he’s not even good enough to get an interesting MHH nickname. Drunk potential- Average. (No offense to whoever thought up “willy” but it seems a little too nhl bland for me)
Get rid of the loser point
08-09 Avs- can we decline the penalty?
Nickname
Jibbles drinking game comment game me an idea, just not sure if it’s a good one…..
“Sippy cup” He’s graduated from a bottle, but isn’t good enough to drink from a real cup. Just like his hockey talent…
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on May 12, 2009 12:54 PM MDT up reply actions
Who?
If you don't eat your meat, you can't have any pudding! HOW can you have any pudding if you don't eat your meat?!
What disturbs me about Wilsie isn’t really what he did on the ice because he seemed to play hard when he did play. What disturbs me about Wilsie is that he was called up before Galardi, Stewart, Dupuis, etc… It’s an example of how the Avalanche have suspect scouting of their AHL talent. Galiardi and Stewart should have been in an Avalanche jersey long before they were called up.
it could be an inability to evaluate NHL-readiness, but I think it’s a ridiculous amount of caution, the same caution the entire organization embodied for FG’s tenure. There’s certainly something to be said for not rushing prospects, but it’s pretty crazy Vernace and Dupuis didn’t play before some of the vets they played. Galiardi and Stewart, I’m not so sure they didn’t need every minute they spent in the AHL, and Galiardi might need some more seasoning too.
The drinking game for Willsie has to be to take a sip every time he misses the net on a shot. You’ll be passed out after the second period. This guy ALWAYS shoots wide. It’s frustrating.
like Rob Blake without the hip check
Hyphens cause writers more trouble than any other form of punctuation, except perhaps commas.
by David Driscoll-Carignan on May 13, 2009 8:06 AM MDT up reply actions
And on those rare occasions when Blake’s shot was on net, it would go through the goalie.
MHH: Like the Avs organization, we’ve now officially lost our minds.
I'm The Canary - but I'm not cute nor cuddly, and I don't sing.
by Americanario on May 13, 2009 12:57 PM MDT up reply actions
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