Player evaluation: Willsie
BRIAN WILLSIE
This season: 53 games, 4 goals, 8 assists, minus-8 rating.
Positives: Never to be confused with a dynamic goal scorer, Willsie is at his best when he's playing a defense-first, energy-line role. His strong work ethic and responsible two-way play give him value, and he didn't complain when often made a healthy scratch.
Negatives: Showed some goal-scoring potential early in his career, but it never really materialized. Willsie is solid at several aspects of the game, but not really spectacular at any one thing. That makes him versatile but not particularly valuable.
Looking ahead: Willsie has probably run his course with the Kings, but should be able to find an energy-line role with a NHL team. He's good around the net, but won't attract significant attention unless he finds a way to put more pucks in nets.
Contract situation: Unrestricted free agent.
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About the bloggers
J.P. Hoornstra writes about NHL and IHL hockey for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group. He welcomes any and all dialogue on the finer points of hockey.
E-mail J.P. at jp.hoornstra@inlandnewspapers.com.
Jill Painter joined the Daily News in 2000 and during the last eight years she's covered the Dodgers, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, Kings, golf and everything in between. Even though she's from Colorado, she still freezes in the Staples Center press box but always manages to thaw her fingers in time to make deadline. E-mail Jill at jill.painter@dailynews
.com.
Vincent Bonsignore is a sports columnist for the Los Angeles Daily News. E-mail Vinny at vincent.bonsignore
@dailynews.com.
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Thanks for helping us miss out on Stamkos.
I doubt any NHL team would be interested in him.
Might have to consider teaming up with Jamie Lundmark in Europe.
I can sum it up in one word
JOURNEYMAN
Helped make the word "WONTSIE" an overused expression game in and game out, as he had chance after chance and couldn't convert. His "hot streak" over the final couple of regular season games was frustrating, and the thought of him currying favor with management because of his "work ethic" and "willingness" is horrifying. The guy was never a regular NHL player with the Avs, and as soon as he got to the Av-nots (The Caps, and The Kings) he couldn't find his way back to the American League, where he belongs.
good riddance!!! worst FA signing ever... never contributed anything... and in typical willsie style,, he had to start scoring in the last 2 games of the season, helping us kick san jose's butt and securing our 29th over all spot...
he couldnt contribute anything while we were in the midst of a difficult season, but as soon as the towel was thrown in he and thornton start actually doing something...
aaarg! the pain the horror... i hold him responsible for missing out on the #1 pick
Willsie was by far my least favorite player on the team this year. Missed opportunity after opportunity until, of course, the last two games. Very useless.
Honestly, both Willsie and Zeiler were invisible players. They gave no discernable impact when they where on the ice. Ivanans had less ice time than these two but at least he makes players on the other team look behind their shoulders.
The challenge is for DL to fill those roster spots with meaningful players who can give the team a real boost especially in the toughness department.
Supposedly this guy is a good locker room player and helped the transition for Overchin in WSH and Kopi here, but I agree with the consensus, didn't do much this season and it was obvious by mid season that we should bring one of our kids up from Manchester. He'll find another home on an energy line
A completely useless player for the kings!
He epitomizes the failure of the team this year.
Thank God he's gone!
He may very well be the worst F/A signing of the DL era.
As I had mentioned once before...Ovechkin must be considered the greatest of all time if he got this guy to score 19 goals in a single season.