McCormick, Willsie sign deals with Avs
By Rick Sadowski, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The Avalanche on Tuesday signed forwards Cody McCormick and Brian Willsie to one- year, two-way contracts.
McCormick, 25, would earn $522,500 if he plays in the NHL next season; Willsie, 30, would be paid $600,000. Each would make much less if sent to the minors.
McCormick was a restricted free agent and Willsie, who spent the past two seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, was an unrestricted free agent.
McCormick, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound right wing, had two goals, two assists and 50 penalty minutes in 40 games with the Avalanche last season. He had one assist and seven penalty minutes in four playoff games.
Willsie, a 6-1, 202-pounder, had four goals, eight assists and 30 penalty minutes in 53 games with the Kings. He was selected by the Avalanche in the 1996 NHL entry draft and played parts of three seasons in Colorado, recording seven goals, eight assists and 29 penalty minutes in 69 games.
Willsie had career highs for goals (19), assists (22) and points (41) with the Washington Capitals in 2005-06. He has 51 goals, 53 assists and 203 penalty minutes in 334 career NHL games.
The only remaining unsigned Avalanche players from last season are unrestricted free agents Joe Sakic and Peter Forsberg, as well as Marek Svatos, a restricted free agent who has filed for salary arbitration.
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July 15, 2008
5:33 p.m.
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farsidefan writes:
What terrific news ! Two more journeymen type players to get us to the Lord Stanleys' Cup. I bet the names on the jerseys will be velcroed on so they can be interchanged when they get shipped back and forth between the Avs and minor league teams.
July 15, 2008
8:15 p.m.
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carmela_avs writes:
I think they should give the raise to Svatos. It would be another mistake to let him go.
July 15, 2008
9:42 p.m.
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BonBon writes:
Once again, let's all overreact to the Avs signing one of our own RFA's and a guy who will more than likely be an injury call up for our organization. These guys will fill the ranks for LEM while possibly Jones, Hensick and Stewart make their way to the big show. You'd think from the constant stream of negative posts that the Avs were only signing a team of scrubs. FG did sign Wolski, Liles, Foote, Per Ledin (who is not a scrub -check out YouTube, he looks like a lot of fun) and Tucker who is a quirky signing, but Sakic liked it so that's a pretty good seal of approval. We only have two more positions to fill and hopefully that will be Sakic and Svats. I can't wait until the negative comments show up when/if we sign those two. I'm sure we'll hear how overpaid they are, that the contracts are too long, that Joe is too old, how we could have used the money for Hossa or Rolston and on and on and on...sigh.
July 15, 2008
10:25 p.m.
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bigbadthor writes:
What else is new, another team mismanged by Stan the Idiot, hey maybe you can give the Red Wings Joe Sakic and Svatos for some used skates and an octopus. Stan makes millions screwing his employees at Walmart, then screws the Denver fan base by hiring idiots to run the Av's and Niuggets, only reason the Av's were any good was because of the past GM, this guy we have now apparently has no clue on the salary cap or evaluating talent. Now we are going to be run of the mill team for the next 20 years.
July 15, 2008
11:10 p.m.
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stevieb writes:
Wow, I bet your no fun at Christmas.
July 16, 2008
11:58 a.m.
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Jamaro writes:
Your right BonBon. I don't think people realize that the Avs handle sigings for all their minor league teams. So they announce signings which does not mean that said player is on the Avs roster. They have to fill multiple rosters on multiple levels. But again its all about names with fans, not really knowing what is actually going on, just knowing that Hossa is a Red Wing so we stink. You do know the Wings had to build that team, and Hossa was a luxery. Avs have a chance to develope a team this year and get that luxery player next year.
July 17, 2008
6:38 p.m.
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milehighchef writes:
I can't believe that we would waste more money on Willsie than we already have. Willsie has done NOTHING in the NHL. For any team, not to mention the AVS twice. Why don't we see if we can trade for Shean Donovan while were at it. Then we'll have a couple have nots on this team!!
This organization is starting to feel like the nuggets, no plan for the future!???