T.J. Hensick Waived by the Avs

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Check'er out:

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T.J. Hensick of Lansing, Michigan has been waived by the Avalanche.

Here's the down-low from Hockey Futures:

T.J. Hensick

Prospect Grade: 7.5 B (About Prospect Grades)

Profile Contributed By: HF Staff

History

Not opting into the 2004 NHL Draft hasn’t hurt T. J. Hensick’s draft stock this year. He, along with junior Jeff Tambellini (LA) comprised one of the nation’s most lethal offensive duos this season. Not surprisingly, both were named co-recipients of Michigan’s Hal Downes Trophy, which recognizes the team’s most valuable player. Hensick finished second on the Wolverines in points with 55 (23 goals, 32 assists) He also finished second on the team in goals and assists as well. He also finished fourth in the nation in points per game (1.41). Among the many accolades Hensick received this season included being named one of the ten finalists for the Hobey Baker Award, selections to the All-America West as well as the CCHA All-Conference First Teams. Hensick was also a member of Team USA’s 2005 U-20 WJC squad.

2007-08: Hensick saw action in 31 regular season games for Colorado, also appearing in 50 games with AHL Lake Erie. He was recalled by Colorado four times throughout the season, and a fifth in the playoffs. He recorded eleven points with the Avalanche and finished as the club’s top rookie scorer. Hensick scored four of his six goals on the power play. He made his NHL debut on Nov. 30 at San Jose and scored his first NHL goal just one night later at Los Angeles. He shared the team lead with five goals in February and recorded a three-game goal streak, Feb. 2-6, including back-to-back multi-goal games Feb. 2 at St. Louis and Feb. 4 against Phoenix. Hensick became the first Avalanche/Nordiques rookie to post consecutive multi-goal games since Miroslave Frycer in 1981-82. Despite playing only 50 games, he was Lake Erie’s second leading scorer with 45 points. Hensick recorded four points for PlanetUSA at the 2008 AHL All-Star Classic on Jan. 28 in Binghamton, N.Y. On Apr. 17, he was recalled from Lake Erie and appeared in two playoff games with the Avalanche, recording an assist in game three of the Western Conference Semifinals vs. Detroit on Apr. 29.

Talent Analysis

Hensick is poetry in high-speed motion. He is a tremendously gifted offensive player who combines flair and creativity with blazing speed. He is of the pure goal-scorer variety. Hensick is a player who is very confident and has excellent hockey sense. His speed and quickness makes him an extremely difficult player to defend against. Hensick is very good on faceoffs, possesses a very quick release and dominates with the puck. The biggest knock on Hensick may be that he tends to avoid the physical side of the game. He has demonstrated that he can give and take the hits but it is not often, if rarely evident. He could also be more involved in the defensive side of the game as well.

Note that he was 61gp 4g 17a 21pts last year as a rookie. This year he's 7gp 1g 2a 3pts.

He was the 88th overall pick by the Avs in 2005.

Think Holland would pick this kid up? Why not stock up on Michigan kids while the waiver order is low, right?

[Theophany 110]

We could use a guy like that, especially with how defensive most of the team currently is (Miller, Helm, Eaves, Abdelkader, etc).

What we really need are Franzen and Filppula, but I'd take this kid in the meantime.

[Miller Brew 0]

How is it decided who gets first dibbs? We have all the cap room in the world right now. I say use it up...

Edited November 26, 2009 by Miller Brew

[rage 24]

How is it decided who gets first dibbs? We have all the cap room in the world right now. I say use it up...

Pretty sure it's judged by standings.

Not sure if they go by current standings or last years.

[CenterIce 83]

Pretty sure it's judged by standings.

Not sure if they go by current standings or last years.

Does he have a two way contract like Miller? He would have to be waived, if he doesn't, once everyone comes back.

[55fan 5,133]

Does he have a two way contract like Miller? He would have to be waived, if he doesn't, once everyone comes back.

It doesn't matter if the contract is one or two way. What matters is how long he has been around.

[34Legace34 0]

I would love me some TJ Hensick on the Wings. He was a legit candidate for the Hobey a few years ago

[Lidstrom for life 20]

YES PLEASE!! The kid has skill. Also yay for local guys!

[jollymania 162]

He wouldn't hurt us, htough I prefer CHL guys unless the college guy plays like Abdelkader.

Edited November 26, 2009 by jollymania

[MacK_Attack 108]

Pretty sure it's judged by standings.

Not sure if they go by current standings or last years.

After Nov. 1st, it's the current standings in reverse. So Carolina has first priority.

[ben_usmc 253]

He is a huge Wings fan too, a friend of mine was at the bar with him during Wings cup run and he was cheering for them even though he was an Av

[MacK_Attack 108]

Hensick cleared waivers.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

Hensick cleared waivers.

Booooooo.

[Miller Brew 0]

How did he clear waivers? Holland has money to play with right now and we could use a little scoring depth... Even if we lose him when Franzen comes back, it'd still been nice to see Holland making a pro active move. Unless...... he already has something else up his sleeve. :evil_grin:

[GMRwings1983 8,804]

If they gave up on him so quickly, there must be something about him we don't know.

[Guest zackmorris]

Maybe Holland was thinking that we have enough young third/fourth line type players. He has speed but so do some of our young developing players. He probably figured we don't need another one of those and didn't feel like having to scratch another guy. If we're to get a forward, it should be someone who can put the puck in the net with some shred of consistency and I don't think Hensick brings that or he wouldn't have been put on waivers, nevermind cleared it. The Avs probably saw something in Hensick that was reason to believe he wouldn't turn into anything worthwhile, and we might've seen the same thing. I trust our judgment a hell of alot more than the Avs, too.

Holland is being smart. Save your money and if need be, sign or trade for a defenseman. That extra money will come in handy later when we're desperate for it.

[martyrme19 73]

note, Hensick is from the howell area, not lansing.

a bunch of us are back in town for the holidays and we're getting a skate in at howell so theres a good chance he'll be there. ill see if i can get any inside info.

also, anyone from the howell area that wants to come skate fpr fun, let me know and ill send ya the info.

[Drake_Marcus 890]

I'm also thinking that the Avs made it known they did not want him to be picked up. I'm thinking it's a bit of a gentleman's agreement with waiver moves where teams will sometimes come out and say-- hey, please don't pick this kid up because we have real plans for him. But more often then not they don't mind a pick up. I know it seems crazy, but we're not talking about kids like Tavares on waivers here-- obviously a GM would laugh at idea of passing him up just to be in the good standings of another GM. I look at this as something similar to offer sheets-- if someone makes it clear they don't want you to interfere in their player issues and you do expect them (and others) to go for your throat when you have an RFA.

[rage 24]

I'm also thinking that the Avs made it known they did not want him to be picked up. I'm thinking it's a bit of a gentleman's agreement with waiver moves where teams will sometimes come out and say-- hey, please don't pick this kid up because we have real plans for him. But more often then not they don't mind a pick up. I know it seems crazy, but we're not talking about kids like Tavares on waivers here-- obviously a GM would laugh at idea of passing him up just to be in the good standings of another GM. I look at this as something similar to offer sheets-- if someone makes it clear they don't want you to interfere in their player issues and you do expect them (and others) to go for your throat when you have an RFA.

I don't buy this.

[Theophany 110]

I don't buy this.

Really? It makes complete sense to me. If it were someone like Tavares going to waivers, that's one thing, but a third/fourth liner? Most teams have plenty of those, and more in the AHL. I wouldn't piss off another GM just to get an average at best player.

[Finnish Wing 110]

I would love me some TJ Hensick on the Wings. He was a legit candidate for the Hobey a few years ago

Which actually guarantees nothing. I've seen a few of these Hobey finalists in the Finnish league - Junior Lessard newest of them in Ilves - and they've not impressed me at all.

[Finnish Wing 110]

Really? It makes complete sense to me. If it were someone like Tavares going to waivers, that's one thing, but a third/fourth liner? Most teams have plenty of those, and more in the AHL. I wouldn't piss off another GM just to get an average at best player.

Yeah, I mean it lowers your GMratingâ„¢ and other GMs don't make deals with you anymore.