Avs Agree to Terms With Six Players
Jones, Durno, Haydar, Hendricks, Weiman & Willsie All Under Contract
Monday, 07.06.2009 / 1:24 PM
/ News
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that it has signed forwards David Jones, Chris Durno, Darren Haydar, Matt Hendricks and Brian Willsie, along with goaltender Tyler Weiman.
“We feel that bringing David back helps to solidify our lineup,” said Avalanche General Manager Greg Sherman. “In addition, we’ve added to our organizational depth with this group of signings.”
Jones, 24, played in 40 games for the Avalanche during the 2008-09 campaign, totaling 13 points (8g/5a). The Guelph, Ontario native scored seven goals in his last 22 contests before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury on Jan. 27 that forced him to miss the final 34 games. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound right wing was Colorado’s eighth selection (ninth round, 288th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
Durno, 28, played two games with the Avalanche last season after being recalled on Jan. 17. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound center skated in a team-high 76 games for Lake Erie and led the club with 18 goals. A native of Scarborough, Ontario, Durno finished second on the Monsters in both assists (27) and points (45).
Haydar, 29, spent the 2008-09 campaign with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, where he led the club in goals (31), assists (49) and points (80). Nashville’s 15th pick (ninth round, 248th overall) in the 1999 Entry Draft, Haydar made his NHL debut with the Predators during the 2002-03 season. Overall, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound right wing has appeared in 22 NHL contests with Nashville and the Atlanta Thrashers, totaling eight points (1g/7a).
Hendricks, 28, was recalled from Lake Erie twice during the 2008-09 campaign. The Blaine, Minn., native appeared in four games with the Avalanche, making his NHL debut on March 10 vs. Atlanta. Hendricks finished third on the Monsters in both goals (14) and points (29) despite missing 12 weeks of action after suffering a broken foot while blocking a shot on Oct. 25.
Willsie, 31, recorded four points (1g/3a) in 42 games for the Avalanche after being recalled from Lake Erie on Nov. 22. He was leading the Monsters in scoring at the time of his recall with 14 points (8g/6a) in 12 games. Willsie, who signed with the Avalanche as a free agent on July 15, 2008, was originally Colorado’s seventh selection (sixth round, 146th overall) in the 1996 Entry Draft. The Belmont, Ontario native has tallied 108 points (52g/56a) in 376 career games in the NHL, including 19 points (8g/11a) in 111 games with Colorado.
Weiman, 25, led the American Hockey League with eight shutouts in 2008-09, posting a 21-20-2 record with a 2.46 GAA in 44 appearances for the Lake Erie Monsters. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was selected to the Canadian All-Star Team for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic. Colorado’s sixth choice (fifth round, 164th overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft, Weiman has appeared in one game for the Avalanche, Oct. 4, 2007 at Nashville (16 minutes, 0 goals).
“We feel that bringing David back helps to solidify our lineup,” said Avalanche General Manager Greg Sherman. “In addition, we’ve added to our organizational depth with this group of signings.”
Jones, 24, played in 40 games for the Avalanche during the 2008-09 campaign, totaling 13 points (8g/5a). The Guelph, Ontario native scored seven goals in his last 22 contests before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury on Jan. 27 that forced him to miss the final 34 games. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound right wing was Colorado’s eighth selection (ninth round, 288th overall) in the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.
Durno, 28, played two games with the Avalanche last season after being recalled on Jan. 17. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound center skated in a team-high 76 games for Lake Erie and led the club with 18 goals. A native of Scarborough, Ontario, Durno finished second on the Monsters in both assists (27) and points (45).
Haydar, 29, spent the 2008-09 campaign with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League, where he led the club in goals (31), assists (49) and points (80). Nashville’s 15th pick (ninth round, 248th overall) in the 1999 Entry Draft, Haydar made his NHL debut with the Predators during the 2002-03 season. Overall, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound right wing has appeared in 22 NHL contests with Nashville and the Atlanta Thrashers, totaling eight points (1g/7a).
Hendricks, 28, was recalled from Lake Erie twice during the 2008-09 campaign. The Blaine, Minn., native appeared in four games with the Avalanche, making his NHL debut on March 10 vs. Atlanta. Hendricks finished third on the Monsters in both goals (14) and points (29) despite missing 12 weeks of action after suffering a broken foot while blocking a shot on Oct. 25.
Willsie, 31, recorded four points (1g/3a) in 42 games for the Avalanche after being recalled from Lake Erie on Nov. 22. He was leading the Monsters in scoring at the time of his recall with 14 points (8g/6a) in 12 games. Willsie, who signed with the Avalanche as a free agent on July 15, 2008, was originally Colorado’s seventh selection (sixth round, 146th overall) in the 1996 Entry Draft. The Belmont, Ontario native has tallied 108 points (52g/56a) in 376 career games in the NHL, including 19 points (8g/11a) in 111 games with Colorado.
Weiman, 25, led the American Hockey League with eight shutouts in 2008-09, posting a 21-20-2 record with a 2.46 GAA in 44 appearances for the Lake Erie Monsters. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native was selected to the Canadian All-Star Team for the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic. Colorado’s sixth choice (fifth round, 164th overall) in the 2002 Entry Draft, Weiman has appeared in one game for the Avalanche, Oct. 4, 2007 at Nashville (16 minutes, 0 goals).
