The Avalanche player review continues with a look at Brandon Yip.
season stats: 32 games played, eleven goals, eight assists
Postseason stats: six GP, two goals, two assists
Nicknames: Die Hard, yipper
Contract stats: RFA
If the Avalanche had a breath of fresh air, it was either Craig Anderson or Brandon Yip.
While Anderson kept the puck out of the net, Yip kept putting it on net and, more often than not, in the net.
After missing the first two months with a broken hand he got in the preseason, Yip was called up in December. His drive to the net, gritty work and soft hands immediately made him a integral part to the club. During regular season, the Avs were 19-12-2 when Yip was in the lineup, not counting the postseason.
Outside of being able to score, Yip seemed to be a guy that worked hard in practice and on the ice and lead by example. Indeed, while he was on the ice, he seemed to inspire his linemates to work harder, dig deeper and play better.
In fact, when he was out due to the separated shoulder, the Avs went 6-7-1. While there were many factors to this record, the fact the Avs play below the goalline dropped when Yip was gone is no aberrition.
There is some talk that the Avs should "trade Yip while he's at his high point" and that "he can't reproduce those numbers again. However, the Avs don't have a player who drives to the front of the net like Yip and those players aren't a dime a dozen.
Yip is probably a third liner who could step up to the second line in case of an injury. He'll probably never be a first liner but this team can and should use his gritty nature as long as he's willing to do it.
Highlight of the year
Yip scored many beautiful goals but this was his prettiest
2010-11 outlook
Next year will be key for Yip. Will he be a one hit wonder or is he for real? Yip will have to prove that next year, provided he isn't traded.
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • 
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