As armchair GMs continue to try to debate the worth of Tomas Fleischmann, the Avalanche player review series moves on to the disappointment of 2010-11 season: Brandon Yip.
Player stats: 71 Games played, 12 goals, 10 assists, 22 points, -22 rating (can you say "ew?")
Nicknames: Die Hard, Yipper
Contract Status: one more year, making $725 thousand
If you're expecting a glowing review of Yip, read last year's review.
Here's a clip of what I wrote last year:
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.
(2010-11) 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.
Well, he wasn't traded. That's about all that happened from this year to last for Yip. He got more goals and points than he did in his rookie year- in about twice the amount of games too.
While Kevin Porter found himself around the net and just missed shots wide (very wide, at that) Yip was the guy who lost the puck in his feet along the boards, looked down to see the defender poke it the other way, then turn around and hook said defender. At best he was called for a two minute minor. At worst, he was skating back lazily while the other team put a goal up on the board.
This past season, Yip didn't check, didn't shoot (averaged 1.7 shots per game- the average number of feet Porter missed the net by.) Yip was set out to prove he wasn't a one-hit wonder, now the fans wonder if there's anything left in that stick that scored 11 goals in 32 games in the 2009-10 campaign.
Now Yip comes into camp this year with (hopefully) a healthy Fleischmann and Mueller while the likes of (maybe) Gabriel Landeskog, Joey Hishon, Mark Olver all fighting for roster spots. Unless Yip can drive hard to the net again and get dirty goals, he'll be a great asset- for the Lake Erie Monsters.
Was it a bad year or a telling year for Yip? He has to prove that to the coaches, fans, management, beer vendors and mascots around the league that doubting him.
Highlight of the year
umm... umm.... Bueller? Anyone? Oh right, he scored two goals in a game. Wait that was in a meaningless game. How about this one?
2011-12 outlook
He's behind the 8-ball with a lot of fans asking that ball if he's the real deal. He's got to prove he is.
Colorado Avalanche Blogger • 
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