Avalanche Sign T.J. Hensick and Raymond Macias

[Thrillhouse]

DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced Wednesday that the team has signed forward T.J. Hensick and defenseman Raymond Macias to three-year, entry level contracts.

A finalist for the Hobey Baker Memorial Award (college hockey’s top player), Hensick led the nation in scoring this season with 69 points (23g/46a) in 41 games for the University of Michigan. The senior also led the country in assists, assists-per-game (1.12) and points-per-game (1.68). He captured the Central Collegiate Hockey Association scoring title with 42 points (12g/30a) in 28 conference games.

Macias led all Western Hockey League defensemen in scoring with 70 points (30g/40a) in 70 games for the Kamloops Blazers. He finished second on the Blazers in assists, third in points and fourth in goals. He led Kamloops and finished sixth in the WHL in plus minus with a +29 rating.

“We are adding two solid prospects to our organization,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President and General Manager Francois Giguere. “We look forward to watching T.J. and Ray develop in our system.”

Colorado’s fifth selection (third round, 88th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, Hensick was named to his third CCHA First Team All Conference squad this year, making him one of only eight players in conference history to earn such recognition. Hensick, 21, became just the third CCHA player in league history—and the first forward—to earn either First or Second Team honors in each of his four years in college, joining former St. Louis defenseman Kent Jackson (1975-78) and former Bowling Green defenseman Ken Morrow (1976-79).

The Lansing, Mich., native finished his career ranked eighth on Michigan’s all-time scoring list with 222 points and fourth in assists with 147. He was the first Wolverine to record three straight 50-point seasons since Bill Muckalt from 1996-98 and first to record 40-plus points in all four seasons since Brendan Morrison (1994-97). Hensick played his final collegiate game at Pepsi Center on March 24, recording two goals and one assist in Michigan’s 8-5 loss to North Dakota in the first round of the NCAA West Regional.

Macias, 20, compiled 184 points (66g/118a) in 276 games for the Kamloops Blazers. The Long Beach, Calif., native led the Blazers in scoring with 47 points in 2004-05. He was Colorado’s sixth selection (fourth round, 124th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

[AVALANCHE FAN]

Damn if these guys continue to put out this way in the NHL combined with the youngsters we already have tearing sh*t up theirs no reason we cant at least win Conferance next season.

[Agitator97]

Good ****, now sign Chris Stewart.