OA Analysis: Mason Wilgosh
Willy's stats from the WHL:
Regular Season
Season GP G A PTS +/- PIM
2010-11 Regular Season 48 12 24 36 19 28
2009-10 Regular Season 68 7 12 19 9 30
2008-09 Regular Season 59 6 5 11 -12 18
2007-08 Regular Season 44 3 5 8 5 17
Total: 219 28 46 74 21 93
Playoffs
Season GP G A PTS +/- PIM
2011 WHL Playoffs 10 2 2 4 5 2
2010 WHL Playoffs 22 1 5 6 -2 4
2009 WHL Playoffs 11 0 0 0 -3 12
2008 WHL Playoffs 3 0 0 0 -1 0
Total: 46 3 7 10 -1 18
Like his fellow Winnipeggers Shinnimin and Hughesman, Mason Wilgosh had his best season of his WHL career.
WHY HE'LL STAY: Mason is all grit. He's listed at 5'8", 180 lbs. but he plays like he's 8 feet tall and bulletproof. He's got a tireless work ethic and plays balls-to-the-wall every shift. Willy had a whole lot of chemistry when he was on the Shinny-Hughesman line, but it's not like his play suffered when put on other lines. He's a shut-down guy, goes against top players on opposing teams and is the epitome of Westie's "like a dog on a bone" analogy (DRINK!). Battled adversity of a wired-shut jaw to start the season. He was an alternate captain this past season and as such he was a vital member of the leadership group. He's actually quite level-headed while playing so gritty, only 28 penalties in the regular season. Speaking of vital, he was also an essential piece of the penalty kill--srsly, no one kills penalties better than Mason. Also essential: he's HILARIOUS. Oh my goodness I heart Mason Wilgosh, just a riot. And he's got a gazillion nicknames.
WHY HE WON'T STAY: Unfortunately, Willy is what you'd call a role player. He role is to be gritty, kill penalties, and everything else listed above. When a team only has 3 20-year-old spots to fill, they aren't generally filled with these kinds of role players. With the high scoring of Adam and/or Brendan, needing a good veteran defenseman or two, there just probably won't be a spot for Mason. And it breaks my cold black heart. It's guys like Mason that make the WHL such a heartbreaking league to follow, make it hard to remember it's a business. GMs have to do what is best for the team, for the business.
Granted, Bob did keep Neal, a similar role-player guy like Mason, but he didn't exactly have the same dilemma(s) he faces with the glut of 19-year-olds now.
SPOKANT SAYS:
Milkshake - Pros: Work ethic, work ethic, work ethic. Gritty. Leads by example in nearly every aspect of his game. Arguably the best penalty killer last season. Effective on any line. Chemistry with Shinny and Hughey. Can kick just about anyone's ass. Porn mustache.
Cons: I hate to say it, but just not good enough to make a team that is already heavy on offense, as a twenty. His role(s) can be filled by other players. It's hard to find anything negative to say about Mason other than that.
My guess: Traded or released. :(
Cons: I hate to say it, but just not good enough to make a team that is already heavy on offense, as a twenty. His role(s) can be filled by other players. It's hard to find anything negative to say about Mason other than that.
My guess: Traded or released. :(
3 comments:
Do you have any idea how long they can hold only the extra 20-year olds before they have to be released/traded? On STaL there is a nice post on the league's overage situation - I think after looking at it, that it will be hard to get fair compensation for an overager this year, unless the OA is a true stud. So...any idea on the date?
Alan did (as always) a great job with the overview for all the teams. I'm not sure of the OA deadline this year, it's usually early October.
with the "true stud" part, that's where I can see Bob getting something for Owsley, Shinny, or Hughey. The rest...probably not much. That's always the problem with only having 3 spots. :(
Given the current roster and prospects, I don't think the Ams will suck this year, which makes me think that Bob will keep both Shinny and Hughey and that the 3rd spot will be between Matt, Drew and Willy. I think there's a chance Willy could be kept, under the right circumstances. IMO, if Matt goes pro and Bob decides to go with the kids in net instead of Drew, Wilgosh will be kept. Yes, he'd been a role player during his time here and teams don't usually keep OA role players. BUT I think Wilgosh brings more to the table than just that.
I thought he did very well during that time he got to play on the top line with Shinny and Hughey. They definitely have chemistry from growing up together and, to me at least, he didn't look out of place. I think he could do very well if really given the chance to play on a line with them. Also, his relentless work ethic, leadership qualities and personality make him a top candidate for captain, IMO.
Chances are though he will be let go as you said and I'm just being optimistic because I really REALLY don't want to see him go. :(
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