T. J. Hensick

Summary

Timothy James Hensick (born December 10, 1985) is an American professional ice hockey center. He is currently an unrestricted free agent. He most recently played for the Toledo Walleye in the ECHL. Hensick was drafted 88th overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft by the Colorado Avalanche.

T. J. Hensick
Hensick with the Charlotte Checkers in 2016
Born (1985-12-10) December 10, 1985 (age 38)
Howell, Michigan, U.S.
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
Position Center
Shoots Right
team
Former teams
Free agent
Colorado Avalanche
St. Louis Blues
Modo Hockey
NHL Draft 88th overall, 2005
Colorado Avalanche
Playing career 2007–present

Playing career edit

As a youth, Hensick played in the 1999 Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament with the Detroit Honeybaked minor ice hockey team.[1] He later played with the United States National Development Program. He spent four years (2003–07) at University of Michigan playing collegiate ice hockey. Hensick had a league leading 69 points and 46 assists in the 2006–07 season, but was not among the three finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. He was, however, named in the NCAA All-American Team.[2] Hensick scored 222 points in his collegiate career with the Wolverines. It proved to be the most by any player in the decade as Hensick was later honored, named in the First All-Decade Team.[3]

After his senior year with the Wolverines, Hensick was signed by the Avalanche to a three-year entry level contract on April 11, 2007.[4] T.J. made his professional debut in the 2007–08 season with the Lake Erie Monsters of the AHL, the Avalanche's affiliate team. Hensick was called up to the Avalanche on November 29, 2007,[5] and made his NHL debut in a 3-2 loss to the San Jose Sharks on November 30, 2007.[6] Hensick, in his second game, scored his first NHL goal against the Los Angeles Kings in a 5-2 win on December 1, 2007.[7] He was named as Lake Erie's only contribution to the 2008 AHL All-Star Game, playing for PlanetUSA, Hensick led the team with 2 goals and 2 assists in a 9-8 shoot-out loss to the Canadian All-Stars.[8]

Hensick made the Avalanche opening roster to start the 2009–10 season.[9] Reduced to a reserve forward, T.J. played in only 7 games before he was placed on waivers on November 25, 2009.[10] After clearing waivers he was assigned to Lake Erie and lead the Monsters in scoring with 70 points. Hensick was named "AHL player of the Month" in December, becoming the first player to be awarded in Monsters history.[11] T.J. was also selected to the 2010 AHL All-Star Game, replacing injured teammate Darren Haydar, as the lone Lake Erie representative.[12]

On June 17, 2010, after he was unable to establish himself with the Avalanche, and in need of a new contract, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues for Julian Talbot.[13] On July 14, 2010, Hensick agreed to a contract with the Blues signing a one-year two way contract.[14] After attending the Blues training camp for the 2010–11 season, he was reassigned to AHL affiliate, the Peoria Rivermen, during the preseason.[15] During the season, Hensick was recalled from the Rivermen to make his Blues debut, marking his 100th career NHL game in a defeat to the Detroit Red Wings on November 17, 2010.[16] At the conclusion of the season, he participated in 13 games for the Blues, scoring 1 goal.[citation needed]

After his third consecutive season in leading the Rivermen in scoring within the Blues organization, Hensick left as a free agent to sign his first European contract on a one-year deal with Swedish club, Modo Hockey, of the Swedish Hockey League on June 13, 2013.[17] After finally agreeing the transfer to Sweden from many years of interest with many clubs, Hensick failed to meet expectations producing just 4 goals and 11 assists in 31 games.[18] After he was permitted a mutual release, Hensick returned to North America and signed an AHL contract with the Abbotsford Heat on January 11, 2014. Procedurally placed on waivers after participating in Europe, Hensick was immediately claimed by the Hartford Wolf Pack, an affiliate of the New York Rangers.[19] Hensick continued where he left off in the AHL, producing offensively with 34 points in 42 games, as the Wolf Pack missed the playoffs.[citation needed]

On July 3, 2014, Hensick decided to continue in the AHL and signed as a free agent to a one-year contract with the Hamilton Bulldogs.[20]

After two seasons without an NHL offer, on July 1, 2015, Hensick was signed to a one-year, two-way contract with the Carolina Hurricanes.[21] Following the Hurricanes training camp, Hensick was familiarly assigned to the AHL to add his veteran presence to affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers. During the 2015–16 season with the Checkers, Hensick appeared in 46 games with the scoring at a lower pace then his career average in the AHL before he was loaned to the Utica Comets, affiliate to the Vancouver Canucks, in an exchange for Blair Jones on March 7, 2016.[22] Hensick continued to produce offensively in his stint with the Comets, posting 15 points in 19 games.[citation needed]

On July 2, 2016, as a free agent Hensick was signed to a one-year AHL contract with the Los Angeles Kings affiliate, the Ontario Reign.[23]

 
Hensick with the Colorado Avalanche in 2009.

Hensick played two seasons with the Reign, before leaving as a free agent following the 2017–18 season. Despite maintaining his scoring touch, Hensick was unable to secure an NHL or AHL contract, opting to continue his career by signing a one-year ECHL contract with the Toledo Walleye on October 8, 2018.[24] In the midst of the 2018–19 season, Hensick tallied a league high 58 points through 47 games with the Walleye, before he returned to the AHL in securing a contract with the San Jose Barracuda on February 12, 2019.[25] Hensick continued his career scoring pace in the AHL, posting 20 points through the final 23 regular season games.

In the following offseason, Hensick as a free agent returned to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL on August 21, 2019.[26] He was later announced as team captain leading into the 2019–20 season.

Career statistics edit

Regular season and playoffs edit

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2001–02 U.S. NTDP U17 USDP 17 10 5 15
2001–02 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 46 15 25 40 10
2002–03 U.S. NTDP U18 USDP 48 24 24 48 11
2002–03 U.S. NTDP U18 NAHL 10 6 7 13 0
2003–04 University of Michigan CCHA 43 12 34 46 38
2004–05 University of Michigan CCHA 39 23 32 55 24
2005–06 University of Michigan CCHA 41 17 35 52 44
2006–07 University of Michigan CCHA 41 23 46 69 38
2007–08 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 50 12 33 45 18
2007–08 Colorado Avalanche NHL 31 6 5 11 2 2 0 1 1 0
2008–09 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 12 7 9 16 2
2008–09 Colorado Avalanche NHL 61 4 17 21 14
2009–10 Colorado Avalanche NHL 7 1 2 3 0
2009–10 Lake Erie Monsters AHL 58 20 50 70 25
2010–11 Peoria Rivermen AHL 59 21 48 69 27 4 2 1 3 2
2010–11 St. Louis Blues NHL 13 1 2 3 2
2011–12 Peoria Rivermen AHL 66 21 49 70 20
2012–13 Peoria Rivermen AHL 76 19 48 67 50
2013–14 Modo Hockey SHL 31 4 11 15 2
2013–14 Hartford Wolf Pack AHL 42 11 23 34 0
2014–15 Hamilton Bulldogs AHL 75 19 41 60 10
2015–16 Charlotte Checkers AHL 46 7 18 25 8
2015–16 Utica Comets AHL 19 2 13 15 4 4 1 1 2 0
2016–17 Ontario Reign AHL 67 16 36 52 18 5 2 3 5 0
2017–18 Ontario Reign AHL 60 11 34 45 12 4 1 0 1 0
2018–19 Toledo Walleye ECHL 47 17 41 58 10
2018–19 San Jose Barracuda AHL 23 6 14 20 0 4 1 2 3 0
2019–20 Toledo Walleye ECHL 57 16 40 56 23
2021–22 Toledo Walleye ECHL 65 22 56 78 24 21 10 18 28 6
2022–23 Toledo Walleye ECHL 9 2 6 8 2 13 4 5 9 4
AHL totals 653 172 416 588 194 21 7 7 14 2
NHL totals 112 12 26 38 18 2 0 1 1 0

International edit

Year Team Event GP G A Pts PIM
2002 United States U17 6 4 2 6 0
2003 United States WJC18 6 6 4 10 0
2005 United States WJC 7 2 1 3 0
Junior totals 19 12 7 19 0

Awards and honors edit

Award Year
College
CCHA Rookie of the Year 2004
All-CCHA Rookie Team 2004 [27]
All-CCHA First Team 2004, 2005, 2007
CCHA Scoring Leader 2005, 2007
AHCA West First-Team All-American 2005, 2007 [2]
All-CCHA Second Team 2006
NCAA Scoring Leader 2007
CCHA All-Tournament Team 2007 [28]
AHL
All-Star Game 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012
Second All-Star Team 2012 [29]

References edit

  1. ^ "Pee-Wee players who have reached NHL or WHA" (PDF). Quebec International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
  2. ^ a b "CCHA places seven players on RBK West All-American Team". CCHA.com. April 6, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2009.[dead link]
  3. ^ "CHN All-Decade Team". College Hockey News. January 10, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  4. ^ "Avalanche signs Hensick, Macias". avalanche.nhl.com. March 18, 2009. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  5. ^ "Avalanche recalls T.J. Hensick". avalanche.nhl.com. March 18, 2009. Archived from the original on June 23, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  6. ^ "Sharks 3, Avalanche 2". cbssports.com. November 30, 2007. Archived from the original on October 10, 2012. Retrieved 2009-03-18.
  7. ^ "Smyth's 2 third-period goals lead Avalanche to 5-2 win over Kings". yahoo.sports.com. December 1, 2007. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  8. ^ "Lake Erie's T.J. Hensick shines in AHL All-Star classic". bleacherreport.com. January 29, 2008. Retrieved March 18, 2009.
  9. ^ "NHL announces opening rosters". NHL. October 1, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  10. ^ "Hensick placed on waivers". Denver Post. November 26, 2009. Archived from the original on November 29, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  11. ^ "Lake Erie Monsters' T.J. Hensick named AHL player of month". The Plain Dealer. January 2, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  12. ^ "Hensick providing a jolt to Lake Erie". AHL. January 26, 2010. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  13. ^ "Blues trade prospect Talbot to Avalanche for Hensick". TSN. June 17, 2010. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
  14. ^ "Blues signs Reaves, All-Star center Hensick for Rivermen". PJStar.com. July 14, 2010. Retrieved July 15, 2010.
  15. ^ "Hensick assigned to Peoria". St. Louis Blues. September 28, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2010.
  16. ^ "Red Wings topple Blues". Yahoo! Sports. November 17, 2010. Retrieved November 17, 2010.
  17. ^ "T.J. Hensick ready for Modo Hockey". Modo Hockey (in Swedish). June 13, 2013. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  18. ^ "Modo's dream acquisition goes home". hockeysverige.se (in Swedish). January 8, 2014. Archived from the original on February 22, 2014. Retrieved January 8, 2014.
  19. ^ "Wolf Pack add forward T.J. Hensick". Hartford Wolf Pack. January 11, 2014. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  20. ^ "Bulldogs sign T.J. Hensick to a one-year contract". Hamilton Bulldogs. July 3, 2014. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  21. ^ "Hurricanes sign forward T.J. Hensick". Carolina Hurricanes. July 1, 2015. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
  22. ^ "Charlotte, Utica seal three-player deal". American Hockey League. March 7, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  23. ^ "T.J. Hensick signs with Ontario". American Hockey League. July 20, 2016. Retrieved July 20, 2016.
  24. ^ "Former NHL forward Hensick joins Walleye". Toledo Walleye. October 8, 2018. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  25. ^ "Barracuda ink Hensick". American Hockey League. February 12, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  26. ^ "Elite forward Hensick returns". Toledo Walleye. August 21, 2019. Retrieved August 21, 2019.
  27. ^ "Hensick, Hunwick selected for CCHA All-Rookie Team". Michigan Wolverines. March 4, 2004. Retrieved December 27, 2010.
  28. ^ "2012-13 CCHA Media Guide". ISSUU.com. Retrieved April 23, 2014.
  29. ^ "Bishop and Hensick named AHL Second team All-Stars". Peoria Rivermen. April 5, 2012. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved April 5, 2012.

External links edit

  • Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database
Awards and achievements
Preceded by CCHA Rookie of the Year
2003–04
Succeeded by
Preceded by NCAA Ice Hockey Scoring Champion
2006–07
Succeeded by