JWillie ONLY 2.0

[Treici]

Awwww... I just like to look at jwillie. I don't want to steal him or anything.

I'm still strictly a JG girl.

[mscaniac]

LOL.. I'm just teasing all you gals..... feel free to drool away.. I certainly can't blame you for admiring such a georgous creature now can I

[Ells]

Here's the article, some things to note are in bold. Because I want y'all to note them, they make a great case for keeping him a 'Cane. =D

Williams is a star by game, not name
Canes winger isn't most well-known player but is most deserving of honor

All-Star games tend to be celebrity events where fame matters as much as skill, but sometimes a lesser-known player gets in because he's just too good to keep out.
The Carolina Hurricanes' Justin Williams is one of those. The 25-year-old right winger will play in his first NHL All-Star Game tonight on the strength of his game rather than his name.

To test the popularity of that name, call Coolhockey.com, a company that sells NHL jerseys online.

"I don't think we've made a jersey with his name," said salesman Vince To. He checked his records and came back with a correction.

"One person in the last six months has ordered a 'Williams.' He's not too popular," he said. "Brind'Amour and Staal are popular for Carolina."

Canes captain Rod Brind'Amour was invited to be an All-Star, but couldn't attend due to a sore foot. Eric Staal, who also will play in his first All-Star Game tonight, is the only other player representing the 2006 Stanley Cup champions in Dallas.

Those two famous Canes see the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Williams as an all-round All-Star.

"He looks to score more than he looks to make plays, but he can do it all," said Brind'Amour, one of the NHL's best two-way forwards. "If you give him an opportunity to score, he scores. If you watch him in his own end, he's very responsible. He's not throwing pucks away. He's always trying to make plays."

Staal, 22, scored 100 points last season and was the top scorer in the playoffs (28 points). Close behind was the wily Williams. The right winger set career highs in games played (82), goals (31), assists (45) and points (76). He was sixth in the NHL in playoff scoring with 18 points. This season, he leads the team in goals (23) and is third overall in points (45).

"He doesn't have a rocket of a shot, but he's got great accuracy and he can pick the corner," Staal said. "He's in the right spot at the right time, and that's where great players are."

Jim Rutherford, the Canes' president and general manager, wanted Williams but saw him go to Philadelphia in the first round of the 2000 draft. Philadelphia's Bob Clarke called Rutherford in January of 2004 looking to fill an injury depleted defense. Rutherford offered Danny Markov -- but only for Williams.1

The trade keeps getting better because Williams does.

Canes coach Peter Laviolette has watched Williams turn his potential into results.

"He's always been a hardworking, smart hockey player, strong on the puck," Laviolette said, "but I think what's really shown through last year and to a new level this year is his skill. He's just very skilled, very poised, very patient."

Patience is an oft-cited virtue with Williams. He scores, yes, but he scores because he waits.2

Former Carolina defenseman Aaron Ward said a key bit of intelligence he planned to give his new New York Rangers teammates was to watch how long Williams keeps the puck on his stick. He fires when he's ready -- and the defender isn't.

"He picks his spot and he's around the area to score goals," said Cory Stillman, the Canes' veteran playmaker. "You can't teach that. That's an instinct he has and it's a great one to have."

Williams combines that instinct with hard work. He prides himself on being a well rounded and consistent player.

"I found that early in a career it's easy to have a good game and follow it up with a stinker," he said. "Being a true professional and a consistent player means coming every day."

Williams is often described as "opportunistic," but his chances come from studying defenses and his own game. "You learn something new every game about the other team, other players and yourself," he said.

During warmups, he watches the opposing goaltender and assesses where he'll shoot on a breakaway or a two-on-one.

"You can kind of pinpoint after a few attempts that you're not going to score in that area. Then you go to another place," he said.

Williams will suit up as an All-Star five years after he faced a possible exit from the NHL. In January 2002, he tore his ACL and MCL knee ligaments. Some players never come back. He came back remarkably fast, returning for the last game of the season and the playoffs.3

"You can take it one of two ways," he said, "You can let it make you stronger, or you can fade away."

Williams didn't fade and tonight, beside the NHL's more famous stars, he'll get his chance to shine.



1: Rutherford wanted him. He always wanted him. And not only that, but he asked Clarke for him EVERY YEAR. When he had Clarke between a rock and a hard place, he knew he could get Williams, and he didn't waste any time. He asked for him and not for Gagne, although he could have gotten either, trust me.

2: He is extremely patient. If he decides he likes where he's playing, he's not leaving. If the team isn't going to talk to him right away in a contract year, he's alright to go on vacation and wait for them to call him. He wants to stay, and he wants to stay in Raleigh.

3: I wish I could transfer that from VHS to the internet. I watched Brad Lukowich go for his knees, and the worst was watching him try to get up. He couldn't even put weight on that leg, and the reports in the newspaper got worse every day for the intervening 2 days between the injury and the surgery. After the surgery, they said he'd be lucky to be back in 6-8 months. He was at the skate zone all day, six days a week, for three months, and managed to make it back for the playoffs. It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen.

[Ells]

Thank you CH!

[kermelbar]

"One person in the last six months has ordered a 'Williams.' He's not too popular," he said. "Brind'Amour and Staal are popular for Carolina."

Am I the only person who thought, "Bet that was Els," when you read that? LOL.

[mscaniac]

LMAO.. NO Kermie... I thought exactly the same thing!!!!!
Thanks for posting that article Ellie, it was a great read and as usual those pics just took my breath away!!!!

[turncoat]

I know I thought the same thing about Ells!!! lol

[williams11fan]

My boy has some hair in those pictures!!!! Wow~

[turncoat]

Yes, he does....maybe starting early for the playoffs??!!

[mscaniac]

He needs a little trim IMO.....

[turncoat]

Ah... the more to run your fingers through though;-)

[mscaniac]

turncoat said:

Ah... the more to run your fingers through though;-)

Ahhhhh... good point!!!!

[Ells]

kermelbar said:

"One person in the last six months has ordered a 'Williams.' He's not too popular," he said. "Brind'Amour and Staal are popular for Carolina."

Am I the only person who thought, "Bet that was Els," when you read that? LOL.

haha, sorry ladies, it wasn't me. I ordered mine during the lockout when it was buy one get one half off, I bought my Dad a Primeau jersey at the same time.

I wish it had been me though. =D

And nooooooo... don't cut the hair! It's just perfect! Maybe trim it if it gets any longer, but it's perfect right now.

[wardo30]

I have to agree with you on the hair Ellie. I love it the way it is right now.

[carolinagirl]

I absolutely love the way his hair curls upward from his helmet...makes me wanna hug him.

BTW, who wants to scream, "Get your hand off our JWillie!" at the little girl on his arm in the 2nd picture?