Ha, I realize this is like a day and a half to late, and it's likely been said many times in this thread, but this is exactly similar to Calgary picking up Huselius, who is now a coveted player around the league.
Best case scenario, Wellwood becomes a decent 2nd line center, possibly for Hossa, or even the skilled RH shot for the Sedins. Worst situation is that Gillis is forced to stick him in Manitoba/waive him.
Huselius is a great comparison. Both one dimensional offensive players with similar question marks early in their careers.
Wellwood at 24 years old put up 42 points in 48 games in his 2nd year in the league. Huselius at 25 years old put up 43 points in 78 games in his 2nd year. IMO the potential is there for Wellwood to be a PPG player at some point.
Actually from what I remember, Maurice liked WellY alot, and thought he was a special player, Sundin said he's one of the most skilled guys he's ever played with and every time he's on the ice he can do soemthing special, it was pretty obvious to me that only reason he had a bad year last year was due to the fact he had to go through the injuries and just couldn't find his game back because it seemed he lost a step and wasn't able to blow by opposing players. I think when he couldn't do that he lost his confidence and it affected his play. However if he comes back 100% healthy, he's one of those guys even if he doesn't work out a lot just regular work out and loses the belly he will return back to form, He relies on his hockey smarts to beat opposing players when he's on he makes plays that make you drop your jaw, when he's off he's always falling around and running around chasing opposing players. However I truely believe if he's 100% he'll be a 65+ points guy, he can play with 4th liner players and make them good players when on his game. In his first year he played with Chad Kilger/Tie Domi/Wade Belake and still put up 40+ pts.
If you read back the Leafs boards 2 years ago everyone was on WellY bandwagon now they on Steen and Stajan bandwagon.
Haha Christ was that ever a great self-esteem boost. I'm 5 years older and not a professional athlete and I'm still in better shape. Just as pasty, though.
I didn't want him back, he's not committed enough to his conditioning. But, he was a good asset, and I'm a tad pissed we let him go for nothing. If he ever gets some direction, and a work ethic, he's going to be a steal. Low cost, high reward for you guys here.
+Pro: The Canucks gave up nothing except a bit of cap space
+Pro: Daniel Briere was on waivers once.
+Pro: Martin St. Louis was on waivers once
+Pro: We had 42pts in 48 games in a non injured year.
+Pro: The Canucks gave up nothing except a bit of cap space
+Pro: Daniel Briere was on waivers once.
+Pro: Martin St. Louis was on waivers once
+Pro: We had 42pts in 48 games in a non injured year.
-Con: It's Kyle Wellwood
-Con: Cowan was also on waivers
-Con: look at that pic, he's got a huge gut
-Con: might get killed in western conference if he doesn't decide to work his butt off night in night out by the likes of calgary, anaheim
and look how well Cowan played for us that first year when he came over... the fans in GM place were chanting COWAN COWAN COWAN COWAN... if that wasn't a good waiver wire pick up.. I don't know what was. The problem!... was Nonis got sentimental.. and decided to resign him.. for more money.. that was the mistake. Not the original pick up.
.. and decided to resign him.. for more money.. that was the mistake. Not the original pick up.
Re-signing wasn't a mistake (he earned himself a one-way day). Mistake was giving him a two year deal. If that's what it took to ($700,000 to get a two year deal, I would have offered up to a million (for a one-year deal); if he turned that down, I wish him good luck with his next team and show him the door.
