I hate the move... I've followed this guy a lot last few years, and IMO he'll bust soon enough... he'll be on waivers before November is done!
having said that, like every move this team makes, good or bad, I hope that they get a miracle out of it... as much as I think he'll fail, I really hope that I'm eating crow next year as he is one of our offensive leaders...
Neutral here - but to avoid disappointment I advise one and all to expect nothing even remotely similar to the Steve Sullivan situation here - Sullivan could flat-out fly, had a good shot and was defensively responsible. I've always been a fan of Welly but unfortunately he's none of those things and while it's certainly not impossible for their development, it's unlikely.
Also - don't think he can play on your 3/4 lines as he doesn't have the size or footspeed to pick up offensive centres on the backcheck. If he makes the team he has to play 1/2 centre and I can similarly assure you he's incapable as an effective winger anywhere
Those who say this is a no-risk move are right IMO - if he pans out he'll be a good 50-60 pt 2nd line C and he will help your PP if nothing more
Jeez, the last thing we need is another guy who is lazy. Guys like Wellwood, all this talk of Demitra, Nylander etc. has me thinking that next year is going to be butt ugly.
The only former leaf I'd be interested in is Tucker and even that is very, very marginal.
Wellwood, in the best of times, will be less than Morrison.
Way to go man.
I would say Wellwood's playmaking ability is far superior than Morrisons.
After considering it, I think Wellwood really fits into Gillis' money-ball theory. He has some glaring deficiencies as a player that make him cheap, but those deficiencies can be turned around with the right coaching and motivation. The guy has proven he has PPG upside. We wouldn't be getting him for free without the question marks. Obviously Gillis thinks his new 'player development' vice squad can turn the guy around.
I think you hit the nail on the head here. If the Canucks can turn his attitude around, he could be a good pick up. Some people are looking at Steve Sullivan as a potential positive comparison, but these are different cases. Sullivan was more a small guy with a lot of heart who was never really given a chance, something like Ryan Shannon. The best you could hope for from Wellwood I think would be to turn out something like Mike Ribiero. A cocky little punk who wore out his welcome on the Habs and got dumped, smartened up and developed into a first line center for the Stars. It's all up to Wellwood here, he smartens up or he gets booted from the NHL.
I repeat, what is the risk of picking up a guy off waivers who has no contract?
I was referring more to a top 6 consisting of Ryder, Demitra, a second year player and a waiver wire pickup. The risk there, I suppose, is save for Raymond, every one of those players repeats last season and we're in the running for Tavares or Hedman.
Actually he's more of a Marc Savard, who's main problem pre-Atlanta was laziness. Wellwood has a similar slick skill-set, and if correctly motivated has proven he can score at a PPG pace for over half a season. I'm hoping a lot of his attitude problems had to do with the 'Maple Leaf club-house' theory where everyone was just out to lunch. Our current regime is talking like a no-holds-barred motivational player machine, so if you can't buy into the program...you will be assimilated.
I would say Wellwood's playmaking ability is far superior than Morrisons.
But that's all, isn't it? Morrison, for all his faults, is a better scorer, can play defense, has speed and kills penalties. And he has character.
Overall, Wellwood brings a lot less to the table than Morrison.
I actually hope the Canucks re-sign him if we can't definitively upgrade the position, just because he's finally (hopefully) had a chance to heal and will certainly be a bargain.
Actually he's more of a Marc Savard, who's main problem pre-Atlanta was laziness. Wellwood has a similar slick skill-set, and if correctly motivated has proven he can score at a PPG pace for over half a season. I'm hoping a lot of his attitude problems had to do with the 'Maple Leaf club-house' theory where everyone was just out to lunch. Our current regime is talking like a no-holds-barred motivational player machine, so if you can't buy into the program...you will be assimilated.
Is assimilated the word for June 25th on your Word of the Day Calendar?
If he can stay healthy, he'll be an excellent second liner. He's coming off a really disappointing year, but there's no denying his offensive skill. And he's young, too - he's 25, and he has the opportunity to get his career going again.
He had 45 points as a rookie, and he had 42 points in 48 games in 2006-07. How many players out there are a little more than a year removed from a season of a 70-point clip? He just needs to stay healthy.
It's a chance worth taking. If it works, and I think it will, we got a second line forward who will get us 60 points next year. If it doesn't, it didn't cost us much. Maybe he's our new Trevor Letowski. Or maybe it's our best waiver pick-up since Marty Gelinas.
But that's all, isn't it? Morrison, for all his faults, is a better scorer, can play defense, has speed and kills penalties. And he has character.
Overall, Wellwood brings a lot less to the table than Morrison.
I actually hope the Canucks re-sign him if we can't definitively upgrade the position, just because he's finally (hopefully) had a chance to heal and will certainly be a bargain.
Morrison would be a decent 3rd liner if the Canucks trade Kesler. Other than that, he has no place on the team.
As long as Gillis isn't slating him for a top-6 position than this isn't a bad pick-up. I would be all for him centering a 4th line with Pettinger and Pyatt. It would give us some decent back-up offense.
Kyle Wellwood has been put on waivers by the Leafs? Any interest? Could possibly replace Morrison or Demetria if he doesn't come and would be cheap.
But is poor conditioned and injury prone.
Thoughts:
not injury prone
I honestly dunno who said this one for the first time but Wellwood is not injury prone. He had one injury year and before that nothing! Absolutely nothing.
I wish I know why Fletch gave up on him this early in his carreer. I think this is a very very stupid stupid move by the Leafs. Just plain stupid.
Wish him all the best in Vancouver!
Wellwood's got the raw talent and skill, he's put up some ok numbers on the Leafs...if he can just get his head screwed on right he can be a player in this league. Big if though.
But that's all, isn't it? Morrison, for all his faults, is a better scorer, can play defense, has speed and kills penalties. And he has character.
Overall, Wellwood brings a lot less to the table than Morrison.
I actually hope the Canucks re-sign him if we can't definitively upgrade the position, just because he's finally (hopefully) had a chance to heal and will certainly be a bargain.
Thing is, Morrison will cost around $3 million (and THAT will be a discount considering the way salaries are going) vs Wellwood @ $1 million. Team can afford having Wellwood as a 13th forward - but not Morrison as the 13th forward.
, I can picture them training/working out with this music
