What a difference a year makes (at least one year less 5 days) in Wellwood World.
“His commitment to conditioning and being a professional athlete probably wasn’t where it needed to be for him to have success. It’s still not NHL calibre.” — Alain Vigneault on Kyle Wellwood, Sept. 21, 2008
“It’s really good, NHL-calibre. He’s one of the good players on our team right now. He understood what he needed to do, and you’ve got to give him full credit [because] he went out and got it done.”— Vigneault on Wellwood, Sept. 16, 2009
No more Pillsbury Doughboy, buffet or McDonald's Drive-Thru jokes - no more fun.
And how can Kyle be recognized without the multiple chins and an overhanging gut? He is no longer one of us - he has chosen to become a pro athlete. Pass the dip please.
He needs a new nickname as "Wellfed" no longer works... maybe UNDERFED?
It does not happen often that it an NHL'er finally gets what it takes to succeed in the NHL in what should be the prime of their careers. Most of the time they just fade away or head off to Europe to play out the string. There are not many stories like Dan Cleary and Kyle Wellwood who turn it around.
Did it surprise French Coach? Apparently as he noted on 16 September 2009: “If I said no, I’d be lying. For a guy who had three or four years of junior hockey and five years of NHL training camps, and still not getting it? Now he knows he’s got it and what he needs to do.”
Quote:
Wellwood had an epiphany. He went into the summer round and came out square.
After nearly eating his way out of the NHL, the doughy player who cleared waivers twice at the start of last season, who was supposed to lose his job after Mats Sundin was signed, was expected to be replaced at the trade deadline, the player who survived all that, is now a lean, mean, fighting machine.
Well, lean, at least. And it may allow Wellwood to finally achieve something more than temp status.
Great news. I think it would take some outstanding play by Shirikov to take Wellwood's place at this point. His value to the team was above average imo in the playoffs as a 3rd liner.
Glad to see he's still in the picture, I've wanted to see him succeed since he got here, especially considering the heart he showed last postseason.
To me, Wellwood is nearly invaluable for a couple of reasons.
A) Faceoffs. I believe he was one of the better faceoff men in the league last year. We all know how valuable that has become in recent years, especially with some of the rule changes.
B) Shootouts. One of the few guys who could consistently put the puck in the net for the Canucks in the shootout last year. With an extra point earned for winning a shootout, it could easily be the difference between the playoffs or early golf season.
C) Playoff proven. He was one of our most consistent players last year in the post-season. Having that experience, and confidence in playoffs is extremely important.
I can't see him losing a spot to Hodgson or Shirokov at this point.
Hodgson and Shirokov will definitely have to play over their heads to be above Wellwood.
Wellwood is pretty proven in what he can do which the others are still quite unproven. Even then, Shirokov will be battling spots with guys like Hansen and Raymond and not Wellwood.
I can't see him losing a spot to Hodgson or Shirokov at this point.
Hodgson and Shirokov will definitely have to play over their heads to be above Wellwood.
Wellwood is pretty proven in what he can do which the others are still quite unproven. Even then, Shirokov will be battling spots with guys like Hansen and Raymond and not Wellwood.
As noted in the article:
Quote:
He is at the age where, professionally, he should be taking off instead of merely hanging on. But if uber-prospect Cody Hodgson makes the Canucks, as expected, guess whose job appears to be most vulnerable? Same thing if shifty playmaker Sergei Shirokov makes the team.
“Kyle still has a lot to prove, both to himself and others,” Canuck general manager Mike Gillis said. “We’re really encouraged by how he has approached this, really encouraged about his dedication and determination to become a front-line player.”
Not sure if you get my point....but at this point its Wellwood's spot to lose.
If we have to finalize our roster right this moment, Wellwood would be in the team.
According to my inside sources ( the same used by Eklund BTW) the Canucks had trade lined up with a US based team for Wellwood but it fell through when his test results came out.
He was slated to play third line on his new team and be a spokesman for team sponsor Krispy Creme - the sponsor nixed the deal.
[Sedin] - [Sedin] - [Samuelsson] (all will make the team)
[Burrows] - [Kesler] - [Hodgson vs. Shirokov ???]
[Raymond vs. Grabner] - [Wellwood] - [Bernier]
[Rypien vs. Hordichuk] - [Johnson] - [Hansen vs. Everyone else including Hordichuk again]
If Wellwood keeps up his pace I don't think he has that much to worry about... As long as Demitra is out that is and Grabner doesn't suddenly step it up. I seriously doubt both Hodgson and Shirokov will make the team.
There's space on the team for both Wellwood and Shirokov.
Not necessarily. Both of those players are going to be most effective on the PP and there's only so much PP time to go around. You won't see a forward playing the point this season.
Not sure if you get my point....but at this point its Wellwood's spot to lose.
If we have to finalize our roster right this moment, Wellwood would be in the team.
why does that matter? in the depth chart, wellwood is higher.
It's his SPOT to lose.
I agree to this:
Quote:
Originally Posted by AntonShaReeFruck
The way I see it
[Sedin] - [Sedin] - [Samuelsson] (all will make the team)
[Burrows] - [Kesler] - [Hodgson vs. Shirokov ???]
[Raymond vs. Grabner] - [Wellwood] - [Bernier]
[Rypien vs. Hordichuk] - [Johnson] - [Hansen vs. Everyone else including Hordichuk again]
If Wellwood keeps up his pace I don't think he has that much to worry about... As long as Demitra is out that is and Grabner doesn't suddenly step it up. I seriously doubt both Hodgson and Shirokov will make the team.
Apparently they're trying out Grabner with Kesler tonight so I think it's possible we're seeing if he can line-up beside Kesler / Burrows on the second line. Assuming Grabner can't cut it I wouldn't mind seeing:
Swedes
Raymond-Kesler-Burrows
Shirokov/Hodgson-Wellwod-Bernier
Johnson + left overs.
That lineup actually isn't all that soft either. Apparently Kesler and Raymond have had chemistry as well so who knows. I've always thought Grabner might be a good fit alongside Burrows and Kesler though; so hopefully that works out.
why does that matter? in the depth chart, wellwood is higher.
It's his SPOT to lose.
Well if Shirokov scores two goals every game this pre-season does Wellwood still rate higher?
The reality is that Shirokov will likely start the season in the minors even if he outplays roster players simply because the team will not want to lose a player to waivers. But that's no guarantee, and training camp has hardly started, it's way too premature to even speculate about these things.
[Sedin] - [Sedin] - [Samuelsson] (all will make the team)
[Burrows] - [Kesler] - [Hodgson vs. Shirokov ???]
[Raymond vs. Grabner] - [Wellwood] - [Bernier]
[Rypien vs. Hordichuk] - [Johnson] - [Hansen vs. Everyone else including Hordichuk again]
If Wellwood keeps up his pace I don't think he has that much to worry about... As long as Demitra is out that is and Grabner doesn't suddenly step it up. I seriously doubt both Hodgson and Shirokov will make the team.
While I think Samuelsson will eventually find his way with the Twins, how can you not start Burrows there after the way they finished last year? Burrows was on like 40 or 50 goal pace from when he was put with the Twins...He tailed off in the playoffs, but I think that had more to do with the bone chips than anything.
I'll be really disappointed if Burrows isn't on the Twins flank on opening night.
Quote:
The reality is that Shirokov will likely start the season in the minors even if he outplays roster players simply because the team will not want to lose a player to waivers. But that's no guarantee, and training camp has hardly started, it's way too premature to even speculate about these things.
With Demitra out for opening night, one of Shirokov, Hodgson, Grabner will be in the lineup. Right now the edge is clearly to Shirokov, but we've yet to see Hodgson in preseason action.
Not necessarily. Both of those players are going to be most effective on the PP and there's only so much PP time to go around. You won't see a forward playing the point this season.
Yeah, I agree. I don't think Wellwood has a spot locked up by any means.
[Sedin] - [Sedin] - [Burrows]
Demitra/Grabner/Shirokov - [Kesler] - [Samuelsson]
[Raymond] - [Wellwood/Hodgson] - [Bernier]
[Rypien vs. Hordichuk] - [Johnson] - [Hansen vs. Everyone else including Hordichuk again]
