
Word tonight that he's probably lost his career. The Leafs are apparently going to let him go as a UFA even though he isn't yet eligible. They're moving on, they have other players (and will acquire more) and they need to find out about the new kids in the next season.
Wellwood is 5-10, 180, earned about one million dollars last season and scored 8-13-21 in 59 games (minus 12). His PP numbers (5-7-12) were pretty much half of his offense. At EVs he played with average linemates and against lesser opposition and managed a poor 0.97 pts/60. Among Oilers regulars (forwards), only Jarret Stoll (0.76) had a poorer number and he was doing some heavy lifting.
On the powerplay he performs at 4.11/60 which is Dustin Penner territory.
Wellwood's problem is that he has so many things that are average or below (size, speed, soft, injury prone, can't check his hat) that it overpowers the things he can do (he can create offense and make wonderful passes in scoring zones, plus he's not a bad PP option).
Will he get another job in the show with a different NHL team? I think he will. There are teams in the NHL whose forward depth is so poor Wellwood could catch on as a 4line option and gather minutes (if healthy) as others fall away. Toronto apparently has no use for Wellwood. They may be willing to invest those at-bats in a prospect from their organization or trade for another player with similar skills.
Say, Rob Schremp.
If you're advocating what I think you're advocating, what to we get back for Schremp? A draft pick? Ponikarovsky?
ReplyDeleteIf you're advocating what I think you're advocating, what to we get back for Schremp?
ReplyDeletePeace of mind.
It's a long shot that they'd do it but Schremp plus what gives us their '09 first round pick. Schremp, Torres, our pick?
ReplyDeleteHorrible trade I know and i say this (type this?) partly in jest but would there be a package we could put together to get their pick.
Just wishful thinking you say... a guy can dream can't he?
T
First pick 09?
ReplyDeleteSweet sugartits!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIt's a long shot that they'd do it but Schremp plus what gives us their '09 first round pick. Schremp, Torres, our pick?
ReplyDeleteThis is your brain on Rob Schremp.
I'm an advocate of keeping Schremp until he boosts his value, but if you could bundle him with something to get Toronto's pick, it'd certainly be worth it to acquire the 1st overall pick in the 2009 draft.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I can't even imagine how bad the Leafs are going to be without Sundin.
I think he would go to Toronto as part of a package for one of their current roster players. Steen would be a good pickup for the Oilers.
ReplyDeleteBy the way - that's Carlton the Pickpocketing Bear in the background. He wanders the arena, stealing money from children. He is significantly tougher and less injury prone than Kyle Wellwood.
ReplyDeleteSeems like Fletcher is primarily interested in players that eat thunder and crap democracy.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure Schremp fits that bill.
Does Steen necessarily have more offensive upside than Schremp?
ReplyDeleteI'm not trying to make a point, I'm just asking. Because if it turns out that Schremp = Steen, then dealing Schremp + for Steen would be bad asset management.
Well, Steen is an NHL player and he's young cheap and decent.
ReplyDeleteI would take him for Schremp.
Dumbest miss ever by 30 NHL teams. Thomas Vanek was
ReplyDeleteUSHL First All-Star Team (2002) USHL MVP (2002)
He scored a goal a game as a 16 year old in the USHL, and potted 46 goals in 53 games in his draft year - and sailed through the 2002 draft unpicked!!!
The worst of it is the Oilers had tons of late round picks to take a flyer on this guy.
Missing guys like Alfredson, Zetterberg is pretty forgivable because they are late bloomers. But Vanek? The guy had size and skill. Was he for some reason not draft eligible?
I'm pretty sure Vanek wasn't eligible in the 2002 draft. Look at his birthdate.
ReplyDeleteSchremp's upside is that of Kyle Wellwood. Steen is a big time upgrade, and if we could get him for a package around Schremp, then we'd be making a very good trade.
ReplyDeleteSteen drew even against good opposition. Wellwood got killed playing very sheltered minutes, and being less effective on the powerplay. Steen was also a go-to guy on the PK last year (2nd among forwards in SHTOI by 2 seconds a game).
Scratch that you're right Stuart. Strangely enough he was born Jan 19, 1984. My guess is he was ineligible somehow.
ReplyDeleteIIRC, you have to opt into the draft at 18. Guys who are going to college can't opt in. Dany Heatley came into the draft at 19 as did Ron Hainsey. I think that this is clear if you look at some of the older drafts, although it may have changed - I see Okposo was 18 when he got drafted.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure when the draft rules were changed (after the lockout might make sense?), but it used to be (in, say, 2001) that the draft was for 19 year olds but any 18 year old who wanted could opt into the draft if they filed the paperwork. College players, or players about to enter college, couldd not opt in at 18 because they NCAA considered this a violation of their amateur status. This was why guys like Mike Comrie, Jordan Leopold, Dany Heatley, Mike Komiserak, Thomas Vanek weren't drafted until they were 19. This appears to have been the case thru the 2003 draft, from what I can tell looking through the birthdates of draftees in that time frame.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, now the draft includes all age 18 players, there is no opt in for 18 year olds, so the NCAA doesn't consider it a pro violation to be drafted at age 18, I'm guessing because it is now involuntary to be drafted at age 18.
It changed for the 2003 draft, which is why it was so loaded.
ReplyDeleteAge wise, Parise was eligible for the 2002 draft but didn't opt in.
Parise was a July 28, 1984 birthdate (making him one of the oldest) and I think the youngest was Shea Weber who was born Aug 14, 1985.
That draft was essentially 2 drafts worth of college eligible players, which gave it a huge boost.
By the way - that's Carlton the Pickpocketing Bear in the background. He wanders the arena, stealing money from children.
ReplyDeleteThat's a major upgrade from the kid-stalking clowns that used to hang around the nooks and crannies of Maple Leaf Gardens. (Or is that "crans and nookies"?)
Is Rob Schremp really that much different from Kyle Wellwood? I think someone on hf posted that they have similar career stats up to the age of 22...
ReplyDeleteMaster Lok: That was probably me. I've been making the Wellwood/Schremp comparisons for a long time now.
ReplyDeleteSince Schremp is a few years younger, you can only go as far as Schremp's age, but up to this point, they're almost identical in terms of production. Particularly their pro numbers. Add to the fact that they're about the same size, have similar skillsets, and look like the same guy on the ice, I can't think of two players who are more alike. Heck, they were even both traded by their junior team.
The great Leaves buyout continues.
ReplyDeleteTucker bought out according to TSN.
Maybe they are making room for Carlton the Pickpocketing Bear MC? He's not just a power forward, he's a power forward that just so happens to be a bear!
Burke will like him no matter.
Would that be the same Darcy Tucker who -- according to the ever-reliable COTU MSM -- was hotly rumoured to be coming to Edmonton both before and after he signed his latest abominable contract?
ReplyDeleteChew on it, Toronto. If Oilers ever were interested in Tucker, the price tag just got a lot lower.
Boy the Leafs are going to have to make a one-for-three now. Twice.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how Toskola feels about that extension?
ReplyDeleteWellwood found a new home. And it's in our division.
ReplyDeleteThe Vancouver Canucks just got a lot smaller and easier to beat.
Look out Ryan Shannon.
ReplyDeleteLowetide,
ReplyDeleteNah - the Leaves don't have to do a one-for-three. After all, EVERYONE knows that every player wants to sign for cheap to play at the centre of the universe.
The real question should be do the Leafs even have a 1 that's worth 3? Now try to find one who doesn't have a NMC.
ReplyDeleteMaster Lok: I can-NOT believe I forgot that. :-)
ReplyDeleteThe Canucks are to guys that might be able to score as Mikey was to Life cereal: they'll try anything!!
ReplyDelete