Wellwood Should make the Leafs

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nomorekids

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Feb 28, 2003
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Crossroads said:
You have been stripped of your mod-hood ;).

nope ;)


anyway, wellwood may never have been "slow," but he's never been "fast," either. the knock on him from the start(and why most feel he'll never successfully cross into the NHL) is his dreadful skating. time will tell. i have no reason to root against him...but for the same reason i'm skeptical of simon gamache in nashville...i'm skeptical of kyle wellwood in toronto.
 

arrbez

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Jun 2, 2004
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He's definitly not Pavel Bure, but I havn't noticed his speed being an issue at all. It's not like he has below average speed from what I've seen

They would be stupid not to have him on the team for the start of the season. Send him down later if necessary
 

Rand

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I think his skating has improved to the point wherein it's merely below average, and he's still extremely shift. Far from a strength, but adequate enough at this point in time.
My biggest issues are his complete and total lack of physical play and his defensive game. His defensive play is still very weak, though at least he's trying out there and is showing some sign of improvement
He's still extremely soft though.

I have no doubt at all that he could be a very effective PP specialist, his skating wouldn't be as much of a disadvantage there and his offensive abilities are obviously top notch. The jury is definitely out on whether he wil ever be a consistent NHL'er when playing 5 on 5 though.
 

ACC1224

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Jason MacIsaac said:
Nice to know...I think Gomez may make NJ also.

you may want to check your definition of PROSPECT.
 

ACC1224

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tuckerdomi said:
This kid is good, fast smallish center, he should crack the lineup. get rid of Thomas and give Steen another year to develope. Im worried because Quinn loves his Vets

Personally I think Steen looks like he's more ready if I had to pick one.
 

bert

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Wellwood has defenitely improved his skating that for sure. I really hope the leafs dont drop the ball on this one and keep Thomas or Steen over him. He has such great skill. He is the kindof player that can thrive in the new nhl. I say play him with Lindros I can see them working well together.
 

Raging Bull

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He reminds me of a Daniel Briere type player, although he is a less talented skater, but with better hands IMO. They have to give him a chance. Leading scorer in the OHL, still people said he wouldn't be able to compete at a pro level. Then he has come out and had two amazing seasons in the AHL, being rookie of the year (or was that in OHL?) and among the lead scorers. The race for the scoring title probably would have been a little bit closer if not for the lockout. I think the new rules would help him out a lot, and we will never know unless Toronto gives him a chance.
 

Lobstertainment

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Nov 26, 2003
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The way he's been playing he I think he deserves a shot, he has put on a clinic thus far in the pre-season and has been one of the better Leafs out on the ice.

He may not be really fast but when he gets where he needs to be the smarts take over and get the job done.

However if he's going to be paired with guys like Domi and Kilger he'd probably be better off playing on the other side of town with the Marlies, if they give him some decent line mates like say Stajan or Steen then I think he would do best to stay with the Leafs and would contribute.

he's an offensive spark plug that we just might need, he see's the ice well, he can make pin point accurate passes, his deaking and puck handling is probably the best on the entire leaf squad bar none, and he can score goals himself as well.

Will he make it?

Right now most likely.
 

Habs4ever

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leafs are great at developing talent

considering they knew wellwood was ready they go out and acquire Allison, Lindros position where wellwood was supposed to compete good work fergueson developing young talent, hope this continue as i hate to face young players with potential, lindros ya no biggie.
 

Transported Upstater

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Raging Bull said:
He reminds me of a Daniel Briere type player, although he is a less talented skater, but with better hands IMO. They have to give him a chance. Leading scorer in the OHL, still people said he wouldn't be able to compete at a pro level. Then he has come out and had two amazing seasons in the AHL, being rookie of the year (or was that in OHL?) and among the lead scorers. The race for the scoring title probably would have been a little bit closer if not for the lockout. I think the new rules would help him out a lot, and we will never know unless Toronto gives him a chance.

Toronto fans should be ECSTATIC if he turns out to be as good as Briere. That would be excellent.
 

BlueAndWhite

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TransportedUpstater said:
Toronto fans should be ECSTATIC if he turns out to be as good as Briere. That would be excellent.
Yeah - I'm going to be a tad more patient however. Let him crack the roster first and we (as Leaf fans) can take it slowly from there.
 

Meat Wave

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Wellwood is so skilled. I could see him make the Leafs roster as soon as this year. I still have my doubts about his defensive game which is still a weak aspect of this game, as well as physical game, although that won't be that much of an issue hopefully in the new NHL. Personally, I wouldn't have signed Lindros and would have given the #3 center spot to Wellwood - considering that Sundin and Allison will be on line 1 and line 2 respectively. If he's going to be in TO only to get 4th line ice time, I say send him back to the Marlies.

Can he or Matt Stajan play on the wing BTW?
 

Raging Bull

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Kyle Chipchura said:
Wellwood is so skilled. I could see him make the Leafs roster as soon as this year. I still have my doubts about his defensive game which is still a weak aspect of this game, as well as physical game, although that won't be that much of an issue hopefully in the new NHL. Personally, I wouldn't have signed Lindros and would have given the #3 center spot to Wellwood - considering that Sundin and Allison will be on line 1 and line 2 respectively. If he's going to be in TO only to get 4th line ice time, I say send him back to the Marlies.

Can he or Matt Stajan play on the wing BTW?

We know for sure Stajan can play the wing, but I don't know about Welly. Lindros can play the wing though, and I think it would be best if he was shifted to wing and Kyle got the 3rd line. Lines could look something like this:

Antropov-Sundin-Lindros
Stajan-Allison-O'Neill
Tucker-Wellwood-Czerkawski
Poni-Steen-Domi

With Wellwood getting minutes on the PP and Steen on the PK. Until now I didn't know that Czerkawski had a 2-way contract, and that could be pretty benificial to the Leafs, because I don't like seeing Poni on the 4th line. Steen could probably use a year in the Marlies too, although he has been pretty good in camp.
 

mooseOAK*

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Kyle Chipchura said:
Wellwood is so skilled. I could see him make the Leafs roster as soon as this year. I still have my doubts about his defensive game which is still a weak aspect of this game, as well as physical game, although that won't be that much of an issue hopefully in the new NHL. Personally, I wouldn't have signed Lindros and would have given the #3 center spot to Wellwood - considering that Sundin and Allison will be on line 1 and line 2 respectively. If he's going to be in TO only to get 4th line ice time, I say send him back to the Marlies.

Can he or Matt Stajan play on the wing BTW?
Stajan is probably better suited to play the wing but both of them are better placed at centre.
 

Hollywood

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Mar 2, 2004
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I have seen Wellwood play in the minors for two years now and I can say he is a great talent. The knock on his skating is a bit unfair. He is quick and shifty but his first two steps or strides may be a little slower than they should be. His playmaking ability and ability to finish makes up for it. In the "new NHL", he could turn out otbe a great player.
Stajan, however, is not worth a bag of pucks. He does have some offensive upside but he appears too lazy on the ice for me. He needs more commitment to defence and he did not show that with the baby leafs last year. I hope Toronto aren't expecting miracles from him. He may skate on ice but he ain't gonna walk on water!
 

Rand

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Habs4ever said:
considering they knew wellwood was ready they go out and acquire Allison, Lindros position where wellwood was supposed to compete good work fergueson developing young talent, hope this continue as i hate to face young players with potential, lindros ya no biggie.


Short of JFJ magically being able to predict the future and knowing he would have an excellent camp I can't imagine how he would know Wellwood was ready.
He had a strong AHL season, yes... but after that strong AHL season he was still considered by pretty much everyone as just another excellent minor leaguer whose skills would never adequately transfer to the NHL.
JFJ had no way to predict his skating would improve during the offseason, JFJ had no way to predict his defensive play would improve.

Even so, assuming Wellwood has absolutely no issues at all in acclimating to the NHL... do you honestly think he's going to immediately be able to step into the NHL and perform as well as Lindros or Allison?
Even their harshest critics are pretty certain to view then as far far better then Wellwood at this point in time.
 
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