Kyle Wellwood’s plans of going through his first injury-free offseason in recent memory hit a bump two weeks ago during an indoor soccer game. According to a report published in the Windsor Star, Wellwood injured his foot while playing indoor soccer as part of an offseason training session.
"I was playing indoor soccer and it (my foot) sort of cracked," Wellwood commented in an interview with the Windsor Star.
Though he is expected to recover well in advance of training camp, which opens in mid-September, the injury does inevitably set back Wellwood’s offseason training regiment, where he had hoped to drastically improve his fitness level in advance of next season.
After an impressive rookie campaign in 2005-06 where Wellwood registered 45 points while competing in 81 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs, his sophomore season was cut short. He managed appearances in only 48 games after suffering an abdominal injury that required surgery.
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Wellwood spent the better part of last summer recovering from that surgery to a point where both he and the Maple Leafs felt he would be able to regain the form he showed during the first season-and-a-half of his NHL career.
That was not quite how things worked out though. Early in training camp before the 2007-08 season, Wellwood required another minor surgery, forcing him to miss the first month of the season. Throughout a lackluster and disappointing season, Wellwood’s conditioning was called into question as he struggled mightily during his third NHL campaign.
A restricted free agent as of July 1, 2008, there are no guarantees that he will be back with the Maple Leafs for a fourth season. Wellwood will need to be extended a qualifying offer in order for the Maple Leafs to retain his rights.
General Manager Cliff Fletcher will have to decide if he feels Wellwood is still an integral component to the Maple Leafs core group of young players that includes Matt Stajan, also a restricted free agent this off season, Alex Steen, Jiri Tlusty, Anton Stralman, Ian White, and Carlo Colaiacovo.
Jeremy Williams (a young player with scoring prowess who has been knocking on the big league door for the past few seasons) and the highly touted Russian winger Nikolai Kulemin, are both expected to get serious looks from the big club next season. Even if Wellwood is back, a demotion to the Toronto Marlies may be in order.
The Maple Leafs are clearly not in a position to challenge for a Stanley Cup next season and as a result, they will likely rely more heavily on their contingent of youth next season in hopes of expediting their development at the NHL level. Wellwood will not just be allowed to coast through another season with a lot of young players eager for a shot with the big club.
If anything is for sure with Kyle Wellwood, an offseason with much uncertainty just got a little bit cloudier.
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2 months ago
i really hope he gets better, because he has great potential, and the potential to be a great leafs player
2 months ago
This is definitely a blow to Wellwood who has alot of proving himself to do after a horrible year. Watching Kyle play last year, I couldn't help but notice how "out of shape" he looked- maybe even a little "pudgy"- and I thought a good off-season conditioning program would help immensely. Unfortunately, it looks like he will once again come into camp behind everyone else!
2 months ago
Another bad offseason might put an end to Wellwood's time in Leafland...but I really hope he can recover to prove his worth even if it means a stint with the Marlies.
2 months ago
Wellwood's future with the club was uncertain before this. I'm not sure what this does to help his case.
Still, I'd say the Leafs should qualify him for one year, and if he can't perform than cut ties.
Too talented to let go this early.
from 2 months ago
I'd have to agree Derek...The way the Leafs luck goes, they'd let him him and he'd have a breakout year...be interesting to see what kind of a work ethic Ron Wilson can instill in him.
2 months ago
Good article, I hope he is OK
2 months ago
The guy's role model growing up was Kevin Stevens. What did you expect?
2 months ago
haha, for sure Dave, I am reluctant to let him go, because I know he is talented, he needs someone to bring it out of him, and you're right, hopefully Ron can do that.
2 months ago
Wellwood is only 25 and has a lot of potential. Great imagination. But i agree, he desperately needs to get in shape. Not sure if the leafs will keep him, though, he's small and doesn't hit anything (at least Tucker and Blake play bigger than their size). But, he'll probably be cheap coming off a bad season.
2 months ago
Time to cut this guy loose. Lots of guys have potential and ability, but without work ethic and commitment it means nothing. I've yet to see any commitment from Wellwood.
Then again, his value is next to nil right now. They really don't have a choice but to sign him to a one-year deal and hope his trade value goes up.
2 months ago
Don't expect number 42 to wear the blue and white again. He's an RFA and the compensatory draft picks are worth far more. The kid is weaker then a three year old mink and he can't do anything but run a bottom third NHL powerplay. Look for him to end up on the westcoast and the Leafs to add a third rounder to next years draft.
from 2 months ago
I think the Maple Leafs would easily take a draft pick in compensation for some other team signing Wellwood, but frankly, what team would sign him and cash in a draft pick after the last two seasons he's had?
2 months ago
I believe there are a couple teams out there who would offer him somewhere in the neighbourhood of 1.2 million a season to run there power-play. A team such as Phoenix where they have a lot of snipers but no young players with experience and passing skills such as him. A team such as L.A is the same, and speaking Canadian teams I believe that Vancouver would take him on to give them those power play minutes and give him 40 points a year.
Overall, a third rounder for someone who easily could rack up 60 points a year sounds like a great bargain - just not in Toronto.
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