Why Did the Toronto Maple Leafs Release Kyle Wellwood?

It's a question I asked myself countless time since I heard it had happened—why did the Maple Leafs release Kyle Wellwood?

It may seem obvious to some, who didn’t like Wellwood and thought he was “useless”—but for those who felt that Wellwood would some day be a top-liner, it was a shock. On June 24, the Maple Leafs put Wellwood on waivers. He was claimed by the vancover Canucks the next day.

Wellwood faced serious injury problems in his two previous seasons with the Leafs, playing only 107 of a possible 164 games.  Only 24 at the time, Kyle was retained by the Leafs, who hoped he could recover. Wellwood finished the 2008 season shortly after the Leafs were mathematically eliminated from the playoffs with only 21 points and was a minus-12.

Wellwood went to Philadelphia for minor surgery on his groin during the offseason.

Why was Cliff so fast on releasing him? Why not give him another year and let him test his abilities? I’m sure taking the right amount of time off from hockey would have been beneficial.  After all, he is only 25, and should be able to heal quickly.

Was it because they didn’t have time to let him heal? No, they are going into rebuilding mode—they have time for everything.

During the offseason after the surgery Wellwood was playing indoor soccer and broke a bone in his foot. (Fact: Over one-quarter of the bones in your body are in your feet.) With his contract about to expire on July 1, the Leafs had finally had enough and decided he wasn’t worth the trouble anymore.

Any Leafs fan will tell you that the Leafs got the best of this. With all the young talent they have coming up, and all the centers this team already has, the Leafs really don’t need Wellwood's 21 points a season to help them out.

In a few months, after Kuelmin has gotten used to North American style of play, is up with the Leafs playing 15 minutes a game, gathering 50 to 60 points in his rookie year, and nominated for the Calder trophy—well, maybe not, looking at this draft class and the guys that will be stepping into the league—the Leafs will be glad they dropped Wellwood when they had the chance.

Ten years down the road, the Leafs will have another Cup, Joe Neiuwendyk will be their GM, and Wellwood will be a 35-year-old has-been sitting on his couch, after he has been forced to retire because he never listens to doctors.