Kyle Wellwood Signs in Vancouver, Again

Last fall when veteran forward Kyle Wellwood was banished to the minors and criticized for being out of shape no one could have guessed that this 26 year-old would later that season emerge back with the Vancouver Canucks and score a career high 18 goals. After three seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs Wellwood who is a former 100- point scorer with the OHL’s Windsor Spitfires and Belleville Bulls was plucked off the waiver wire by the Vancouver Canucks in June 2008. The Canucks who were looking for help down the middle acquired in Wellwood someone who could chip in with some timely goals and dominate in the face-off circle. This Windsor Ontario native who had a knock in Toronto for not having the best training habits off the ice didn’t fare to well in the fitness tests at the Canucks training camp and was later put on waivers before being assigned to the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose. Showing true professionalism Wellwood who as a rookie in 2006 netted a career high of 45 points, was called up to stay with the Canucks on October 21 and right away began to win over his coach Alan Vigneault. Gradually Wellwood began to get more ice time and was moving up the depth chart and despite enduring a rough patch in the second half that had him go 21 straight games without scoring this former 2001 Maple Leafs draft choice still managed to score 18 goals and 27 points. Even though those aren’t exactly all -star statistics he impressed enough that the Canucks offered him a contract for a second season out west. The Canucks who are still waiting for veteran forward Mats Sundin to make up his mind about playing originally offered Wellwood a one -year million- dollar contract that he immediately turned down. Believing that the offer was low Wellwood instead opted for arbitration where a decision on his contract will be made official on Thursday afternoon. “When they offered the qualifier and Kyle opted for salary arbitration, at that point you’re accepting a contract and you just have to fill in a term,” Wellwood’s agent Mike Liut said. “So we’ll get the terms and the nest stop is training camp.”