Wellwood signed for offence, power-play potential

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/09/2011 (5479 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WINNIPEG Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff made a point of telling reporters Friday that no one single element of a player’s game causes him to be signed.

But he made it pretty clear that 28-year-old free-agent centre Kyle Wellwood was signed late Thursday for a big reason — to provide offence to a team that the consensus says will struggle to produce it.

“He’s going to have some power-play time,” Cheveldayoff said for starters. “That’s really his forte. He’s a heady hockey player when it comes to making decisions and again, the coaches will see how it all figures out.”

Then later, the offensive ability was emphasized again.

“Someone who can hang onto the puck and make plays is an important aspect (of the game),” the GM said.

The Jets put Wellwood on a one-year, US$700,000 contract, hoping his ability and their need will be a good match.

Wellwood is known as a gifted playmaker. In 373 career NHL games with Toronto, Vancouver and San Jose, he has 68 goals and 173 points.

Why wait until early September to commit?

“I’ve had conversations with his agent off and on over the course of the summer,” Cheveldayoff said. “It’s really all about the timing and the timing was right for us to move forward with respect to the contract offer.

“Looking to where he potentially fits into the lineup, the fact that he can move up and down the different lines, play centre or wing, gives us just a little bit more flexibility in trying to create different options.”

Last season, Wellwood joined the San Jose Sharks midway through the season after a 25-game stint in the KHL with Mytishchi Atlant.

He had discussions with the Sharks this summer, but the team was moving in a more youthful direction, Wellwood said Friday.

That he had to wait so long after the free-agency gates were opened July 1 didn’t bother him, he added.

“I think it was a lot easier (this summer). You always want to get your opportunity on July 1 and just going through last year where it didn’t happen, your expectations are not so much changed but you’ve got to prove yourself every day. You control what you can control and I’m thankful to have a job now.”

Particularly since his three full seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where the fishbowl attention was at times oppressive, Wellwood insists he’s a more complete player.

“I think I’m a lot more consistent with my play … after being moved around quite a bit,” he said. “I don’t take anything for granted. I enjoy it, the work part of it a lot more.”

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

The Warm-Up

Winnipeg Jets Game Days

On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.

Sign up for The Warm-Up

Sign Up

I consent to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies.

I consent to CASL agreement.

The attention he’s about to encounter in Winnipeg, he said, will be welcomed.

“I think the players already have a sense of that,” the Windsor, Ont., native said. “It doesn’t happen very often where a Canadian franchise starts anew. To be on that team is going to be a lot of fun and I certainly feel privileged, to get lucky again and have a great fan base.”

Wellwood has played here before. As a member of the AHL’s St. John’s Maple Leafs, he was involved in the very first hockey game at the MTS Centre, now his new home sheet.

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca