Sundin or Wellwood?
Posted 9:11 AM ET | Comments 11
After the 07/08 season the Maple Leafs will have 3 UFA's and 3 RFA's. Wellwood, Steen and Stajan being the RFA's and Sundin, Belak and Wozniewski being the UFA's. Wellwood was on pace for a 60 point season before a sports hernia stop him from playing now if he could reach that level or better would be sent an offer sheet? Yes and with the Leafs cap problem you can bet on it but with Sundin taking 5.5 million and a UFA after the season that brings the question will Sundin take a pay cut to stay? Maybe the question will be answered if Mats retires after the 07/08 Season. All three RFA's are in for pay raises next summer and remember the hands and skill Wellwood holds but if it comes in the shootout he'll be a hot RFA to grab. The most logic answer would be Wellwood if JFJ had to choose. Don't forget about Steen and Stajan who have yet to show the best they can be. If they show it this coming season Mr. Ferguson would have some interesting choices to make next summer.
Sundin, Mats 5.500 UFA
Steen, Alexander 0.901 RFA
Stajan, Matt 0.875 RFA
Wellwood, Kyle 0.875 RFA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jGXVMeroLQ
Sundin, Mats 5.500 UFA
Steen, Alexander 0.901 RFA
Stajan, Matt 0.875 RFA
Wellwood, Kyle 0.875 RFA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jGXVMeroLQ
Kubina and Raycroft will likely be traded for picks next offseason
oh and you missed Pohl
Neither. I'm really hoping Sundin gets traded at the deadline rather than us making it in 8th and losing in the first round with nothing to show for it the next year. Wellwood is a good player, but he's not a number 1 guy, at least not on a winning team. I want to keep Wellwood as our number 2 simply because if we have a number 2 center who's scoring 80-90 points a year, just imagine how good our number 1 center is going to be? Ideally, I'd like to draft ourselves a really good center in the next couple of years and make him our new franchise center while having Wellwood play behind him. And maybe this time, just maybe, we can actually get them wingers this time.
I agree, UG. Wellwood can put up the points but defensivly it ain't there. #1 center has to face top lines every night and take on the best d-man, Welly simply doesn't have the size for it. Maybe Tlusty and Kulemin will turn out to be those wingers we've been longing for.... as long as JFJ doesn't trade them!
I agree, UG. Wellwood has the skill to be a number 1 guy, as he can put up points but his size is too small to face off against #1 d-man every night. Maybe Kulemin and Tlusty will be the wingers we've be longing for.... as long as JFJ doesn't trade them! :@
I think next season sundin will have to take an actual pay cut. Hopefully an "advisor" can help JFJ with that. We also have a lot of D to shuffle around, which could mean moving kubina in a package deal with some other people (perhaps moving steen or stajan with him?). We need to keep Wellwood, it's clear as day that he has a lot of talent. Sure, he may be small... but... *cough*Martin St. Louis*cough*
I hope Kulemin and Tlusty are great players, but I want them on my second line, not my first for the same reason I want Wellwood on the second line. If Kulemin and Tlusty are good and are on our second line, just think how good our first line would have to be. High standards and no cutting corners.
Well I can tell you one thing right now if the leafs dont make the playoffs JFJ wont be around which also means Sundin will be bye bye as well. I dont see wellwood getting an offer sheet because he is small injury prone and there are better players like getzlaff, Perry etc. who are eligable that are more covitted. I think that Steen is a flop and I like Stajan I just think he is a mike Peca type player I dont see him as a offensive threat. I see him as a future shutdown center.
I don't think you watch enough Leafs games to understand the talent that Steen holds. If you think one season where he learned his defensive games makes him a flop, than I'd hate to see your hockey pool, sir.
duckyjets, how many leafs games have you watched?how many times has Wellwood been injured?how many teams have made offers for Steen?how many players have had a bad season when moving into a new system?come on man, I think your 'analysis' is based more on your dislike for the Leafs then a knowledge of hockey.Wellwood is small and injury prone, lol... so injury prone means having one mis-diagnosed hernia that required surgery... and small players aren't good... like, say, Briere, or Peca... for the record... Wellwood has the same frame as Peca... he just needs to learn how to play physically... and UG will agree, thats why the Leafs need to get Peca... to show Wellwood, Steen, and Stajan how to be more physical and defensively responsible.oh and UG... Tlusty, IMO does belong on the 1st line... Kulemin can be anywhere from a 1st to a checking line winger... just because of his style of play... both will fit in the NHL perfectly... Tlusty will be a skilled power forward type, Kulemin will be a bigger Blake-type player... most likely with more skill though.... I can see him starting off in the NHL as a pest, and working his way up to a skilled, physical winger, with 2-way ability
oh, ducky, another thing... Stajan got 39 points playing on the 3rd/4th lines this year... with AHL callups most of the time... I think, considering his age, and the guys he was with... that those 39 points represent a good offensive flair