Phoenix Coyotes invite Kyle Wellwood to training camp
Kyle Wellwood is getting another chance to prove himself worthy of a roster spot with a National Hockey League team.
The Phoenix Coyotes have invited the 27-year-old centre to their training camp on a tryout basis. Coyotes general manager Don Maloney is excited by the prospect of having Wellwood play for the team, and thinks he may help to put an end to the Dogs’ power play woes.
“He's a clever, creative player who's a little bit intriguing,” Maloney said of Wellwood, who is an unrestricted free agent. “We were weak on the power play last year and he's a smart player who could help us there, so we'll give him every opportunity to come in here and win a job.”
In 338 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks, Wellwood has 63 goals and 97 assists for 160 points. A possible return to the Canucks seemed unlikely when the team opted to re-sign fellow third-line centre Manny Malhotra to a three-year contract. The team did not offer Wellwood a new contract after Vancouver was eliminated from the playoffs last season.
Wellwood was originally drafted 134th overall by the Maple Leafs in 2001. He replaced captain Mats Sundin on Toronto’s top line after he was felled by an injury in the first game of the 2005-06 season. He was later put on waivers by the Leafs in 2008, and was picked up by Vancouver shortly thereafter.
Since entering the National Hockey League with the Leafs as a full-time player in 2005-06, Wellwood’s best totals to date have been two back-to-back seasons of 40 or more points. He scored 45 points (11G, 34A) during his first season, and followed that up with a 42-point campaign (12G, 30A) in 2006-07.
After he joined the Canucks, Wellwood’s point totals dropped significantly. He only managed 27 points (18G, 9A) in his first full season with Vancouver. Last season, Wellwood scored only 25 points (14G, 11A) in 75 games. During the 2009-10 playoffs, he scored three goals and 10 assists for 13 points in 22 games.
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