Winnipeg Jets sign San Jose Sharks free-agent Kyle Wellwood to one-year deal -NHL offseason Update
Winnipeg Jets, Manitoba’s newly relocated National Hockey League (NHL) team which was formerly known as, Atlanta Thrashers, added offensive depth to their line-up by signing on veteran centre and former San Jose Sharks player, Kyle Wellwood, to a one-year
$700,000 deal on Friday, September 9.
Jets general manager, Kevin Cheveldayoff, made the announcement while praising the 28-year-old for his abilities.
“He does have that flexibility and versatility", said GM Kevin Cheveldayoff. “He’s going to have some power play time and that’s his forte. He’s a really heady hockey player when it comes to making decisions. He makes very good plays with the puck, sees
the ice very well”.
Having been drafted as Toronto Maple Leafs 134th overall draft pick during round-five of the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, Wellwood put up high numbers with his original draft team for a pair of seasons but began to drop and was eventually traded.
Now after being given another chance with Winnipeg Jets, Kyle Wellwood is surely thankful and hopes to remain consistent this time around.
“I’m a lot more consistent with my play and take it seriously”, Wellwood said during a conference call on Friday. “After being moved around quite a bit, I don’t take anything for granted. I enjoy the work part of it a lot more”.
After playing his first last game during the 2003-2004 NHL regular season, Wellwood was given a full season during 2005-2006 and performed beyond expectations with 45 points (11 goals, 34 assists) in 81 games.
Wellwood’s downfall came in his fourth consecutive season Toronto as he managed to pot only 21 points (8 goals, 13 assists) and has not been able to reach his 40 plus point performance since then.
Playing for San Jose Sharks last season following a two season transition to Vancouver Canucks, Wellwood appeared in 35 games and scored only 13 points (5 goals, 8 assists) prior to playing for Atlant Moscow Region in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League
(KHL) for another 25 matchups.
With a new NHL contract in his hand, Kyle Wellwood hopes to make a bigger impact in the league with a new hometown and freshly established franchise.
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