Updates On Mitchell and Wellwood
by Sean Zandberg on Aug 18, 2010 6:25 PM PDT
in Free Agency
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PrintWillie Mitchell has returned to Vancouver after visiting Washington and the Capitals. According to Jason Botchford of The Province, there are reports that the Kings already have an offer on the table. No word on the Capitals' thoughts yet. The Canucks are remaining cautious with Willie and want him to participate in more rigorous drills at training camp to know for sure that his concussion symptoms are eradicated. This may drag out for a few weeks yet. More on Mitchell here.
As for Kyle Wellwood, well, his phone isn't ringing all that much. Wellwood told the Vancouver Sun that he believes he can play in the NHL but if all else fails Europe is an option. Here's what he said about his time in Vancouver:
"I was certainly happy that I got to play there. They gave me a chance coming out of Toronto where I hadn't played well and hadn't done the things I needed to do to play in the NHL and they gave me a chance to prove myself for two straight years. I am grateful for the patience they had with me."
Best of luck, Woody. More on him here.
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If he's willing to play for close to league minimum, he can come back as 4th line center.
As for Willie….4 years…12 million. 3.75 in each of the first two, then 2.5 and 2 in the third and fourth. 3 million is a bit of a steep cap hit…but it fits if you move Bieksa and dump Hordichuk and AHLberts.
Buying out Kubas since July 2010
by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Aug 18, 2010 6:36 PM PDT reply actions
GMC…I take it you don’t share the concerns then? I do ahae to say, for all my well stated love for Big Stick Willie, they do have a very salient point. Dude has not had any contact yet.
No way I commit that much money. I do think with a move, or two,( 2nd one minor, first one Juice ), they can afford to pay him fair market value on a two year deal. That is supposedly what the Kings have offered.
If that has to wait until closer to camp to be offered, then I don’t blame Willie if he signs say…a 3 year deal elsewhere. He has a family and all that…gotta get paid.
But, I don’t blame the team either for the concern. Getting run by some 6’3", 220 winger barreling in is a lot more stressful than those Vo2 max tests…
I guess it comes down to how badly our boy wants to stay at home.
I'm just going by reports that he's been tested by 4 teams
including the Canucks and passed.
Buying out Kubas since July 2010
by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Aug 18, 2010 7:11 PM PDT up reply actions
Yep. But those are just workout and other tests.
I am betting even Willie himself doesn’t know how he feels until the first good hit.
Peddling really hard on a bike is not the same as getting run into the end boards…or taking a hit to make a play and getting exploded through.
I like him too. I want him to be a Canuck…but only IF he is able to withstand the rigors…
For sure
Buying out Kubas since July 2010
by GelatinousMutantCoconut on Aug 18, 2010 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions
Only know what I read here but I wonder why the Kings and Sharks seem more eager to make a deal with Mitchell than do the Canucks. I can’t believe that the mgmt of those 2 teams are more reckless than the Canucks’ mgmt. Or is Gillis too cautious? They’ve all tested him. Doesn’t Gillis know that if he imposes a lengthy wait and see on Willie, he’ll sign elsewhere? Has Mitchell not proved to them that he’s an outstanding defenseman? Why are those 2 Calif teams going in one direction and the Canucks in another re Mitch? Or so it seems.
by Bobby Canuck on Aug 19, 2010 3:16 PM PDT up reply actions
You’d have to offer him a bonus filled contract. Once he hits 20 games he gets a bonus and another one at 40, etc. That would keep the cap hit down and possibly be able to transfer some of the hit to next year if I understand the bonuses correctly.
The smart thing that Willie did was shopping himself enough to get a widely reported TWO year deal on the table from the Kings.
Bonus laden contracts for people using that rule for LTIR comebacks (after 100 days off ) only count on a one year deal.
Though the only team that could offer that and have a half chance would be the Nucks…if they really want him, I doubt it gets it done.
2 years is too long
considering the crop of Free agents available next summer we need to have as much cap room as possible.
"We love them, We mourn for them, Unlucky boys of Red" - Morrissey
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by Section 312 on Aug 19, 2010 10:12 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm so torn
On Willie.
I would love him to come back, but I’m still very concerned about his health. Like vancitydan said above, biking/skating drills are not the same thing as game-day pressure and hits. With the length of time it’s taken him to recover, and the fact that he still might not be 100% right now, I’m very worried about the possibility of just a few hard hits taking him out.
And that kind of thing can gnaw at you in the back of your head, no matter how hard you try to push it away. And considering he’s a stay-at-home denfenseman, a split second of indecision could mean the difference between preventing a scoring chance and not.
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
"so torn on willie"
you should probably just leave it alone for a few days…
by Passive Voice on Aug 18, 2010 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions
you’re bad.
Nucks Misconduct writer, Twitter talker.
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve" (Bilbo)
On Wellwood
Hope he finds a contract. Can’t believe that if Pisani can get a deal that he can’t. Woody worked hard last offseason for nothing. He’ll produce ~25pts on the bottom end of any lineup. He would also be a boon to any nearby restaurants….
Bring Mitchell back. We’ve had such terrible luck with player injuries that its gotta change, no? We win the cup and whatever money he leaves on the table is well worth it. Do it GMMG!
Can’t believe that if Pisani can get a deal that he can’t.
Agreed.
"But yeah…like CC…I harbour no ill will." - VancityDan
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Alternate Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner
by Chuckles Canuckles on Aug 19, 2010 11:32 AM PDT up reply actions
I've been waiting for an Open Ice...
but who knows when that’ll happen?
I just scored free tickets to The Flaming Lips. What do I expect, and where do I start with their music? I, ahem, have it all, but I’ve never delved too far into it. And I hear they’re an amazing live act.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinhathaway/ - Here B Photos
They're awesome.
I’d start with anything from Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots.
Canucks fans talking about the Canucks: Pass it To Bulis!
by skeeter_dan on Aug 18, 2010 10:54 PM PDT up reply actions
It will be an epic month of music.
Punk legend Ted Leo on the 6th.
Best band ever, The National, on the 10th.
And apparently the best live act ever on the 26th.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/martinhathaway/ - Here B Photos
sorry dude, we’ve all been busy lately. maybe i’ll put up a quick one here….
Nucks Misconduct writer, Twitter talker.
"I don't know half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve" (Bilbo)
working on one now…should be up soon
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by Yankee Canuck on Aug 19, 2010 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions
i’m honestly stunned welly can’t find a contract. really, Minnesota, you don’t think you’ve a place for Welly in your top nine? Toronto, you don’t think Wellwood could help your piece of shit centres? yeah, i know it might be awkward to rekindle that old fling, but you don’t even have a fucking first round pick to tank for. you don’t think he could help your hockey team, this year, for like 800k? he can’t be asking for much more. i call shenanigans.
Yeah…been caught up in the whole Willie thing, but I thought Welly revitalized his career here.
he certainly could help several teams with just his f/o and hands skills should get him a job.
And yes…his skills on the bigger ice would be fantastic, even with that choppy skating style.
Can you imagine
Him dangling on the big ice? He would just go through whole teams every rush! It would be like that game against the Oilers at the end of the season, when we lost, but Welly dangled past everyone and got a scoring chance, except all the time
"Playin hurt, baby that don't faze me. I don't got time for pain. The only pain I've got time for is the pain I put on fools who don't know what time it is!"
Geez semi-colon...
between your dangle and your torn willie and your semi-colon…well, just go see a dr. dude…
The artist formerly known as GAHHHHH!
"You'll be playing in England the rest of your career" Alex Burrows
"I'm not a water dwelling mammal, where did you get that preposterous hypothesis, did steve tell you that?" FotC
Honestly, I’m really going to miss Wellwood. He was, for lack of a better word, nifty.
Canucks fans talking about the Canucks: Pass it To Bulis!
Yeah wellwood was a very likable player, it’s unfortunate he didn’t fit the team’s make-up
The artist formerly known as GAHHHHH!
"You'll be playing in England the rest of your career" Alex Burrows
"I'm not a water dwelling mammal, where did you get that preposterous hypothesis, did steve tell you that?" FotC
by Twitchy2010 on Aug 19, 2010 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
Amen my brothers. Nice kid, super skills, screwed up his fitness but changed for the better. Likable indeed.
Nucks Misconduct
"Here goes nothin'" - Han Solo
by Sean Zandberg on Aug 19, 2010 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
And he was one of the few guys who “brought it” in the 2009 playoffs. Never forget that postseason for Welly… dude was a beast, and not in a way that is meant to describe his eating habits.
by Beantown Canuck on Aug 19, 2010 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Exactly
The guy was an enigma wrapped in a riddle, but he gave it all when it mattered. He honestly has been one of my favorite Canucks over the past couple seasons.
Also, he’s really weird.
Canucks fans talking about the Canucks: Pass it To Bulis!
Honestly
Likable means nothing. Hordichuk seems likable, doesn’t mean I want him out there for this team. It’s not that he didn’t play strong – quite strong at times, especially considering his linemates – but the consistency was never there. It was a good gamble by Gillis to snag him for nothing, but it’s time to move on.
'Nucks Misconduct - Housing Swedish Millionaires Since 2000.
by Yankee Canuck on Aug 19, 2010 9:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I don't disagree.
It doesn’t mean I won’t miss him.
Canucks fans talking about the Canucks: Pass it To Bulis!
by skeeter_dan on Aug 20, 2010 12:48 AM PDT up reply actions
Its a damn shame
when Pisani can get a contract but Wellfed can’t. Numerous teams could use him.
"But yeah…like CC…I harbour no ill will." - VancityDan
C Henrik Sedin #33: Vancouver Canucks Alternate Captain, 2010 Art Ross Trophy Winner and 2010 Hart Memorial Trophy Winner
by Chuckles Canuckles on Aug 19, 2010 11:34 AM PDT reply actions
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