Wellwood's World, Chapter 10: Welly's Not Right, But He's Not Wrong

When we last left Kyle Wellwood, he was happy. Why wouldn't he be? Things are going swell for Welly. He's expecting his first child; his experience in Russia taught him a newfound respect for his home continent, as he no longer has to contend with dogs for the best links of sausage; he's fitting in beautifully in San Jose.

In 25 games, he's got 4 goals and 2 assists. Welly's also a +6, having only been a minus player once (two days ago). He remains an oft-kilter defensive stalwart. The Sharks are 18-4-3 since he joined the team. After Moscow, any NHL team would have sufficed, but Welly appears to have ridden the waiver wire to a mighty fine situation.

However, if Moscow has been happily banished to the past, his time in Vancouver remains a fresh memory. Interest in the Windsor native continues here, even though he now plays for one of the Canucks' stiffest rivals, and perhaps their most daunting potential postseason opponent.

That said, if he was hoping to put out some of the fires still burning for him in the Lower Mainland he certainly poured some water on them when he suggested the Canucks, season-long Stanley Cup favourites, didn't have the mettle to win it all this year. It was last week's most adorable heel turn.

Kyle Wellwood may be happy, but Canuck fans were not happy with him, when he predicted the Sharks were going to be the better team come playoff time. From Jason Botchford:

"I just feel feel Vancouver has a few more lessons to learn and I'm glad I'm in San Jose," Wellwood said. "I just feel [the Sharks] are more mature because they've lost a few more times.

"They're not so scared of losing. I think come playoff time [San Jose] is going to be better.

Instant reaction from a Canucks fanbase that's become a bit smug, a bit big for its britches, vacillated between something akin to screw 'im and instant hand-wringing, but Wellwood's thoughts deserve a longer look. He isn't wrong. He's just living in the past.

Kyle Wellwood hasn't been in this year's Canuck dressing room, so he's simply not qualified to comment. However, he was there last year, and he's rightly critical of what he saw: a roomful of tense, immature players -- a deleterious mindset. It's the mindset Mike Gillis and Alain Vigneault saw and addressed when they called their players to a cooler, more zen-like attitude. It's the mindset that weighed heavily on Roberto Luongo as captain, a weight that shifted and dissipated when Henrik Sedin took up the mantle. It's the mindset that earned Ryan Kesler a reputation as overserious, now so far in the past some are questioning, Kesler included, whether it was ever there (it was).

The reality is that the Canucks of last season were exactly what Kyle Wellwood described, and that's why they lost. They lost their composure, they lost their confidence, they lost their way, and then they just lost. But while Welly was in Russia, the Canucks changed their entire mindset. Many of the players in the room remain the same, but it's not the same room.

In short, Welly was right--in 2010. He's wrong about this year.

Kyle Wellwood on The Wellwoods

As I said, in BC, Welly retains a faithful group of fans (such as ourselves), who have been following him since he left Vancouver last summer. One such subgroup is the Vancouver Wellwoods, a women's street hockey team named in his honour and the runner-up at this year's nationals. We're big fans of the Wellwoods here at PITB, and rumour has it Welly doesn't mind them either:

“It’s nice,” Wellwood said. “To be recognized as a person they can identify with is fun. It’s funny. I’m not embarrassed by it.”

Kyle Wellwood always seems so pleasant, doesn't he? No word on whether or not this gentle response came after Welly found out about the team's motto ("training is cheating") or 3 principles ("Soft hands, sharp minds, overall adorableness").

Wellwood's World, Chapter 9: Happy Times Are Here Again

When we last left the non-stop actioner that is the life of Kyle Wellwood, Welly was making his triumphant return from exile, now in a San Jose Sharks uniform. He seemed excited about going to the Sun Belt, and relieved to be home from Russia, the bizarro nation where stray dogs reenact famous scenes from A Clockwork Orange before stealing your groceries.

In some sort of grand, cosmic joke at his expense, Wellwood wound up making his season debut in Vancouver. The quiet, self-effacing center seemed somewhat annoyed to be right back in front of Vancouver's million microphones, but it was a special treat for Canuck fans, like us, who have battled through the barrier that is the Cyrillic alphabet just to continue following his career. It was nice to finally receive a much-needed dose of Wellwoodness in English, where his trademark pathos wasn't mitigated by Google's crappy translator.

So what's new on the Wellwood front? Welly has now played 10 games with the Sharks. In those games, he's got 2 goals and no assists. Nothing special. However, he's a plus-4, and he's only been on the ice for 1 goal against (typical defensive stalwart that he is). That goal, by the way, was the much-ballyhooed Paul Bissonnette goal from the 1st of February. It garnered plenty of attention, as the rare BizNasty goal should, and nobody even seemed to notice that Welly got it back with his first goal of the season later that night ( to the highlights!).

That's right. Two weeks ago, Paul Bissonnette and Kyle Wellwood scored in the same game, and, apart from the postgame boxscore, I can think of very few other lists that might contain both names. These guys are polar opposites. After the game, Bissonnette crushed some nachos and stayed up all night partying; meanwhile, Wellwood crushed some leftover beet salad and stayed up all night reading the lesser works of Iris Murdoch.

Here's another interesting tidbit: you'll recall that there was some confusion over whether or not Kyle's pregnant partner, Bianca, was his wife or his girlfriend. In a recent interview, his brother Eric, of the Philadelphia Flyers system, cleared that up: she's his fiancee. Also, the baby is due in May, which could make things very interesting. If Wellwood tended to lack motivation before, consider how little he'll care if the Sharks are eliminated from the playoffs before his first child's due date.

That said, if you watched the first goal, or the second, you might have noticed a couple strange new things Wellwood is doing: he's celebrating his goals, for instance. He's also smiling from ear to ear quite regularly. The Sharks are 7-2-1 since Wellwood's arrival (obviously, this is directly causal), and he appears to be having the time of his life.

In a recent Russian interview, Wellwood admits that he overestimated his ability to adapt to a new country, that the snow, the cold, and the alienation prevented him from ever feeling at ease. It appears that his time in Russia gave him a new appreciation for his homeland, and a new fire for remaining in the NHL.

Vancouver fans can attest to this: Wellwood emotes so sparingly that, when he does, it really means something. Now is one of those times. He's home, he's playing for a contender with a much smaller media contingent, and he's about to be a father.

Ladies and gentlemen: Kyle Wellwood is happy.

Wellwood's World, Chapter 8: Meet Me in San Jose

Let's be very clear: when we began closely following Kyle Wellwood's career, we had no idea it was going to be this interesting.

Well, maybe we did. Even on a slow day, Kyle Wellwood is impossibly interesting, but we genuinely expected the Wellwood's World feature to be a lame list of stats followed by a botched quote from a Russian interview.

It never quite got to that.

Before long, Wellwood was back to his old tricks, infuriating coaches, losing ice time, and being hockey's greatest source of pathos. Then suddenly he was released from his contract. Then his wife was pregnant. Then he was signed by St. Louis. Then he wasn't. Then he was again, and before he could join the Blues, San Jose plucked him off waivers. Seriously, when has Kyle Wellwood ever moved this fast?

That's right, you heard it here last. Kyle Wellwood is a San Jose Shark. In fact, in a remarkable twist of irony (appropriate for the highly-literate forward), Wellwood will be in the lineup for the Sharks tomorrow night as their third-line center, directly opposed to Manny Malhotra, the guy the Canucks desperately targeted to replace him. So, again: The Canucks let Kyle Wellwood walk in order to sign Manny Malhotra. The Sharks let Manny Malhotra walk and eventually wound up with Kyle Wellwood. Seriously, how bad does GM Doug Wilson look right now?

I'm also happy to report that the Kyle Wellwood quote machine is back in English, meaning we no longer need to get his brilliance translated from Russian before we are moved by it. Here he is, addressing the long-running fat jokes, from Working the Corners:

Wellwood brings with him that reputation for being overweight and out of condition when he reported to the Vancouver Canucks at the start of the 2008-09 season. Yes, that was a problem then, he acknowledges. No, it’s not a problem now.

“When I came to Vancouver, I came off waivers from Toronto and I had three groin surgeries and I had a broken leg over the summer,” he said. “When I got to camp, I wasn’t in good enough shape or like the rest of the guys.

“That was something I fixed and now I’ve been in great shape,” Wellwood continued. “I’ve been under 180 pounds so it’s kind of a running joke — you still get the fat jokes when you’re one of the lightest people in hockey. You just laugh and shake your head.”

Typical Wellwood. I'm not fat. I'm weak. Get it right.

The prodigal son has come home, and now he plays for the other team. This is gonna be awesome.

Wellwood's World, Chapter 7: Back From Exile

Update: apparently this isn't officially confirmed and GM Doug Armstrong is denying it. But that's just shame. He'll get over it.

It was only last Tuesday that we delivered the bundle of nonjoy that was the end of Kyle Wellwood's contract with Atlant Moscow Oblant. Two days later, things got a little brighter, as we happily reported the bundle of joy his wife Bianca was carrying, and the pregnancy's part in what was an amicable departure from the KHL.

Now the news is downright sunny, as TSN is reporting that Kyle Wellwood, the gosh darn adorable center with whom PITB is unhealthily obsessed, has agreed to play the remainder of this season with the St. Louis Blues.

Now, it's all not roses yet, as Wellwood still needs to clear a few things: first, the remaining contract issues with his KHL team, and second, waivers.

I suspect he'll get through waivers, but the New York Islanders are all about picking up former Canucks on the wire, so there's still a chance he ends up on a line with John Tavares.

I'd prefer that, too. Not to Babcock the Canucks, but what if Kyle Wellwood fits in comfortably with the young St. Louis forward corps, becomes a leader, guides them to a first-round playoff meeting with Vancouver, and drops bombs? What if he scores a dagger? What if Kyle Wellwood, like Daniel "Vengeance as Fuel" Sedin, is out for blood?

We can only hope he goes easy on us.

Wellwood's World, Chapter 6: A Surprise Ending

It was only just yesterday that we reported the sad news that Kyle Wellwood's contract with the KHL's Atlant Moscow Oblant had been terminated. Word was that the club was unhappy with his performance and they had therefore decided to end the relationship.

But it turns out that's not all to the story, as Wellwood had his own reasons for wanting out of the contract: his wife, Bianca, is pregnant. From Atlant's website, (and then crudely translated by Google:)

Reason that prompted him to return [...] pregnant wife. Bianca, Franco-Canadian, is expecting a baby [in] four months. Kyle and Bianca lived in the town of Windsor. This is in Ontario, Canada - across the river from the American city of Detroit.

That certainly explains a lot. It might even explain why the characteristically checked-out Wellwood seemed to be playing even more lackadaisical than usual: he was homesick, and with good cause. Later in the interview, Wellwood admits, "It's hard to leave [my] wife in such important days without my attention."

In previous interviews, Wellwood briefly touched on having a girlfriend back home, and at times, we got the sense he felt very alone in Russia. These interviews mentioned about a girlfriend, not a wife, so either we were duped by a translation, or Kyle was recently married during a trip home (perhaps propelled by certain unexpected circumstances). We're not sure.

Either way, this is an exciting time for Kyle and Bianca, and it seems perfectly understandable for Kyle to want to be with her now.

The article also makes it seem like the split with Atlant was much more amicable than we were originally led to believe.

We can say only the kind words about staying Vellvud in our club, "said CEO of Atlanta Andrew Ropes. "We are grateful to him for his speech, his goals and hard work. And on behalf of all of our fans wish Kyle a successful career in the future."

And where will Kyle go next? It's possible an NHL team picks him up for the stretch drive, but more than likely, the Wellwood family will find a home in Europe. Ever the pacifist, Kyle admits a preference for Switzerland, and remains steadfast in his belief he's not cut out for the AHL.

"I will continue his career this season? Yes, I plan. But in the NHL right now I have no one to sign and play in the AHL is not interesting to me, can not feed [my] family. Possible, take Bianca and again return to Europe - move into the Alps… Swiss mountain air will benefit [my] wife ..."

From where I'm sitting, an AHL salary would more than feed my children, but my kids won't be Wellwoods. Genetics indicate Welly's kid will likely cost a pretty penny to keep fed.

We at PITB wish Kyle nothing but the best going forward, and we'll continue to report whenever his wild and wonderful world drops news bombs like this one.


Many thanks to Irene, as usual, for the Wellwood tip.

Wellwood's World Chapter 5: Farewell Russia

The latest chapter in Kyle Wellwood's wild and weird world is a sad one. Dmitry Chesnokov of Puck Daddy is reporting that Atlant Moscow Oblast has released the pudgy playmaker from his contract. The news comes from Russian sports website sports.ru, which apparently broke the story, but the website resists my translation attempts (ie. it goes all weird and wonky when I try to use Google Translate), so I'm trusting Chesnokov's translation.

According to Chesnokov, the website reported that "the club management is not satisfied with the play of the 27 year old, and because of that a decision was made to end the relationship."

It seems likely that Atlant believed they were getting the diminutive dangler of 2005-07 rather than the dependable defensive presence of the current Wellwood incarnation. Wellwood only had 5 goals and 3 assists in his 25 games, but managed a +6 to go with his minimal point totals. Chesnokov also points out that he averaged a mere 8:39 in ice time per game.

Either that or they thought that in signing a hockey player from Canada, they were going to get a tough enforcer willing to drop the gloves at any moment. Wellwood had to dispel that notion in this interview:

Q: Are you ready to jump into the fray?

Wellwood: There is an image of a Canadian hockey player, but I do not like to fight. You could even say I can't.

Maybe that was the issue. Kyle just needed to be willing to drop the gloves. I'm guessing he didn't because he found the green Russian bandages embarrassing. Either way, his unwillingness to fight for his job left him without a job to fight for.

On the plus side, Kyle Wellwood is coming home.

Wellwood's World, Chapter 4: Wellwood Speaks!

When we last checked in with Kyle Wellwood, he had just signed a deal with Atlant Moscow of the KHL after failing to earn a contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. It was a bit of a bummer for PITB (genuine Wellwood fans that we are) but we purposed ourselves following Wellwood's career on the other side of the world. It's been easier said than done.

Wellwood's first season with Atlant began strongly. Coach Nikolai Borchevzky (formerly a Toronto Maple leaf, as celebrated at PPP) was playing Wellwood around 20 minutes a game, and he was enjoying top-six ice time. However, Borchevzky was fired in early October and replaced by Milos Riha, who had been fired by Spartak Moscow around the same time. Riha replaced the team's attacking style with a stricter, defensive structure. Wellwood has seen a considerable decrease in minutes, and is now back in a familiar place, skating in the bottom-six with limited minutes. In 20 games played, Wellwood has only 4 points (3 goals, 1 assist).

Who cares, though? PITB loves Kyle Wellwood because he's unique, and uniquely self-aware. His sheepishly, but candid personality is unique in hockey circles, and thankfully, his personality lives on, even in poorly translated Russian interviews. What follows are four Kyle Wellwood interviews, organized chronologically, in which he touches on everything from his adjustments to Russian life, women in the workplace, his former Canuck teammates, and the future of the NHL. This is must-read material.

Just a heads-up: Google Translate is an imperfect animal. Still, it is possible to get around the broken sentences and come to an understanding of what is actually being said, and we have tried to facilitate this with minimal editing. Enjoy!

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Interview 1: October 5, w/ Atlant press correspondent

The first interview takes place almost as soon as Wellwood arrives in Russia. He answers a few questions while unpacking his things and getting settled in the Atlant locker room.

Good evening, Kyle, welcome you in Mytishchi.

Thanks, I'm very pleased.

How was your flight?
All is well, but I was very tired and sleepy. Flying with two changes, in New York and Prague, for a total received nearly 11 hours.

Did you attend one day Russia?
No, I'm in your country for the first time. I was amazed that everything is great. Big country, a huge expanse. But the nature here is very similar to Canada.

How did you [enjoy the] weather in the capital?
Wet, slush, but tolerable. Again, in this weather I'm used to. At my home in Windsor, Ontario, the weather - not a rarity. True, I know that in winter you have here is very cold, but I'm ready.

For cooling you are ready, and to play for Atlant?
I am ready to give all the best in every game and do everything in my power.

Do you know someone from the Moscow Region club players?
No. But it does not bother me. Let us get acquainted. By the way, you are just playing with The Knight?

Yes, and why it interested you?
There is my old friend - Josh Gratton.

Kyle, finally, say something to our fans.
Always be loyal to your team and keep it, no matter what happens. And we, the players will try to justify your hopes.

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Interview 2: October 14, w/ Arthur Balchun.

The second interview takes place after Wellwood has played three games with Atlant. The interviewer sounds, to me, like a Canucks fan, as he laments the Canucks Stanley Cup loss in 1994. He also sound, to me, like a budding novelist, as he plays fast and loose with his descriptive prose in the opening paragraph. Funny stuff. I sensed a bit of timidty from Kyle Wellwood in the first interview, and you can see him here beginning to feel a bit more comfortable. He talks about running into somebody he knows in Mikael Tellqvist, and it seems to have given him more optimism. Also interesting is his discussion of the contract with Atlant. He admits he doesn't know if any other KHL teams offered him a contract. He said yes to Atlant the moment he was asked, even heading over before working out some of his Visa issues. Either this speaks to Wellwood's spirit of adventure, or the desperate situation he found himself in after Phoenix.

Yesterday evening at the Riga ice stayed Mytishchi "Atlant", recently intensified the 27-year old Canadian winger Kyle Uellvudom. Two previous seasons Kyle played for the NHL Vancouver Canucks, where reputed strong slogger third or fourth level, and even enjoyed the sympathies of fastidious Canadian fans. After the game Uellvud with ethereal sadness in his eyes wandered lonely backstage at the Arena Riga, recalling fifth-grader who transferred to another school and who have nothing to do with themselves on the break. Korrespondant dinamofans.ru (which, I must say, [was a] despairing fan of the Canucks in the year 1994) could not ask Kyle about a new turning point in his career ...

Kyle, you have already played three games in the "Atlanta." What are the first impressions of the Continental Hockey League?
Feel the major differences from the NHL game plan. Firstly, it is much more space, a little more than slow play, and most importantly, a huge number of very skilful players - it surprised most.

What were forced to leave Vancouver?
It's very simple - could not find a job in Vancouver. There was a proposal to play in the KHL - and here I am.

There were there any offers from other clubs in the KHL?
To be honest, I do not know. I was getting ready for the season in training camp in Phoenix, but to gain a foothold in the first team I could not. Then my agent asked me how I feel about the fact that the move to Russia. I replied "yes." Offer from Atlanta was the best at that time.

How do you feel a part of Atlant?
Until quite hard. We do not have the necessary "chemistry" in the team - this is a very serious problem.

Do you feel a player capable of solving problems, Atlant in the attack?
It should not only do I feel, and all five guys who are on site. I hope that this will happen, and that I can help the team.

You had ever been to Latvia?
No, first time here. In fact, I did not know much about Riga and Latvia, but a lot of guys from the team said that out of all cities KHL they like best to play it in Riga. I agree with them - are really cool!

Have to see the city?
Yes, although we only ride the bus to Riga. But tell you a secret: I will have the opportunity to walk around the city - because of visa problems, I'll be staying in Riga before Friday.

You had one match in Moscow, Minsk and Riga. What particularly memorable game in the capital of Latvia?
Well, first, the fans here in order louder. I noticed that you have plenty of its own, special chants, and chants of the whole stadium. Well, and was very impressed with this guy who went to the ice before the game - with a big head and all in lights.

With the famous Moscow traffic jams already had to face?
Yes, the very first day. I had to go to the checkup, I went to 6.30 and for three hours getting to the doctor's study. Very tired!

Do you further your career with a KHL?
Yes, I want to play a good season and has established itself in Russia. So far I like everything here - the guys are excellent, hockey ... hockey here in our performance, I hope, will be still a little in better.

A familiar face in North America in the KHL has not yet met?
That's just today - Michael Tellkvist. He and I played together in Toronto and St. John's, so I really know him well. Chatted with him on the rolling and after the game. Right now, maybe try to find [him]...

Well, thank you, good luck and looking Tellkvista!

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Interview 3: October 23, 2010, w/ Sportbox.ru

This interview follows an Atlant victory over Salavat Yulaev, a KHL team based in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Yes, their team name is not their location. In fact, it's a person--the leader of the Baskhir revolution, and therefore a national hero. Interesting. Salavat is loaded with former NHL notables, including Dmitri Kalinin, Alex Radulov, Canuck draft pick Kirill Kolstov, Victor Kozlov, and Senators draft pick Ilya Zubov, who made some waves last season for refusing to report to the Senators' affiliate in Binghamton. A poll on the left sidebar indicates that 2 HC Atlant fans feel that Wellwood is Atlant's best player. That sounds familiar. Two weirdly overzealous Wellwood fans with a complete lack of perspective, claiming he's awesome when the stats indicate otherwise? There is a Russian PITB. I don't think it's an official poll, mind you. Look at the third voting option.

Anyhow, this interview comes after the coaching change, and it's my guess that Wellwood isn't boasting when he compares Atlant's style to the New Jersey Devils.

You are playing against one of the strongest teams in Russia.
Yes, and it was visible. As part of the Ufa club serves many top players, especially impressive attack. But today we were able to oppose them with their own advantages.

In what period of the match you've had particularly difficult? Yes, throughout the game was very hard. Salavat constantly put pressure, but Barulin was able to reflect all of their shots. With a wall behind nothing is scary.

You have just recently moved to Russia. Already had such a short time to find a mutual understanding with our partners?
Just want to note that I like it here very much. Of course, at first it was a bit unusual, but I am slowly adapting to Russia. Yes, and problems with reading the game is almost not there.

Many players hard to rebuild after the NHL to Russian big box (ice surface). For large areas, even better to play than the smaller ones. Have more creative freedom, more opportunities to play the puck. So I'm in this transition can only see advantages. However, at sites in the NHL is fast.

Which of your previous commands more like Atlant? Toronto or Vancouver?
I'd rather be called our team the Russian New Jersey Devils. Why? We love to attack, and most importantly, know how to do it. We have a distinct leader and scorer in the person of Sergei Mozyakin, and the potential we can aim a blow at the highest awards this season.

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Interview 4: November 16, w/ Atlant press correspondent

In this one, Wellwood discloses, for the first time, that Phoenix actually offered him a two-way contract, but he turned it down. He discusses Russian food in a typically Wellwoodian moment, and in my favourite answer, admits the larger Russian ice surface might be better for him because he simply isn't a complete enough player for NHL ice. He talks about missing his family and his girlfriend back at home and how they're watching his games online, the way the media handled the Rypien incident, the looming potential NHL lockout, and women in the workplace. This is my favourite of the four interviews.

Preseason you've spent pretty cool, but still "Phoenix", where you were on the testing conditions, you have not picked up. Why?
Staying offered, but it would have been only two-way contract. I was not happy with.

Many people in your place would have stayed home and played in the AHL, waiting for his chance ...
No, the AHL - is passed stage. In the KHL, of course, everything is different: a big ice, requires more equipment and personal mastery. The game is, incidentally, a very lively and I really like. As regards the reasons for my decision, then several of them. The first is a new experience, which I regard as extremely positive. And play in the European area is like.

For your style, great ice is just the thing.
Yes, I'm not very technically and overall player.

What were your first impressions after arriving in Russia?
Food is very good (laughs). Of course, initially I was much surprised, because of differences with North America just a mass. I can say that the ride here I was not afraid of Russia have heard many good things. Language difficulties, however, seemed difficult, because those Canadians who have tried to learn Russian, said he was very difficult.

About Atlant know anything before?
Nothing. Neither the players nor the coaches nor the city had heard nothing. Just one day I was asked: "Do you want to play for Atlanta," and I replied: "Yes." Relatives have supported me. By the way, do not think that the KHL so easy to break - there is also a solid competition.

Kyle, now Russia's youth team will hold its traditional series of matches against teams of junior leagues. You were once a star of the League of Ontario and even won the prize of top scorer. Tell that to the prize.
It was 10 years ago, I played for the Bellville Bulls. The trophy is called "Eddie Powers Memorial Trophy and awarded to the person who attains the most points - I scored, I think, 118. By the way, our team was the only ice rink in the league of great European sizes. It was since then and I love the European court.

You had a stellar hockey youth, but further career has stood out quite difficult. You do not gnaw hurtful thoughts that you are not a star NHL and play in Russia?
No, it's a good experience. Of course, I like the NHL, but to gain a foothold in this league is very difficult. KHL - the second in the world, and here too, good hockey, so I feel no resentment on that score.

Your family comes to visit you?
It's hard to say. My girlfriend is still there, and my parents watching games on the Internet.

What are some contacts with his former NHL club - "Vancouver", "Toronto", "Phoenix" - support?
With former teammates sometimes communicate, but no more.

You've probably heard about the incident between the striker Canucks' Rick Rypien and fans Minnesota. Rypien lashed out at the audience applauded his removal, and thus earned a disqualification ...
Yes, I know about it - especially watching this moment on Youtube. Rypien is actually a normal guy, and you should not do in this case caused a sensation. This is a good reason for journalists to inflate the "big deal". In America, this pretty often.

Kyle, in the NHL in the current off-season there was not the easiest situation for the players - a lot of good players left without contracts, some veterans have finished his career, though could still play. In your opinion, how likely lockout after in September 2012 completed a collective agreement?
The lockout is quite likely. Players hardly satisfied with the situation, and large payments to the reserve fund, many feel that they should earn more. The owners of clubs, respectively, a second opinion. In the NHL club can not have more than 50 players on contracts, including players from the farm, so free agents today is not sweet.

And one last question: I heard that your mom Donna is working firefighters. Is this true?
Yes. And that surprise you?

[In] Russia, [this] is a very unusual profession for a woman.
In Canada, it is in the order of things, we women work, and loggers and miners.

Mom likes her profession?
Of course!

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Note: Special hat-tip to Irene, our favourite bilingual Bulie. God bless her, she understands the Cyrillic alphabet well enough to search the Russian Internet (it surfs you) for Wellwood content. In her own words, "These are tough to find since they have a different alphabet, [and] especially because, with no 'W' in their language, they've come up with about 6 different ways of spelling Wellwood." Thanks to Irene for overcoming the obstacles this world continually places between Kyle Wellwood and our hearts.

Wellwood's World Chapter 3: To Russia with Love

If you follow Kyle Wellwood news as closely as we do (and why wouldn't you?), you will have already heard the sad news: our favorite Ayn-Rand-reading, no-TV-watching, no-minor-penalty-taking little warrior will be taking his talents to Mytischi to play for Atlant Moscow Oblast.

Despite a strong showing during the Phoenix Coyotes training camp, he was outplayed by top prospect Kyle Turris in the preseason, and could not earn himself a contract. He only managed 2 points in 5 games and in his final preseason game he had no points and was a -2. Turris, on the other hand, had 3 points in 4 games, with a goal and a +2 in his final game. It came down to Harrison's favorite word in regards to Wellwood: "results."

His one preseason goal was typically Wellwoodian, as he stick-handled the puck directly into the goal on the powerplay (goal at 0:19, replay at 1:26), which the boxscore generously labeled a wrist shot. Also available in that clip is a brief interview with Kyle at 0:55, as well as some praise from no less a source than Shane Doan at 1:14. Unfortunately, after this lofty day, Wellwood came crashing back to earth. With the signing of Eric Belanger, the spots on Phoenix's roster were limited, and they opted to go with the young prospect rather than the cagey vet.

It's hard to disagree with GM Don Maloney's decision, but it's also hard to see Kyle Wellwood's last chance to play in the NHL this season slip away. On the plus side, in the KHL he'll get a chance to skate alongside another former-Canuck oddball, Jan Bulis! The Kurtenblog accurately predicted that this would please us, as Atlant immediately becomes our favorite KHL team.

Wellwood will be the only Canadian on the roster, but not the only North American, as American Jeff Hamilton, who played 157 games in the NHL, has also reportedly signed with Atlant. Wellwood will easily slot into their top-six with Nikolai Zherdev leaving the team in the off-season for a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers. In fact, Kyle could fit into the top line between top KHL scorer Sergei Mozyakin and Jan Bulis. Kyle's shiftiness and stickhandling skills will serve him well on the larger ice surface in the KHL and he should be able to rack up some sizable point totals and hopefully find his way back to the NHL next season.

We'll keep a close eye on Wellwood and Atlant throughout the season through the magic of Google Translate, unless we're able to find a legitimate translator to help us navigate Wellwood's new world.

Wellwood's World Chapter 2: The Oppressive Angst of Waiting

Oftentimes, no news is good news. That is definitely not the case when you're an NHL free agent in the off-season. And when you're a hockey blogger who happens to be a fan of said NHL free agent, no news is excruciating.

We here at Pass it To Bulis! have made no secret of our love for Kyle Wellwood in all his weirdness (though I can't speak for newest PiTB-er, Qris). We think he's nifty and neat, to say the least. And we promised monthly updates with the first chapter of Wellwood's World in July. Unfortunately, it's one month later and there's very little material with which to update.

I certainly thought we'd be discussing his signing with an NHL club in this August chapter of Wellwood's World; don't other NHL teams know he's a defensive superstar? Don't they know he's a mutant with undisclosed superpowers? Don't they know he has 13 points in his last 22 playoff games? Don't they know his faceoff percentage was 53.8%, good for 18th in the NHL?

There aren't even any good rumors floating around. The Vancouver Sun could only manage an article about how tough it is for Kyle Wellwood to still be unsigned at this point in the off-season. In other words, they turned the lack of news into news. Just like I turned the lack of news into a blogpost.

Wellwood hasn't let the angst of free agency get him down (he's likely instead pondering the meaning of free agency in a world that seems intent on defining humanity by limiting real, meaningful choices and instead providing the illusion of choice) and indeed seems to be developing a marked sense of grandeur:

“Obviously, Europe has been after me for a long time and I haven't wanted to go there yet.”

That's the spirit of individualism! All of Europe has been after Kyle, but he has made his own choice to use his talents as he sees fit! Who is John Galt? It seems that he is, after all, Kyle Wellwood!

Wait, he's just talking about the European hockey leagues? Well nevermind then. Here's a picture of a Kyle Wellwood Mii my wife and I made.

Wellwood's World (Chapter I)

Amidst all the big news about recent Canuck acquisitions, awards achieved, prospects camp, the draft, and everything else that's made this offseason fairly interesting, we may be losing sight of the fact that some beloved Canuck alumni are on their way out the door. For us at PiTB!, the greatest of these is Kyle Wellwood. Despite all the things he did well (stickhandling, faceoffs, getting the puck out of the defensive zone, fancy passing), Wellwood was overshadowed by the things he did poorly (shooting, physical presence, being normal, regular passing), and will most likely not be back. While he was unfairly maligned, and actually did a surprisingly excellent job filling the Canucks third-line center position, Wellwood never did enough to impress us on the ice. That his incredible skill rarely translated into tangible results was stupefying, and that his coach would have gleefully replaced him with any other center capable of the job was evident. But somehow, for two years, Wellwood held the spot. Skeeter appreciated what he brought more than I: looking at the stats, he was incredible defensively, despite what it looked like. I tended to flip-flop, often arguing he needed to go for not producing, right up until he scored a big goal or, more often, made a neat play that resulted in nothing. From a stats perspective, he was not incredible offensively, his 18-goal season aside. (Wellwood fancied himself a playmaking center, but only got 20 assists in two seasons with Vancouver.) Hockey or Die was downright baffled by his presence in the NHL.

What Skeeter and I both agreed on, however, was that Kyle Wellwood was weird. He was pudgy. He rarely emoted, and when he did, it looked like this. He had a soft spot for Ayn Rand's lesser works. He used a little, teeny-weeny hockey stick that made it easy to handle the puck and impossible to shoot it with any velocity. Photos indicated he didn't care much about women, preferring to ogle spaghetti, read a book, or be confused by them. Contrasted with Kesler, he appeared to be the least competitive hockey player ever, once remarking that he could not understand how Ryan could take the game so seriously. Wellwood was a strange bird.

And we loved him. We mourn for his loss. We want him back and we are fighting back the urge to be happy with the Manny Malhotra signing. Only Welly satisfies.

So here's what's going to happen: we're not going to let him go. Something tells me Kyle Wellwood is going to find another hockey team looking for a strange center, be it in the NHL (doubtful), the AHL (perhaps), or Europe (ding ding ding!). And wherever he goes, we're going to follow his career in a little feature that we would like to call Wellwood's World. Watch for the Wellwood's World update at least once a month going forward.

And Kyle, if you ever find this blog, let us know you love us as much as we love you.