Kyle Wellwood when he was still a member of the Vancouver Canucks.LYLE STAFFORD/Reuters
Hockey fans relate to Kyle Wellwood.
He's short. He's battled the bulge. And for every step forward, there has been a step back.
"I'm always struggling," Wellwood said. "Even though I know I'm doing my best."
That second part has been questioned with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks, and it will again be tested in the NHL.
Wellwood, 27, signed with the St. Louis Blues earlier this week, but was claimed on waivers by the battle-weary San Jose Sharks, who needed lineup reinforcements and were more than happy to rob a Western Conference rival. His second resurrection began Thursday right back in Vancouver, where his NHL career stalled last spring when the Canucks fell to the Chicago Blackhawks in a second-round playoff series.
Even after a second strong postseason, Wellwood couldn't find a guaranteed job in free agency, had to settle for a tryout with the Phoenix Coyotes (unsuccessful), and ultimately packed his bags for Russia's Continental Hockey League.
He eventually learned where to get haircuts and ripe oranges, and how to avoid the stray dogs that roamed the streets at night, but he didn't want to be a part of the KHL's culture of constant roster shuffling, so he spurned opportunities to switch teams and waited for his release. He wasn't playing much, anyways.
"Certainly, you feel like you're on the outside when you're not in [the NHL]" he said. "Most guys in the league, who aren't superstars, feel like it's always a grind. And I know it's always going to be difficult out there."
Unquestionably, the 180-pound Wellwood, listed generously at 5 foot 10, has an underdog quality. He's your kid brother with an aw-shucks manner.
You could pass him the grocery store without a second look, but if you did recognize him, you'd check to see what's in the cart. This week, he has bristled about recollections of fat jokes from his two-year tenure with the Canucks, but in truth, his faults humanized him.
He arrived as a waiver-claim from the Leafs, where he was once a prospect blessed with magical hands. They are his most redeeming NHL quality, and because of them, he became a top junior player without having to complete his game.
But in Toronto, Wellwood couldn't overcome his physical limitations. He was never going to grow upwards, and when he began growing sideways, the Leafs cut bait.
The Windsor, Ont., native reported to Canucks camp at nearly 200 pounds in September of 2008, was put on a conditioning program, and eventually resuscitated his career. It took 19 games, and another threat from head coach Alain Vigneault, before Wellwood scored his first goal as a Canuck, and when the empty-netter went in, the hometown crowd gave him a standing ovation.
The point totals never came, but Wellwood turned himself into a reliable all-around player - limitations and all.
"Management is great, it's an awesome place to play, and I feel fortunate to have had two years there," he said when asked to summate his time in Vancouver. "I learned a lot about hockey and living."
Thursday, Vigneault praised Wellwood for his down-low coverage and short, manageable passes in the defensive zone, and for his ability to find passing lanes when running a power play. Sharks coach Todd McLellan listed his faceoff and shootout prowess among attributes that warranted a waiver claim, particularly since "down the stretch, shootout points are going to be very important."
Asked about his latest last chance, Wellwood just shrugged in his nonchalant way, and gave an everyman answer with not a hint of urgency in his voice.
"I'll keep showing up and doing my best," he said.