Solid debut for Wellwood
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Flyers Report: Broad Street Bull
Solid debut for Wellwood
Sam Carchidi, Inquirer Staff Writer
Eric Wellwood didn’t score, but he didn’t look out of place in his NHL debut Monday night.
In fact, the speedy 20-year-old left winger contributed more than anyone could have expected in the Flyers’ 3-2 win over Carolina.
Wellwood, who looks like he’s 17, had a team-high six shots and two hits while playing on a line with Mike Richards and James van Riemsdyk.
He was recalled from AHL Adirondack earlier in the day because of Danny Briere’s suspension.
“I haven’t had enough time to take it all in yet,” he said after the game. “But I think my first period, I was just nervous and I made some mistakes that I usually don’t make. By the third period I felt a lot more comfortable, Hopefully I can keep things going.”
After he shook off the nerves, “I felt I got my game underneath my feet and I could use my speed to my advantage a little more,” he said. “I had a lot of shots but [the puck] just didn’t go in.”
Selected in the sixth round of the 2009 draft, Wellwood felt at home with his new teammates, saying he was “shocked by how much they embraced me and it was really nice to see. It made me feel a lot more comfortable.”
The Flyers got two goals from Scott Hartnell and one from Claude Giroux. (Memo to GM Paul Holmgren: Sign Giroux to a long-term contract as quickly as possible.)
“I really liked Wellwood; I think he played very well tonight,” Giroux said. “He battled hard and I think the whole team did.”
Said Hartnell: “It was good for Wellwood to get his first game. He played well and could have had two or three goals himself.”
Wellwood has good bloodlines. His brother, Kyle, played five seasons in the NHL _ he scored 63 goals in 338 games with Toronto and Vancouver _ and is now playing in Russia.
Breakaways. The Flyers killed all three Carolina PPs. The Flyers penalty killers have killed 15 straight power plays in the last three games.....The Flyers have won four straight…..Monday was their third game in four nights….The Flyers won a season-high 61 percent of their face-offs, with Jeff Carter (65 percent), Giroux (61 percent) and Mike Richards (60 percent) leading the way….Matt Carle had a game-high five blocked shots…..The Flyers host the Rangers on Thursday.
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No way they get Ryan (i'd love to see him as a flyer as well). Anaheim signed him to the same amount of years as his other first line mates to keep them together for a couple of years.
— the sichee-ation- Homer needs to let every NHL team know that Carter is available and then see which teams have interest and get it done. I would still like to see a true winger in exchange for him, and see if they can get Bobby Ryan from ANA, who I think would be a terric fit on this team.— BobbyD
- Agree with everyone, give Giroux a long-term Richards type deal. Carter should be traded by the deadline; for someone who's supposed to be our lead goal scorer he shores whiffs on a lot of shots. The flyers need to keep Wellwood in the lineup and send JVR down. JVR's been nothing but a dissapointment this season.
— the sichee-ation - I do agree with you Americanitis. Good year to be a flyer fan! I'm actually pleasantly surprised at Carcillo's play. He's been good....brings grit, energy, some skill, and physical toughness. Just needs to stay out of the box, which he's done.
Sign Giroux as long as possible. Be patient with JVR - when he grows into himself, he's going to be brutal like Lindros, but with some durability. Trade Carter after this season if possible for a couple top-6 wingers. Or leave him at wing if not - he can probably do 35+ there too. Seriously - this team has the kinds of problems other teams WISH they had - which awesome players to sign longterm and which to trade for other, cheaper awesome players. Great season to be a Flyers fan, that's for sure! I understand it's normal in Philly to be pessimistic and grouchy just waiting for the other suckee shoe to drop, but this team has it all right now. enjoy it! Great gritty and skilled forwards, speed, best d-corp in the NHL, and good goaltending rotation. Stop crying and start cheering!- michael zoe- dude seriuosly get over your man crush on Guerin. he used to be great BUT HE IS DONE OR SOMEONEWOULD HAVE SIGNED HIM JEEEEE...SSUS— debbyt
- Eric Wellwood's scouting report is good!!! Can you believe we've never heard of this kid and the Flyers got him in the 6th??? One issue is that he is rated a 7 "C", which means he could drop. He's a bubble guy. Hit or miss. The upside is that he's projected to be a "very solid two way forward on an NHL team." This sounds like the Modano (star) + Leithen (multiple Selke winner, 20+ goal scorer) team. Richards and Wellwood? Wouldn't hurt to have Billy Guerin on that line. My bets are Zherdev doesn't last the season and if JVR doesn't produce, he's gone to the AHL or another team.— MichaelZoe
- I've reserved judgement and read all of the scouting reports. Hockey's Futures says that JVR has the tools to be a first line player, maybe drop a notch. Praises his skating. So, I give him 10 games -- then send him to the AHL for some tough love. He is just invisible right now on the ice.
— MichaelZoe - Seriously, the GM and Coach need to be taken to task for what they've done with Richards. He never has a steady linemate. Does he just not have chemistry with anyone? Is it his fault? This is the problem when you have 4 former first round picks in the lineup that are still young; they need vet leaders. Hmm..sorta like when Pitts got Guerin, Fedatenko, Sykora, Kunitz and Adams (all Cup winners) to compliment their young stars (Crosby, Malkin and Staal)? They won a Cup and lost in the Final. We got Carcillo, Pylora, and Nodl. Nice.— MichaelZoe
- I just heard Holmgrem is packaging Giroux, 6 first round picks, Bob the Goalie and Kevin Marshall for Rick Tocchet and Wendel Clark.— MichaelZoe
- 67Flyer - the Flyers have had a guy like Giroux, only they traded him in the Lindros deal, only to get him back at the end of his career. The parallels between Claude Giroux and Peter Forsberg are uncanny! We just can't let this one get away.— BrdStBully37
- What's wrong with JVR, it seems like he is working hard but maybe he just does not have the magic touch? Sam, can you shed some light on this guy?— Fabulous
- Send the memo to G's agent, who is probably salivating and will wait as long as possible for his value to increase before even returning Homer's phone calls. That's a kid they need to protect from goons (Avery, I'm looking your way). Every time he undresses the opposition, the bounty on his head's going up.
- Went to the game last night and was very impressed with Wellwood. Which brings me to his linemate last night. I know it was a very poor draft class the year he was taken #2 overall. But being able to watch JVR away from the play....he can barley skate. I just kept waiting all night for Carcillo to be moved up to his line.
— chham57 - Do not try and sign Carter, trade him while his value is still high. Get one of the clowns from the Kings for him.— kozykoz26
- JVR needs to be benched! Wellwood played pretty well last night...speed and energy. JVR is seriously on the verge of "bust" status.
- Flyers have NEVER had a guy like Giroux. They have had shooters and hard-working guys that got assists but Giroux creates his own space and can score. I know we don't like Zherdev but with him and Giroux...that will equal goals and Giroux plays both ends of the ice.— 67Flyer
- I was at the game last night, and Giroux's just a freak of nature. Sign him until he's 90. He'd probably still be able to deke.— elpel
- Couldn't agree more. We need to lock up Giroux fast, hes on the verge of becoming a superstar. We are kind of lucky that he didn't break out completely the last couple of years, maybe we can get him on the cheaper side for a long-term deal. All I know is, it makes zero sense to lock up Carter right now, he is the fourth best center and this team only needs 3 centers. I believe Carter is a restricted FA next year, so they can either trade him or let him play the rest of the year out on his current deal and move him in the offseason. With Richie and Briere both making 5+ million and Giroux sure to make in the 3-4 range, it makes no sense to sign Carter who will surely get at least 5 million a year.— robm0202
- Giroux needs to be signed, theres honestly a chance he moves to a superstar level, he has crosby playmaking skill and can score goals. and hes 22.— xMikelaw19
- Giroux needs to be signed, theres honestly a chance he moves to a superstar level, he has crosby playmaking skill and can score goals. and hes 22.— xMikelaw19
- Giroux needs to be signed, theres honestly a chance he moves to a superstar level, he has crosby playmaking skill and can score goals. and hes 22.— xMikelaw19
- Note to holmgren please sign giroux before you attempt to sign carter long term.— db1
