Why Wouldn\'t Leafs Qualify Wellwood?

[Leafsin2030]

I know he\'s injury prone and had lousy conditioning, but why wouldn\'t the Leafs tender Wellwood (an RFA) a qualifying offer? It would have only been a $1MM offer and it would have allowed them to keep his RFA rights. Surely SOMEONE would take a gamble on this guy and signed him to an offer sheet and they could have gotten compensation (if he is offerred $1.18MM from another team the Leafs could have gotten a 2nd round pick).

I suppose the risk would have been that Wellwood could have accepted the qualifying offer, and then the Leafs would be stuck with him at $1MM. How big a risk is that? He stinks out the joint again and they waive him. If nobody bites, he goes to the Marlies.

Am I missing something here?

[Dakkster]

I completely agree with each and every point in your post. Waiving him is just a strange move. I understand why they would want to unload him, but in a worst case scenario (if they qualify him) they could get a draft pick for him in a trade. Apparently that will not be the case now. Poor management of assets.

[ridinryan44]

sentium wrote:

Poor management of assets.

does this not go hand in hand with the \"Toronto Maple Leafs\"
Man it\'s tough being a nucks fan, but SHIT i am SO glad i am not a leaf\'s fan.. no offence!!!

[Demon77]

I think Fletcher is trying to change the nucleus of his team as much as he can. Since most of his players have no trade clauses, thanks to JFJ. He is pretty limited in his options.

Wellwood is a decent player but the Leafs won\'t be much worse without him.

[mblava]

What do you have to do to get a good draft pick next year??

LOSE!!

So thus, sending Wellwood off along with his skills and injury prone abilities, helps the cause.

LOSING!!

p.s. Have fun Ron Wilson.....

[Zorro]

Ya I am surprised Fletcher wouldn\'t have tried to trade Wellwood, but then again maybe he did and nobody wanted him??
I can\'t see them getting NO bites..

Personally I am happy to see him go, I thought he was a punk. Never hit anybody, never really did much of anything. And he was in poor condition.

This ain\'t the OHL anymore Welly, time to grow up.. Maybe he will learn from this.?
Z..

[Fighting_Emu]

Yeah- good points, I was scratching my head at that one.

Maybe it was a publicity move. They\'ve made their declaration for change and are struggling to do anything signifigant at this point. The fans and media were screaming for blood at the end of the season- they\'d have a bit of egg on their face if they didn\'t do anything...

Could be off base, but thats all I could figure...

[lockedge]

He wouldn\'t play in Toronto. Ron Wilson wouldn\'t let him with Kyle\'s work ethic. Unless, of course, he had a large contract and Ron was forced to play him.