Here is Part II of my postmortem on my playoff predictions (Part I can be found here), covering my Round 3 and Stanley Cup Final picks. Again, I know this happened a long time ago, but many things prevented me from prioritizing the revisitation of my playoff picks.
As per my regular season prediction evaluations, I will use the following scale to evaluate my selections:
A - Nailed the pick exactly right
B - In the ballpark but not right on
C - A pretty misguided pick, but you can kind of understand why I made it
F - Epic fail
Round 3 - Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (6)
Predicted: Penguins in 7
Actual: Penguins in 4
Grade: C-
Yeah I picked the team right, but I thought this would be a WAY closer series than it was. This series marked the playoff coming-out party for Evgeni Malkin, who had 6 goals and 3 assists in the four games, including this hat-trick effort in Game 2:
And because that third goal was so amazing, let's watch it one more time:
Round 3 - Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings (2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (4)
Predicted: Red Wings in 6
Actual: Red Wings in 5
Grade: B
Having learned my lesson about underestimating the Blackhawks, I thought they would give Detroit a tougher time than they did. In the end the Wings were too good and too experienced to make the mistakes that cost the Canucks their Round 2 series against the 'Hawks.
Stanley Cup Final
Detroit Red Wings vs. Pittsburgh Penguins
Predicted: Penguins in 7
Actual: Penguins in 7
Grade: A+
I picked this before the series began, but was unable to post due to some computer issues while I was traveling. I stuck with my pick despite the Red Wings winning the first two games and appearing to have a pretty strong lock on their second straight Cup. So I give myself a little extra credit for having the option of bailing on my pick, but sticking with it and in the end getting it right on. And here is the conclusion to what was a fantastic 2009 NHL Playoffs*:
* Watching this again makes me remember how ridiculously dramatic Game 7 was! What a great playoffs all round.
Showing posts with label Chicago Blackhawks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chicago Blackhawks. Show all posts
Monday, August 24, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
We're Number 4?
Okay, I'm done all of my work for my Masters, so let's get back into some hockey after a long summer hiatus! What better way to kick it off then with some positive news, or at least a reason for optimism. Or skepticism.
Ross McKeon of Yahoo! Sports released his mid-summer Power Rankings, in which he ranks all 30 NHL teams. And guess who sits at Number 4? From McKeon's column:
4. Vancouver Canucks – You want an early Calder Trophy candidate? Remember the name Cody Hodgson, the 19-year-old center the Canucks drafted 10th overall in 2008. He’s got a great chance not only to make Vancouver’s opening-night roster, but to excel right off the bat. Oh, and don’t be surprised if Mats Sundin returns to Vancouver once he decides he’s not done yet.
Aside from his apparent inside knowledge and/or speculation about Mats Sundin, McKeon's main reason for ranking the Canucks this high seems to be Cody Hodgson. Now I'm as excited as anyone for his arrival, but I think that Canucks fans need to be cautious about expecting too much from a kid who is two years away from being able to buy a beer when the Canucks are on the road against 24 of the NHL's teams. The signs point toward Hodgson becoming a Linden-esque franchise cornerstone, but he clearly has a lot to accomplish before meeting such expectations. And expecting him to have an all-star rookie season may be bit much. If he gets 60 points I will be ecstatic about his potential.
So, not to be a downer, but I think McKeon may have overestimated the Canucks' fortunes. I think they have a decent chance to beat out Calgary for the Northwest Division crown. I do not anticipate them being better than every Western Conference team except the Chicago Blackhawks. Sorry, but the Canucks have a lot to prove before you can put them ahead of the Detroit Red Wings or even the San Jose Sharks. And I'm not certain that, as things stand, they're necessarily better than the Anaheim Ducks or the Flames.
I don't know the last time the 'Nucks would have placed this high in any kind of ranking. Certainly not since the West Coast Express era, assuming a sane person was compiling the rankings. Maybe I'm uneasy with too much preseason Canucks hype because I feel like it setting them up to fail. 20+ years as a Canucks fan has made me suspicious of claims about the greatness of a given squad. Based on the Canucks' two best results (1982 and 1994) it seems like our best moments come when no one expects them.
Friday, May 15, 2009
2009 Playoffs: Round Three Predictions
Hmmm. So I might have been wrong about the Blackhawks. And the Hurricanes. Oh well, life goes on - and as a Canucks fan that usually means not having your team in the playoffs at this time of year. Here are my predictions for the Conference Finals:
Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (6) - Penguins in 7
Ah yes, a classic 4 vs. 6 seed match-up in the Conference Finals. But more importantly it's a Staal vs. Staal series, as brothers Jordan and Eric face each other (anyone remember the Russ vs. Geoff Courtnall/Stars vs. Canucks series in 1994?) Both these teams should scare the bejeezers out of each other. The 'Canes have overcome two great teams, including the conference champion Bruins, and have lived up to their nickename Cardiac 'Canes for their improbable ability to win last-minute or OT games in the clutch. The Pens, meanwhile, are looking like a more mature version of last year's squad that bowed out in the Stanley Cup Final. Sidney Crosby is playing unreal, while Evgeni Malkin is hit-and-miss - but when he's "hit" he is amazing. Marc-Andre Fleury looked shaky at times, but also made huge saves such as this game-changing one early in Game Seven against the Capitals:
I think Pittsburgh is the better team, but Carolina has been proving its critics wrong all playoffs and the Penguins would be very, very wise not to underestimate them like the Devils and Bruins may have been guilty of.
Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings (2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (4) - Red Wings in 6
Who knows how this could play out? The 'Hawks showed a ridiculous resiliancy and ability to come back from deficits against the Canucks and the Flames. But the Red Wings are better and more experienced than either of those Northwest Division squads, and I think the Blackhawks are due for a reality check against a team will be far less likely to stunningly implode than its two earlier opponents. Still... betting against the 'Hawks feels like a risky proposition. But I'm taking the Wings and calling a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Final.
Eastern Conference
Pittsburgh Penguins (4) vs. Carolina Hurricanes (6) - Penguins in 7
Ah yes, a classic 4 vs. 6 seed match-up in the Conference Finals. But more importantly it's a Staal vs. Staal series, as brothers Jordan and Eric face each other (anyone remember the Russ vs. Geoff Courtnall/Stars vs. Canucks series in 1994?) Both these teams should scare the bejeezers out of each other. The 'Canes have overcome two great teams, including the conference champion Bruins, and have lived up to their nickename Cardiac 'Canes for their improbable ability to win last-minute or OT games in the clutch. The Pens, meanwhile, are looking like a more mature version of last year's squad that bowed out in the Stanley Cup Final. Sidney Crosby is playing unreal, while Evgeni Malkin is hit-and-miss - but when he's "hit" he is amazing. Marc-Andre Fleury looked shaky at times, but also made huge saves such as this game-changing one early in Game Seven against the Capitals:
I think Pittsburgh is the better team, but Carolina has been proving its critics wrong all playoffs and the Penguins would be very, very wise not to underestimate them like the Devils and Bruins may have been guilty of.
Western Conference
Detroit Red Wings (2) vs. Chicago Blackhawks (4) - Red Wings in 6
Who knows how this could play out? The 'Hawks showed a ridiculous resiliancy and ability to come back from deficits against the Canucks and the Flames. But the Red Wings are better and more experienced than either of those Northwest Division squads, and I think the Blackhawks are due for a reality check against a team will be far less likely to stunningly implode than its two earlier opponents. Still... betting against the 'Hawks feels like a risky proposition. But I'm taking the Wings and calling a rematch of last year's Stanley Cup Final.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Hangover
Ugh.
Yeah, it happened. And I am not happy about it.
I will have to write more about it I guess, but my off-the-cuff thoughts right now (it's 2:00 AM) about the series:
First off, I will give the 'Hawks credit - whenever it seemed like a normal team would quit, they just kept coming. I was entirely sick of the whole "they're so young they don't know any better" judgment that infused the Hockey Night broadcasts, but there is no doubting that the youthful enthusiasm of the 'Hawks carried them through the rough times and helped spark their remarkable comebacks.
I was not thrilled with the officiating in the past few games. Yes, I am biased in the Canucks favour. But it seemed to me that the Canucks had a number of marginal calls go against them, while at times the Blackhawks had to be one degree removed from bloody murder to get a penalty. I do not think that this was a conspiracy or anything like that, I just think that the Canucks got a bit ulucky in terms of what the refs did and didn't see/call.
The two-seconds-after-the-pass hit on Alex Edler in the first set up a 2-on-1 break for the 'Hawks that could have caused a goal, despite the blatant interference. Ryan Kesler got brutally laid out on a completely unnecessary hit that went uncalled, despite the fact that Kesler was down and bloodied for some time. When the Canucks responded with a similar hit by Rick Rypien they got whistled for it. Meanwhile, the "hooking" call on Shane O'Brien in the 3rd was marginal at best.
The Canucks did not lose because of the officiating. They lost because of what Chicago did when they had the chance. The 'Hawks turn the screw like no other team I've seen before. But as a fan, it was tough to see what seemed to be inconsistent officiating give the 'Hawks multiple opportunities to get back into games the Canucks might have otherwise closed out.
I am still steamed over the "hook" on Dustin Byfuglien in Game 2, which was in fact Byfuglien just losing his footing and smashing into Roberto Luongo, that gave the 'Hawks a powerplay with the Canucks up 2-1. A half-minute later the Canucks shot the puck over the glass, giving Chicago a 2-man advantage upon which they converted to tie a game they would go on to win.
Anyway, I am probably just bitter at this point. I don't feel that the Blackhawks did not deserve to win the series... but similarly, I do not feel that the Canucks deserved to lose it. And the way in which they lost was extremely frustrating.
These Chicago Blackhawks make me think of what I imagine the 1980s Edmonton Oilers were like. It doesn't matter the score, they just keep coming at you again and again, and the capitalize on any mistake you make. I don't know that they will be good enough to knock off Detroit (or maybe Anaheim) in the conference finals, but I do think that they are the most terrifying team left in the post-season. No lead is ever safe against this team.
So here's to the Canucks 08-09 Edition, a team that fit Prototype B of Canucks squads - lovable losers who overachieve (Prototype A is lovable losers who underachieve, but this team only comes around once or twice every decade).
If someone told me in September that the 'Nucks would make it to Game Six of the Round Two I would have seen that as a reasonable and respectable conclusion to the season for this version of the team. Unfortunately, expectations were raised due the Canucks fantastic last few months of the season and quick dispatch of St. Louis in Round One. But, if we can improve from here (ie. Gillis re-signs the Sedins, Luongo plays a brilliant and healthy season, and Cody Hodgson plays like Steve Yzerman Jr.) then who knows how next season will go? Right?
'Cause, well, "next season!" has been the only rallying cry I've ever known as a Canucks fan.
Yeah, it happened. And I am not happy about it.
I will have to write more about it I guess, but my off-the-cuff thoughts right now (it's 2:00 AM) about the series:
First off, I will give the 'Hawks credit - whenever it seemed like a normal team would quit, they just kept coming. I was entirely sick of the whole "they're so young they don't know any better" judgment that infused the Hockey Night broadcasts, but there is no doubting that the youthful enthusiasm of the 'Hawks carried them through the rough times and helped spark their remarkable comebacks.
I was not thrilled with the officiating in the past few games. Yes, I am biased in the Canucks favour. But it seemed to me that the Canucks had a number of marginal calls go against them, while at times the Blackhawks had to be one degree removed from bloody murder to get a penalty. I do not think that this was a conspiracy or anything like that, I just think that the Canucks got a bit ulucky in terms of what the refs did and didn't see/call.
The two-seconds-after-the-pass hit on Alex Edler in the first set up a 2-on-1 break for the 'Hawks that could have caused a goal, despite the blatant interference. Ryan Kesler got brutally laid out on a completely unnecessary hit that went uncalled, despite the fact that Kesler was down and bloodied for some time. When the Canucks responded with a similar hit by Rick Rypien they got whistled for it. Meanwhile, the "hooking" call on Shane O'Brien in the 3rd was marginal at best.
The Canucks did not lose because of the officiating. They lost because of what Chicago did when they had the chance. The 'Hawks turn the screw like no other team I've seen before. But as a fan, it was tough to see what seemed to be inconsistent officiating give the 'Hawks multiple opportunities to get back into games the Canucks might have otherwise closed out.
I am still steamed over the "hook" on Dustin Byfuglien in Game 2, which was in fact Byfuglien just losing his footing and smashing into Roberto Luongo, that gave the 'Hawks a powerplay with the Canucks up 2-1. A half-minute later the Canucks shot the puck over the glass, giving Chicago a 2-man advantage upon which they converted to tie a game they would go on to win.
Anyway, I am probably just bitter at this point. I don't feel that the Blackhawks did not deserve to win the series... but similarly, I do not feel that the Canucks deserved to lose it. And the way in which they lost was extremely frustrating.
These Chicago Blackhawks make me think of what I imagine the 1980s Edmonton Oilers were like. It doesn't matter the score, they just keep coming at you again and again, and the capitalize on any mistake you make. I don't know that they will be good enough to knock off Detroit (or maybe Anaheim) in the conference finals, but I do think that they are the most terrifying team left in the post-season. No lead is ever safe against this team.
So here's to the Canucks 08-09 Edition, a team that fit Prototype B of Canucks squads - lovable losers who overachieve (Prototype A is lovable losers who underachieve, but this team only comes around once or twice every decade).
If someone told me in September that the 'Nucks would make it to Game Six of the Round Two I would have seen that as a reasonable and respectable conclusion to the season for this version of the team. Unfortunately, expectations were raised due the Canucks fantastic last few months of the season and quick dispatch of St. Louis in Round One. But, if we can improve from here (ie. Gillis re-signs the Sedins, Luongo plays a brilliant and healthy season, and Cody Hodgson plays like Steve Yzerman Jr.) then who knows how next season will go? Right?
'Cause, well, "next season!" has been the only rallying cry I've ever known as a Canucks fan.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Desperation Time for Canucks Fans : DO WHAT YA GOTTA DO
Alright Canucks fans, it's backs-against-the-wall time. It'll be tough to take two straight against the 'Hawks, but I have faith that the boys can pull it off.
So far in this series the Canucks have won both games I've watched at a bar, and lost the three I watched at home or at a friend's place. So, naturally, I will be returning to the same bar where I watched Games One and Three for the game tomorrow night. Not that I'm superstitious or anything.
I am also going to wear every piece of Vancouver Canucks clothing I own (not including items in storage) as well as boxers with shamrocks on them - all in the hopes that it will help support the Canucks to a huge victory! It will look ridiculous, but that's fine - the playoffs are not about fashion (perhaps that's why Sean Avery's teams never go anywhere in the post-season?). My outfit will look something like this:
Aside from the shoes, socks, jeans and belt, every piece of clothing is Canucks/shamrock related (the boxers will NOT be Britney-style over the pants, they're just there for the photo). I will have my Canucks hoodie on underneath my jersey, and be wearing my hat. Not sure if I will actually wear the scarf the whole night, but I may. The towel will be waving at every opportune moment, the view of the people behind me be damned.
So that's what I feel I've gotta do. My message to Canucks fans is "DO WHAT YA GOTTA DO!"
If you believe in voodoo then poke the hell out of your Nikolai Khabibulin and Dustin Byfuglien dolls. If you are superstitious then stick a horseshoe on a lucky rabbit's foot and hope for the best. Personally, I never ever pray for the outcome of a sporting event - but if you're religious and feel comfortable praying for a Canucks victory then by all means ask for a little divine assistance!
Here's hoping for a Game Six victory and a chance to take the series back here on home ice. GO CANUCKS!!!
So far in this series the Canucks have won both games I've watched at a bar, and lost the three I watched at home or at a friend's place. So, naturally, I will be returning to the same bar where I watched Games One and Three for the game tomorrow night. Not that I'm superstitious or anything.
I am also going to wear every piece of Vancouver Canucks clothing I own (not including items in storage) as well as boxers with shamrocks on them - all in the hopes that it will help support the Canucks to a huge victory! It will look ridiculous, but that's fine - the playoffs are not about fashion (perhaps that's why Sean Avery's teams never go anywhere in the post-season?). My outfit will look something like this:
Aside from the shoes, socks, jeans and belt, every piece of clothing is Canucks/shamrock related (the boxers will NOT be Britney-style over the pants, they're just there for the photo). I will have my Canucks hoodie on underneath my jersey, and be wearing my hat. Not sure if I will actually wear the scarf the whole night, but I may. The towel will be waving at every opportune moment, the view of the people behind me be damned.So that's what I feel I've gotta do. My message to Canucks fans is "DO WHAT YA GOTTA DO!"
If you believe in voodoo then poke the hell out of your Nikolai Khabibulin and Dustin Byfuglien dolls. If you are superstitious then stick a horseshoe on a lucky rabbit's foot and hope for the best. Personally, I never ever pray for the outcome of a sporting event - but if you're religious and feel comfortable praying for a Canucks victory then by all means ask for a little divine assistance!
Here's hoping for a Game Six victory and a chance to take the series back here on home ice. GO CANUCKS!!!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Handing Out Some Awards on Day 1 of Free Agency
The “Say What?!” Award:
Andrew Raycroft? Really? The man who was 2-9-5 with a 3.92 GAA last season and who was booed out of
The Shrewd Move Award:
Bringing Brian Rolston back to the fold for reasonable money ($20.25 million over 4 years) significantly upgrades the
The “‘Til Death Do Us Part” Award:
Brian Campbell is on the books for an average of $7.1 million for the next eight years (ie. 2016 – even the International Olympic Committee doesn’t plan that far ahead). Better hope
The Feel Good Nostalgia Award:
Bringing back Curtis Joseph to back up Vesa Toskola, even as the franchise prepares to bid adieu to Mats Sundin, is more than a solid roster move at a reasonable price ($700,000 on a one-year deal) – it is also a great PR move for a Leafs organization that is losing its captain and best player, and has egg on its face after bungling the Bryan McCabe situation. Joseph was one of the most popular Leafs of the last 25 years, and twice led the team into the Eastern Conference Finals. His return is sure to please Leafs fans at least on a nostalgic level, and he should be a valuable veteran presence on a rebuilding
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Kyle Wellwood – The Next Steve Sullivan or the Next Steve Kariya?
In a move to bolster its forward corps, the Canucks today plucked Kyle Wellwood, formerly of the Toronto Maple Leafs, from waivers. Overall this represents a sound, low-risk move for the Canucks, as Wellwood still has a lot of offensive upside despite being thrown to the scrapheap by the Buds after a disappointing third season in the league. There is no doubting Wellwood’s skill or speed, and he is only 25 years old, so he is a good gamble for a Vancouver squad that is looking to add some punch to its lacklustre offence.
After a solid 45-point (11G, 34A) rookie campaign in 2005-06, Wellwood recorded an impressive 42 points (12G, 30A) in 48 games the following year. However he was plagued by injuries during the past season, when a sport hernia kept him out of action to start the year and his production dropped to just 21 points (8G, 13A) in 59 games. Wellwood presumably did not fit into the Leafs rebuilding plans, although giving up on his talent after only three NHL seasons seems rather risky.
Wellwood’s departure from the Leafs is bound to draw comparisons to Steve Sullivan, another diminutive ex-Leaf who left Toronto via the waiver-wire. Both players have been criticized for a lack of size (Wellwood is 5’10”, 180 lbs.; Sullivan is 5’8”, 155 lbs.), and both failed to realize their potential in the fishbowl that is the Southern Ontario hockey market.
Sullivan was picked up by the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1999-00 season and immediately took off, registering 64 points (22G, 42A) in 73 games during his first season with the Hawks. The next year he improved to 75 points, which still stands as his career high, and in total he enjoyed five solid seasons in the Windy City before he was shipped to Nashville during the 2003-04 season. Sullivan continued his strong play with the Predators, and has averaged slightly over a point-per-game in three seasons with the team.
Needless to say, Sullivan’s success after leaving Toronto is a sore point for the many Maple Leafs fans who are waiting for the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since the end of the Original 6 Era. Will Wellwood become the next Steve Sullivan, the man hardened Torontonians curse when they see a highlight reel goal on SportsCentre or peruse the stats page at the end of the season? Or will he go the way of Steve Kariya, who lasted just 65 games with the Canucks before sinking into AHL and Scandinavian hockey anonymity?
Much of the expectations around Steve Kariya likely sprung from his superstar brother Paul, who has enjoyed a fine NHL career. Unfair as it may be, the Kariya name carried considerable cache in the family’s home city (the Kariya brothers hail from North Vancouver) and so expectations were high. Despite his small size (5”8’, 170 lbs.), Kariya showed flashes of brilliance in training camp and began the season on a line with Alexander Mogilny and Andrew Cassels. However, he finished the year having played only 45 games and registering 19 points (8G, 11A), and would play only 20 more games for the Canucks over the next two seasons before disappearing from the NHL forever. Kariya played two seasons in the AHL, posting respectable numbers, and then left for Europe where he played two seasons in Finland and currently skates for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elite League. Apparently he has not lost his scorer’s touch, and presumably the larger ice surfaces and less-physical style of the European game better suits his skill-set and stature. By NHL standards, however, he was somewhat of a bust.
So, what is Kyle Wellwood’s fate? Much of that depends on how he bounces back from his injuries, how he adjusts to a new (though no less rabid) hockey market and if he can overcome the criticisms of his size and perform consistently well at the NHL-level. Canucks fans are hoping that Wellwood is the new Steve Sullivan, and should be pleased with Mike Gillis’ gamble. Leafs fans, however, will be spared years of bitterness if he turns out to be the next Steve Kariya.
After a solid 45-point (11G, 34A) rookie campaign in 2005-06, Wellwood recorded an impressive 42 points (12G, 30A) in 48 games the following year. However he was plagued by injuries during the past season, when a sport hernia kept him out of action to start the year and his production dropped to just 21 points (8G, 13A) in 59 games. Wellwood presumably did not fit into the Leafs rebuilding plans, although giving up on his talent after only three NHL seasons seems rather risky.
Wellwood’s departure from the Leafs is bound to draw comparisons to Steve Sullivan, another diminutive ex-Leaf who left Toronto via the waiver-wire. Both players have been criticized for a lack of size (Wellwood is 5’10”, 180 lbs.; Sullivan is 5’8”, 155 lbs.), and both failed to realize their potential in the fishbowl that is the Southern Ontario hockey market.
Sullivan was picked up by the Chicago Blackhawks during the 1999-00 season and immediately took off, registering 64 points (22G, 42A) in 73 games during his first season with the Hawks. The next year he improved to 75 points, which still stands as his career high, and in total he enjoyed five solid seasons in the Windy City before he was shipped to Nashville during the 2003-04 season. Sullivan continued his strong play with the Predators, and has averaged slightly over a point-per-game in three seasons with the team.
Needless to say, Sullivan’s success after leaving Toronto is a sore point for the many Maple Leafs fans who are waiting for the franchise’s first Stanley Cup since the end of the Original 6 Era. Will Wellwood become the next Steve Sullivan, the man hardened Torontonians curse when they see a highlight reel goal on SportsCentre or peruse the stats page at the end of the season? Or will he go the way of Steve Kariya, who lasted just 65 games with the Canucks before sinking into AHL and Scandinavian hockey anonymity?
Much of the expectations around Steve Kariya likely sprung from his superstar brother Paul, who has enjoyed a fine NHL career. Unfair as it may be, the Kariya name carried considerable cache in the family’s home city (the Kariya brothers hail from North Vancouver) and so expectations were high. Despite his small size (5”8’, 170 lbs.), Kariya showed flashes of brilliance in training camp and began the season on a line with Alexander Mogilny and Andrew Cassels. However, he finished the year having played only 45 games and registering 19 points (8G, 11A), and would play only 20 more games for the Canucks over the next two seasons before disappearing from the NHL forever. Kariya played two seasons in the AHL, posting respectable numbers, and then left for Europe where he played two seasons in Finland and currently skates for Frölunda HC in the Swedish Elite League. Apparently he has not lost his scorer’s touch, and presumably the larger ice surfaces and less-physical style of the European game better suits his skill-set and stature. By NHL standards, however, he was somewhat of a bust.
So, what is Kyle Wellwood’s fate? Much of that depends on how he bounces back from his injuries, how he adjusts to a new (though no less rabid) hockey market and if he can overcome the criticisms of his size and perform consistently well at the NHL-level. Canucks fans are hoping that Wellwood is the new Steve Sullivan, and should be pleased with Mike Gillis’ gamble. Leafs fans, however, will be spared years of bitterness if he turns out to be the next Steve Kariya.
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