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Meltzer's Musings: Wellwood Retires, Quick Hits

May 30, 2014, 7:37 AM ET [1018 Comments]
Bill Meltzer
Philadelphia Flyers Blogger •NHL.com • RSSArchiveCONTACT
WELLWOOD RETIRES, ACCEPTS OHL ASSISTANT COACH POSITION

Unable to come back from severe leg tendon and artery injuries suffered in a horrific on-ice accident, former Flyers winger Eric Wellwood has announced his retirement as an active player at age 24. The former Windsor Spitfires (OHL) standout has accepted an assistant coaching job with the OHL's Oshawa Generals.

Wellwood, who dressed in 31 regular season games for the Flyers over parts of three seasons plus all eleven game of the team's 2012 Stanley Cup playoff run, suffered his ultimately career-ending injury in an April 7, 2013 American Hockey League game for the Adirondack Phantoms.

With the Phantoms on the penalty kill, Wellwood lost an edge and heavily fell into the boards. The blade of his left skate sliced into his right ankle. The skate cut through four tendons (including the Achilles tendon), the posterior tibial artery and severed multiple nerve endings.

Wellwood, who lost a dangerous amount of blood, was rushed to the hospital and underwent emergency surgery to stop the bleeding. Days later, he had another surgery to repair the damage as much as possible.

A restricted free agent last summer, Wellwood signed a one-year AHL contract with the Phantoms with the potential to receive a new NHL contract from the Flyers if he was able to make it back to play again. In the interim, he worked out with the Spitfires in Windsor.

Sadly, Wellwood soon realized that a successful comeback was unlikely. He rehabbed to the point of being able to do light skating but nothing close to game-speed conditions, and still walked with a limp. For a player whose speed was his primary ticket to the NHL, the process was disheartening and frustrating.

The Flyers offered Wellwood a position in the organization as a player development coach with the Phantoms. However, he told the Windsor Star that he prefers an on-the-bench role on game days, which is why he opted instead for the assistant coaching job with Oshawa.

In my dealings with Wellwood during his time with the Flyers and during the Phantoms 2012 training camp in Voorhees, I found him to be an exceptionally bright and approachable young man. I specifically remember talking briefly to him about his grandfather Harold, who passed away a few weeks before the start of camp. Eric said there had been an outpouring of support for the family and he really appreciated it.

While it is unfortunate that Wellwood's playing career has ended prematurely, he has a new beginning to look forward to as a coach. He has a sharp mind and the potential to become a very good coach as he gains experience. I wish him nothing but the best of luck and success as he embarks on the next chapter of his career.

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FRIDAY QUICK HITS

* Flyers chairman Ed Snider is battling a treatable form of cancer, according to a Philadelphia Inquirer report. The 81-year-old founder of the organization recently completed chemotherapy. His condition is said to be non life-threatening. Get well wishes go out to Mr. Snider.

* There was some confusion as to whether tickets to the 2014 NHL Draft in Philadelphia would become available to public yesterday or today. Yesterday was a "pre-sale" for the free tickets, available to subscribers to the Flyer Wire newsletter. Today at 1 p.m., the remaining tickets will be released to the public. To order tickets, click here.

* Swedish forward Dennis Rasmussen has until June 15 to make a decision on where he will play next season. That is the last day he can opt out of the final season on his SHL contract with the Växjö Lakers. Rasmussen reportedly has offers on the table from several NHL teams -- the Flyers and Vancouver Canucks are believed to be two of them -- as well as at least one KHL team. Rasmussen is likely to opt for the NHL.
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