There won't be any more fat jokes directed at Kyle Wellwood at training camp in September.
Having learned his lesson from last year, the Canucks forward is at a solid 180 pounds, a big drop from the 198-pound weigh-in during last season's camp.
The 26-year-old was about 184 pounds at the end of the playoffs.
"From last year's camp to now, it's a big difference," said Wellwood yesterday at UBC. "I'm at my playing weight now and I'm healthy."
The Windsor, Ont. native focused solely on his conditioning this offseason in an attempt, he says, to beat his career bests and to earn a permanent spot on the team.
"The rest of my game I don't worry about, it's just a matter of being fit and strong and being ready for hockey season," he said. "There's going to be a harder battle for jobs and hopefully that's going to translate into a more positive season."
- Meanwhile, Alex Burrows is also back in town but he won't discuss the on-ice incident in Kirkland, Quebec.
"I wish I can talk about my side of the story but I can't right now," he said yesterday.
Burrows is under police investigation after he allegedly struck a 19-year-old goaltender in the face during a July 21 summer league game.
