Found a good article written by Vicki Hall of the Herald who talks to Clay Wilson about his future in hockey and with the big club.
http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/...109/story.html
Quote:
“I love my job,” he says. “There are times obviously with the travel and some of the other things you deal with that you get a little down. But at the end of the day you’re playing something you love for a living.
“Getting in some games in the NHL keeps the dream alive.”
The Flames clearly subscribe to Wilson’s dream. General manager Jay Feaster signed the lanky rearguard last summer to a two-year deal with a catch.
In the 2012-13 season, Wilson’s contract becomes one-way — which means he makes the NHL minimum of $525,000 regardless of whether he plays in Calgary or Abbotsford.
The Flames also risk losing the puck-moving rearguard on waivers if they demote him to the farm.
“The way things work now, nothing is set is in stone,” Wilson said. “Even though it’s a one-way contract, there’s no reason why I can’t end up back in Abbotsford.
“So I still have to work extremely hard this off-season and come ready in training camp to show them I can help the team in Calgary.”
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Quote:
“He’s like the Energizer Bunny,” said Heat head coach Troy Ward. “He just keeps going. And he’s a warrior. He plays the game with a little reckless abandon.
“He loves to have the puck around him and touch the puck all the time. He loves to join the rush, because he’s got a big engine.”
In five games with the Flames this season, Wilson played it safe with the intention of proving he won’t be a defensive liability for the big team.
“You guys saw him as a very tame guy up there,” Ward said. “When you watch him down here — and this is part of his problem — is that people have always labelled him as a not great defender. Because a lot of people say he has always had to defend as a back-checker. He doesn’t have the posture of a defenceman.
“What’s to say you can’t have a defenceman backchecking? You just have to change the rules. We embrace it here.”
Under Ward’s system, Wilson can pinch and join the rush.
But when he comes back, he needs to follow the rules for sliding back into his defensive position in place of the forward who dropped back to cover.
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At the beginning of the season I had a bit of a hate on for Wilson because he was soft, avoided contact, embellished, and would sometimes lay on the ice to try and get a call. That lasted about two weeks before the coaching staff told him to cut that crap out. Then, it was like watching a whole different player.
He's very gifted offensively. His offensive instincts are second to none and he thrives under Ward's system without giving up much defensively.
The unfortunate part is that I don't know where he fits in on the defensive end with Calgary. If they are able to trade Babchuk, Wilson would fit in nicely there. Under the right system, Wilson is not a liability like some people might think.
I hope he gets an extended chance with the Flames next season because he's such a fun, smart player to watch.