Wojtek Wolski, who moved to Canada from Poland with his family when he was 4, spent a month last summer getting in touch with his roots, visiting relatives and friends in Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic.
Then the young Avalanche forward resumed his workouts, preparing for what will still be his rookie season in the National Hockey League with Colorado. Though he played a handful of games with the Avs at the start of last season and rejoined them for the postseason, he will qualify for Calder Trophy consideration in 2006-07.
And if he is being mentioned as a bona fide rookie of the year candidate at midseason and beyond, that will be a sign that the Avalanche is getting what it hopes to from the young Poland native this season.
During the preseason, Wolski remained superstitious and wouldn’t allow himself to talk as if he were a lock to make the Colorado roster.
“I feel I have a great opportunity to stay, but I know it’s going to take a lot of hard work,” he said. “I’ve worked hard this summer and I’m trying to get better every day here. The older guys are definitely helping me out, but I’m going to take it day by day.”
Wolski tore up the Ontario Hockey League last season after the Avalanche sent him back to the Brampton Battalion. He had 47 goals in 56 games and was named the league’s outstanding player, as well as winner of the William Hanley Trophy as the league’s most sportsmanlike player. Because the Avalanche returned him to the Battalion before the 10-game cutoff, Colorado couldn’t bring him back up during the regular season. But he was summoned for the playoffs, getting one goal and three assists in eight games before hitting a wall and being a healthy scratch for the final game against Anaheim.
All in all, though, the stints at the beginning of the season and in the postseason were positive experiences.
“I just saw that I could play at this level, and that they’re going to give me an opportunity,” he said. “The ice time I get is going to come from what I make of it. If I’m playing well, they’ll give me ice time. If I’m not up to the task, I’ll be sitting on the bench.”
If he’s not on one of the top two lines and isn’t productive, the Avalanche will be in big trouble and perhaps will take more heat for trading Alex Tanguay to Calgary.
The Wolski file
Age: 20
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200
Positions: LW-C
Key stat: 21st overall pick in the 2004 draft
Season projection: 23 goals, 30 assists
The future: The Avalanche is counting on him to be a long-term star. His oustanding Ontario Hockey League performance last season gives promise that it could happen.
